The payee or holder of a check, draft or order which has been dishonored because of insufficient funds or credit may send notice thereof to the drawer of the check, draft or order. The payee or holder of any dishonored check may impose a fee of up to $25 a worthless check. This fee may not be imposed or collected after a complaint for warrant has been delivered to magistrate court. No payee or holder of a check, draft or order which has been dishonored because of insufficient funds or credit shall incur any civil or criminal liability for the sending of a notice substantially in the form provided herein, other provisions of law notwithstanding. The form of the notice shall be substantially as follows:
“You are hereby notified that a check, number .................., issued by you on (date of check), drawn upon (name of bank), and payable to ..............................., has been dishonored. Pursuant to West Virginia law, you have ten days from the date of this notice to tender payment of the full amount of the check plus a fee of $..................... (not to exceed $25 a worthless check) to the undersigned at ........................... You are further notified that in the event the above amount is timely paid in full you will not be subject to legal proceedings, civil or criminal.
Dated ......................., 20.....
.................................
(Signed)."
The provisions of this section do not authorize the making of any other written or oral threats of prosecution to enforce or enhance the collection or honoring of the dishonored check, draft or order.
The holder or payee of any check, draft or order shall relinquish the check, draft or order to the maker upon tender of the full amount due at any time before a complaint for warrant has been presented to magistrate court. In the event complaint for warrant has been presented to magistrate court, payment may be made only through the court and any holder or payee unlawfully accepting payment after that time shall be liable for all costs which may be imposed by the magistrate court in the matter, including all costs which may have accrued by the time the magistrate court is notified of the payment.
Structure West Virginia Code
Chapter 61. Crimes and Their Punishment
Article 3. Crimes Against Property
§61-3-1. Burning, etc., of a Dwelling or Outbuilding; First Degree Arson; Penalty; Definitions
§61-3-2. Burning, etc., of Other Buildings or Structures; Second Degree Arson; Penalty
§61-3-4. Attempt to Commit Arson; Fourth Degree Arson; Penalty
§61-3-5. Burning, or Attempting to Burn, Insured Property; Penalty
§61-3-6. Willfully, Unlawfully and Maliciously Setting Fire on Lands; Penalty
§61-3-7. Causing Injuries During an Arson-Related Crime; Penalties
§61-3-8. Recovery of Costs Incurred in Fighting Fires Caused by Arson
§61-3-11. Burglary; Entry of Dwelling or Outhouse; Penalties
§61-3-13. Grand and Petit Larceny Distinguished; Penalties
§61-3-14. Larceny of Bank Notes, Checks, Writings of Value and Book Accounts; Penalty
§61-3-15. How Value of Notes, Book Accounts and Other Writings Determined
§61-3-16. Larceny of Things Savoring of Realty
§61-3-18. Receiving or Transferring Stolen Goods
§61-3-20a. Embezzlement by Misuse of Power of Attorney or Other Fiduciary Relationship; Penalty
§61-3-21. Embezzlement by Carrier or Other Person
§61-3-22. Falsifying Accounts; Penalty
§61-3-22a. Possession or Use of Automated Sales Suppression Devices; Penalty
§61-3-23. Destroying or Concealing Will; Embezzlement by Fiduciary; Penalty
§61-3-24c. Intercepting or Monitoring Customer Telephone Calls; Penalty
§61-3-24d. Fraudulent Schemes; Cumulation of Amounts Where Common Scheme Exists; Penalties
§61-3-24f. Wrongfully Seeking Workers' Compensation; False Testimony or Statements; Penalties; Venue
§61-3-25. Casting Away, Destroying or Interfering With Floating Craft or Material; Penalty
§61-3-27. Malicious Killing of Animals by Poison or Otherwise; Penalty
§61-3-28. Offenses Against Railroad Property and Persons on Railroad Property; Definitions
§61-3-33. Entry Upon Inclosed Lands; Penalty; Liability for Damages
§61-3-34. Taking or Injuring Garden or Field Crops; Penalties
§61-3-35. Digging Cultivated Ginseng; Penalty
§61-3-36. Anchoring or Beaching Shanty Boats on Lands of Another; Penalties
§61-3-37. False Statement as to Financial Condition of Person, Firm or Corporation; Penalty
§61-3-38. Publication of False Advertisements; Penalty
§61-3-39. Obtaining Property in Return for Worthless Check; Penalty
§61-3-39a. Making, Issuing, etc., Worthless Checks on a Preexisting Debt; Penalty
§61-3-39c. Reason for Dishonor; Duty of Drawee
§61-3-39d. Prima Facie Evidence of Knowledge; Identity; Penalty for Providing False Information
§61-3-39e. Notice of Dishonor by Payee; Service Charge
§61-3-39f. Manner of Filing Complaint for Warrant; Form
§61-3-39g. Complaint; Notice of Complaint; Issuance of Warrant; Payment Procedures; Costs
§61-3-39h. Payment of Costs in Worthless Check Cases; Disposition of Certain Costs
§61-3-39i. Preparation of List of Worthless Check Warrants
§61-3-39j. Use of Worthless Check List Upon Receipt of Complaint for Warrant
§61-3-39n. Notice to Persons Accepted to the Worthless Check Restitution Program
§61-3-39o. Agreement to Suspend Prosecution of a Person Accepted Into the Restitution Program
§61-3-39p. Fees for Participation in the Worthless Check Restitution Program
§61-3-40. Fraudulently Obtaining Food or Lodging; Penalty
§61-3-41. Employees Conservators of the Peace; Special Railroad Policemen; Penalties
§61-3-42. Intoxication of Person in Charge of Locomotive Engine or Car; Penalties
§61-3-44. Procuring Gas, Water or Electricity, by Device, With Intent to Defraud; Penalty
§61-3-45. Tampering With Pipes, Tubes, Wires or Electrical Conductors; Penalty
§61-3-45a. Unlawful Opening of Pipes, Pipelines, Tanks, etc.; Penalties
§61-3-46. Use of Slugs, False Coins, etc., in Coin-Box Telephone; Penalty
§61-3-47. Dams or Obstructions in Watercourses; Penalty
§61-3-49b. Disruption of Communications and Utilities Services
§61-3-51. Precious Metals and Gem Dealers; Records; Prohibited Acts
§61-3-52. Wrongful Injuries to Timber; Criminal Penalties
§61-3-53. Unauthorized Use of Dumpsters
§61-3-54. Taking Identity of Another Person; Penalty
§61-3-55. Failure to Pay for Gasoline
§61-3-56. Scanning Device or Reencoder Fraud; Felony; Definitions; and Penalties
§61-3-57. Possession of Bogus Receipts or Universal Product Codes With Intent to Defraud; Penalties