Last season, there were a large number of cases where members
and teams were fined and suspended because of bounced checks. In many cases,
it was due to insufficient funds. In others, a “stop payment” order was
issued. Sometimes, it was because an account was closed. Regardless of
the cause, the CHRVA Handbook (http://chrva.org/hbookindx.html)
imposes significant fines and penalties.
Not only are there bad consequences for the
person or team who bounces the check; others are significantly impacted
as well. Here are some examples:
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If the check you use to pay your individual registration fee bounces, you
are fined a minimum of $25 and suspended until restitution is made by certified
check or money order.
-
If a team’s check for a tournament entry bounces, the team and all its
individual members are immediately suspended and fined, which makes them
ineligible to play in any USAV event.
-
Tournament hosts (regular members like you), who put out their own money
for tournament expenses, are left with non-reimbursed costs, which can
result in canceled tournaments.
-
CHRVA Staff have to spend a lot of time dealing with banks, registration
records, and disciplinary actions. Such time would be better spent
on “regular” business.
While the Board of Directors is working to make
electronic payment for registration fees available, many checks are written
directly to tournament hosts and will not benefit from this automation.
Checks will remain the main method of payment for some time to come. Here
are some things to remember about payments made by check:
-
It takes longer than everyone would like for the Region to process your
checks.
When the season begins, more than 4000 members and hundreds of teams
are sending checks to the Registrar and Treasurer. This simply takes time
for a part-time staff to handle. While the Region is working to make things
more efficient, we must ask for your continued patience.
-
Some tournament hosts cash checks before tournaments; others do so afterwards.
Each tournament host may handle his or her finances differently.
Don’t assume that your check will not be deposited until after you play.
Similarly, don’t assume it will be deposited until immediately upon receipt.
-
Your check is your promise to pay.
Once you have written a check, there is a liability against your
account. Closing your account or delays by others in processing your check
does not remove this liability. Keep sufficient funds available in your
account to cover all of your checks until they clear.
-
Checks are considered good and can be deposited months after they are written.
Some people believe that if a check is not deposited within three
or four weeks that it becomes void. This is simply not the case. In many
circumstances, checks remain valid for more than a year.
-
Stopping payment on your check does not cancel your registration or withdraw
you from a tournament.
When the Region or a tournament host accepts your check, financial
commitments are made on your behalf with the expectation that your check
will not bounce. Even if your check is deposited immediately, commitments
are made before it clears the bank. You must explicitly notify the appropriate
party as soon as possible if you wish to cancel or withdraw. If it is not
too late to do so, you will be accommodated. Even if it is too late, making
proper notification can help you avoid significant fines and penalties.
The Region and tournament hosts will do their
best to promptly process your checks and accommodate the various circumstances
that inevitably arise. Please do your best to avoid bouncing checks, as
it will make everyone’s life much easier. If you have any questions about
this, please contact Steve Burinsky, Eligibility Chair, at Steve.Burinsky@chrva.org.
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