Bad Check Laws In Pennsylvania

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Below are the civil and criminal penalties for writing a bad check in Pennsylvania under § 4105 - Bad checks.

If the issuer fails to make good on the dishonored check for non sufficient funds or NSF, within ten days after receiving notice of that refusal given to the issuer orally or in writing by any person, then the issuer may face the following civil and criminal penalties:


Civil Penalties: Upon conviction the sentence shall include an order for the issuer or passer to reimburse the payee or such other party as the circumstances may indicate for the face amount of the check, interest at the legal rate on the face amount of the check from the date of dishonor by the drawee, a service charge if written notice of the service charge was conspicuously displayed on the payee's premises when the check was issued. The service charge shall not exceed $20 unless the payee is charged fees in excess of $20 by financial institutions as a result of such bad check for the payment of money. If the payee is charged fees in excess of $20, then the service charge shall not exceed the actual amount of the fees.

Criminal Penalties: A summary offense if the check is less than $200, a misdemeanor of the third degree if the check is $200 or more but less than $500, a misdemeanor of the second degree if the check is $500 or more but less than $1,000, a misdemeanor of the first degree if the check is $1,000 or more but is less than $75,000, or a felony of the third degree if the check is $75,000 or more. When the offense is a third or subsequent offense within a five-year period, regardless of the amount of the check and regardless of the grading of the prior offenses, is a misdemeanor of the first degree unless the amount of the check involved in the third or subsequent offense is $75,000 or more, then the offense is a felony of the third degree.

For more information on bad check laws and for criminal and civil penalties in other states for writing bad checks, please read Bad Check Laws

Check with your state statutes for the most current information on Pennsylvania bad check laws.

You may want to also read Getting A Checking Account While On The Chex System

Learn how to Prevent Overdraft And Bounced Check Fees

Although all information has been written in good faith and has been reviewed, please email us at [email protected] to report any inaccuracies.