Funny money, what would you do?

[Alan]

We have some, more than usual, counterfeit 5's, 10's and 20's showing up in our area. I've seen a few from other business owners in my area, by touch I would hope it's obvious but they look good on a quick passing of the hands. I know how a lot of our local businesses are handling them, but I'm curious how you would handle things if you were passed one in your business, which includes garage sales and personal transactions.

 

[M-5]

I would refuse it. . I have found counterfeit before because it didn't feel right.

 

[hwillso]

First, I would try to determine if the person handing it to me knew it was counterfeit. If they knew, I would treat it as stealing.

 

[backhoeboogie]

I got a bad $20, several years ago. Pretty sure I know who passed it to me but cannot be absolute. They were just as dumb as I was. I was buying groceries and gave it along with a few others. The people in the store knew me, thankfully. The Sheriff wanted it so I gave it up. Turns out there were several going around. I answered every question as best I could.

 

[fenceman]

Send it to kanye west

 

[skyhightree1]

I use to have a pen when things were bad here haven't used one in years

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

Send it to kanye west

LOL! :D

 

[slick4591]

Learn to detect a counterfeit bill and if one gets by you and turns up later call the cops.

 

[Alan]

Most agree with my thoughts, I simply instructed our staff to let them know we will not accept that bad bill and they would need to pay another way, we do have pens to mark and test the bills. Don't bring in law enforcement unless they refuse to pay with good money or with another method and don't keep the bill, if they refuse "then we will call the police and have them decide". We already have their name, address and "a" phone number as part of our regular procedures.

Here's part of the reason why. I spoke with both city and county cops, both said it's my problem. They will take the bad bills in case they caught the suspect but linking the bills to an individual is near impossible....... "Somebody is going to eat the cost of the bad bills." I spoke with two banks, they just offer them back to the business owner and tell them (what we already know) they are worthless and they do nothing but have them destroyed, cops need to be involved. So the cops don't really want them and the banks don't really want them...... Yet someone gets stuck with them. So we test everything from a $5 up for now until this passes.

Here's another couple of reasons I don't want our staff going "Rambo" on them.

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-north ... f_fal.html

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-north ... f_fal.html

 

[littletom]

My wife is a vet. She got several 100's a few years ago. They looked real good, our bank caught it. The customer was down from Canada and he got them from a bank. It was a big ordeal, he made it right with cc. Took the others he had back to his bank they made it right with him.

 

[greybeard]

Getting banned from Applebees isn't exactly punishment....

 

[Alan]

Getting banned from Applebees isn't exactly punishment....

:lol: :lol: :lol: I would agree, it's more like a reward.

Edit to add for those who don't open the link: besides being banned there is a $400k lawsuit involved.

 

[Alan]

My wife is a vet. She got several 100's a few years ago. They looked real good, our bank caught it. The customer was down from Canada and he got them from a bank. It was a big ordeal, he made it right with cc. Took the others he had back to his bank they made it right with him.

All parties were very lucky..... Well except the bank, they ate the bad bills.