• Paid cheque bounce, when I claim, false accusation of lost cheque

Dear Sir,

I am a software engineer, Due to some dependencies and money crises, I was looking for some consultant kind of work out side, to do part time kind of things. 
Last year October I from one my friends brother regarding a e-commerce website to develop. I understand all requirement from them, and I know this very expensive to develop, I quoted a minimum amount of 3lack, but they bargain and tried to put emotional pressure (Tomorrow we want to see you on board as CTO, money not matter, create relation...) to start work only in 1.5 L. Day night I work for them, As they ware not technical guy, I tried to help all kind of technical help to start company, which was not part of my job. even I designed logo for them. 
Some resource was need to buy online, for that they don't have Credit card, they told me to use my credit card, we will pay everything. 
They expecting to deliver in one month, which was not possible for a person or a IT company, I took 4-5 months, finally they published in one event. But they got different reviews about the website. I have designed same in front of them, but after that event, they told me that you made like this, that, you need to change, but that was huge change , which was not fit in that budget. I told them, I can't those things beyond that, and went to a company to fix those problem on to of that. 

Initially, both side we agreed to pay my Credit card bill, and my cost of effort, once they will publish, but asked them many times for my payment, but they show different cause and delaying again and again. Finally I forced them to meet and ask for payment. Went to a Coffee shop, there they given me 2 checks with post dated of corporate current account. But the amount for my cost of effort was not whole amount, they decided that, I have completed only 70% and they paid like that. That also I accepted, I was going through very critical situations.

I dropped first check to bank on given and it got bounced, I called them many time after that, they was not picking call, no response at all, wait for 2 weeks, again tried to call them, no response. I tried to drop again same check, again bounced. After that I called to my friend through whom they got my contact ask, where are they. 

After 3 weeks, I got call from that company guys, We need help on website, I told them, first pay then I will do. They sweetly told me , don't relate money to project. definitely we will pay, we waiting fro investors, next week you will get your all payments.

Wait for again 3 weeks, and tried call them, no response. I sent a mail to them that, please pay my bill as soon as possible, otherwise I will take legal action. In response, they written which was unbelievable.

Added so many false accusation, false story, false statistics and saying for me they lost 9 core market. Also added "2 checks are lost, and you put numbers, trying to withdraw from current account, better you return those checks otherwise we will take legal action on you".  

What to do now, I m a ordinary software engineer, from Odisha, they are local people. I worked for them honestly, day night, I used my credit card for them of 90k, but they doing like this, even not paying my credit card bill, for which I m paying interest.

Please help, thanks
Asked 8 years ago in Business Law

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5 Answers

1) you can file summary suit to recover amount of dishonoured cheque with interest at 18 per cent

2) you can also file complaint under section 138 NI for dishonour of the cheque amount

3) contact a local lawyer

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
94692 Answers
7527 Consultations

5.0 on 5.0

1. You shouldn't have trusted them blindly.

2. Now check whether 1 month has passed from the date of dishonor of cheque.

3. If yes then present the cheque once again and then within one month start process to initiate filing case under section 138 of NI Act.

4. To put additional pressure file civil suit for money and case of cheating as well.

5. If they don't pay then legal recourse is only option left.

Devajyoti Barman
Advocate, Kolkata
22815 Answers
488 Consultations

5.0 on 5.0

Basically i was your fault to commit mistakes after mistakes. Initial mistake was that you started the work without taking any payment, this a blunder. Next blunder mistake is that you purchased those items using your credit card. even a person with no prudence or intelligence will hesitate to do such blunder mistakes what you did. After that you again believed on their word that they will make you payment in a week's time whereas they did not stand on their commitment but you wasted three weeks time after that without taking any legal action to it. Next mistake was to send them a letter through email asking for money instead of issuing a legal notice under registered post. Now they have advanced themselves to put blames on you stating that the said cheques were lost and also you were held liable for their losses. They have consulted a lawyer and prepared themselves to defend any type of attack from your side.

All the while you have not stated that whether you have initiated any action for cheque bonce, ie., issuing a legal notice either by yourself or through your lawyer demanding the cheque amount?

Next thing is you are silent about the other cheque in your possession, what have you done with it so far because they have already made a mention about this cheque too in their reply stating that they have lost it, so any legal demand notice after getting the cheque bounced may not sustain legal action tenable in law in this regard.

Better consult a local lawyer and take his advise by narrating the facts on the basis of the documentary evidences in your possession and proceed wisely at least henceforth.

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
84893 Answers
2190 Consultations

5.0 on 5.0

You should issue a lawyer's notice to them seeking payment of the amount covered by the cheque. If they do not pay back after the notice then you will be at liberty to launch their prosecution for cheque bounce which carries an imprisonment for up to 2 years. The notice has to be issued within 30 days.

Ashish Davessar
Advocate, Jaipur
30763 Answers
972 Consultations

5.0 on 5.0

You do not budge to their threats. You have cheques from corporate account. You can recover the money if you file criminal complaint under Negotiable Instruments Act.

Contact lawyer before presenting the cheque to bank again. Do not waste time. Time factor is important in such cases.

Sandeep Hegde
Advocate, Bangalore
418 Answers
154 Consultations

5.0 on 5.0

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