Can I Be Charged With A Crime For Failing To Pay My Bills?
– RJ, Texas
Answer:
Suppose you buy a used car. You write a post dated check. You drive the car home and it quits running. The person you bought it from won’t take it back or fix it. You call the bank and cancel the check. The person threatens to charge you with theft by check.
What do you do? If you offer to return the property and the seller refuses, then you have a defense to theft by check. What you have then is a civil dispute. You do need to document your efforts and you should contact an attorney.
This answer does not constitute legal advice, which can only be rendered after a full consideration of the facts of your case which is not possible in this format; nor establish an attorney-client relationship, which can only be done after you and an attorney meet and agree on the terms of that relationship. This answer is intended solely to provide general information about the justice system. Further, it does not provide the basis for making decisions about a course of action. Before making any decisions about a course of action readers are strongly encouraged to contact a lawyer and secure an attorney-client relationship. Readers must also understand that this format does not provide for confidential communication. Moreover, links to information on this site are for your convenience only and are not an endorsement or recommendation of those sites, and no responsibility is taken for any information at these linked sites, nor makes any representation or warranty with respect to these sites or the information contained therein.