Legal Question in Business Law in Indiana

legal law

Is it legal for a company to scatch out FINAL PAYMENT on a personal check received from a client, cash it, and then proceed to not return phone calls from client about discrepancy and ask for remaining balance that is in question by the client? Adjustment in invoice by client was for work that was not completed by company and an hourly discrepancy by company employee being at the clients home. Owner of company would not speak to client about discrepancy in invoice. A letter was written about discrepancy and mailed out by client and with a check ( words ''FINAL PAYMENT'' written on it ) . Check was altered by company by scratching out FINAL PAYMENT and then cashed. Client recieved 3 day warning about collection agency handling remaining balance. Is it legal for the company to turn the client over to collection agency? Client tried to reach company numerous times, owner would not call back. Check was cashed with words Final Payment on it.


Asked on 2/05/07, 9:43 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Burton Padove Indiana and Illinois Lawyer, Burton A. Padove

Re: legal law

IC 26--1--3.1--311

Accord and satisfaction by use of instrument

Sec. 311. (a) If a person against whom a claim is asserted proves that:

(1) that person in good faith tendered an instrument to the claimant as full satisfaction of the claim;

(2) the amount of the claim was unliquidated or subject to a bona fide dispute; and

(3) the claimant obtained payment of the instrument;

the following subsections apply.

(b) Unless subsection (c) applies, the claim is discharged if the person against whom the claim is asserted proves that the instrument or an accompanying written communication contained a conspicuous statement to the effect that the instrument was tendered as full satisfaction of the claim.

(c) Subject to subsection (d), a claim is not discharged under subsection (b) if either of the following applies:

(1) The claimant, if an organization, proves that:

(A) within a reasonable time before the tender, the claimant sent a conspicuous statement to the person against whom the claim is asserted that communications concerning disputed debts, including an instrument tendered as full satisfaction of a debt, are to be sent to a designated person, office, or place; and

(B) the instrument or accompanying communication was not received by that designated person, office, or place.

(2) The claimant, whether or not an organization, proves that within ninety (90) days after payment of the instrument, the claimant tendered repayment of the amount of the instrument to the person against whom the claim is asserted. This subdivision does not apply if the claimant is an organization that sent a statement complying with subdivision (1)(A).

(d) A claim is discharged if the person against whom the claim is asserted proves that within a reasonable time before collection of the instrument was initiated, the claimant, or an agent of the claimant having direct responsibility with respect to the disputed obligation, knew that the instrument was tendered in full satisfaction of the claim.

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Answered on 2/05/07, 10:02 am


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