Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93 § 40A

Current through Chapter 231 of the 2024
Section 93:40A - Dishonored checks; demand for payment

Whoever makes, draws, utters or delivers any check, draft or order for the payment of money upon any bank or other depository which refuses to honor the same because the maker has no account with such bank or other depository or because the maker has insufficient funds on deposit therein and who fails to pay the amount of such check, draft or order within thirty days following a written demand therefor by the payee in accordance with this section and delivered to such person by regular mail and also by certified mail return receipt requested shall, in addition to any criminal penalties which may be imposed in accordance with law, be liable to the payee for the face amount of such check, draft or order, and for additional damages, as determined by the court, but in no event shall the amount of such damages be less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars.

The written demand for payment required by this section shall be in the following form and shall be printed in at least ten point type in both the English and Spanish languages:

DATE:_________________________________

TO:___________________________________

NAME OF MAKER

LAST KNOWN RESIDENCE ADDRESS OR PLACE

OF BUSINESS

YOUR CHECK/DRAFT/ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $_______________

DATED_________________PAYABLE TO THE ORDER OF_______________________________

HAS BEEN DISHONORED BY THE BANK OR OTHER DEPOSITORY UPON WHICH IT HAS BEEN

DRAWN BECAUSE:

IF YOU DO NOT MAKE PAYMENT WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF THE ABOVE DATE, YOU MAY BE SUED TO RECOVER PAYMENT. IF A JUDGMENT IS RENDERED AGAINST YOU IN COURT, IT WILL INCLUDE NOT ONLY THE ORIGINAL FACE AMOUNT OF THE CHECK/DRAFT/ORDER, BUT ALSO ADDITIONAL LIQUIDATED DAMAGES OF NOT LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00) NOR MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500.00).

PLEASE MAKE PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $____________________ TO:

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93, § 40A