My April Zazzle payment check bounced 😳

[Zorinda]

I received my April check on 4/19/22.  I endorsed the check and as usual deposited it to my bank account using the bank’s mobile deposit service. That is, I took pictures of the front and back using their app and made the deposit online which was accepted (as they always have been in the past).  Yesterday  I opened my account and found that the check had for some reason bounced on 4/21/22 and that I was also charged $15 chargeback fee.

I immediately called the bank and spoke a customer support rep.  She couldn’t give me a specific reason why the check was defective and why it had bounced, but she said that it was marked “Refer to Maker”, that is, I have to get a new check from Zazzle for some unknown reason which hopefully they can explain.  I was at least able to get the bank to reverse the $15 chargeback fee.

I reported this to proseller support via email yesterday providing specifics (check number, bank info, etc.)  but so far have not yet heard back.

Why would the check have bounced?  How can I quickly get a replacement? Has anyone else had a similar experience?  

Aside from just being extremely inconvenient and annoying, this incident makes me wonder again why Zazzle STILL doesn’t have direct bank deposit.  PayPal is not an acceptable option to many of us. 

[CrazyMermaid]

Oh wow. That is very disheartening. Please let us know what is happening with this. I hope you get your payment promptly.

[Windy]

Is it no longer typical to redeposit? Before all of banking changed, I worked for a bank and in those days it was standard to redeposit any bounced check, which would typically clear things up. Only upon a second refusal would we stamp the check with Refer to Maker. 

[Zorinda]

No clue. But I received a document from the bank that said “The following item(s) that were deposited into acct #xxxxxx have been returned unpaid. We have debited your account as indicated below.....”  

The “Return Reason” says: “Refer to Maker”

That’s all I know.  Zazzle still has yet to respond with an explanation or way to fix the issue. 😡

[Windy]

I hope it's not the fault of Zazzle. If so, that's very distressing and even moreso that they do not respond to you.

[Emma]

Hi @Zorinda , 

I'm very sorry to hear this has happened. I've flagged this directly on my end, and will follow up with you via email shortly. 

- Emma 🌻

[Zorinda]

Thanks Emma. Awaiting your email.

[CarlaRolfe]

I'm sure we'd all be curious to know what happened and that this was resolved for you.  Please do update the thread when you're able. 

[kashmier]

I am sorry to hear this happened to you. It would be a nightmare for me. I am so glad that I am able to get paid through Paypal. I am posting so I can follow this to see how things come out. I hope it is cleared up quickly. 

[CrazyMermaid]

Please don't forget to let us know if you get paid and if you find out why your check bounced. 

[waterart]

I'm curious too, I receive payment by check also but never had anything like this happen

[shellifitz]

any update on this? 

[Scott]

When the check was deposited a portion of the routing number and/or bank account info was missing. I'm talking about the numbers that appear at the bottom of the check. Understandable that a bank isn't going to want to cash a check like that. We've worked with the Creator via email and I believe we're all good. I'll let the Creator share more if they desire.

[MarilynR]

Thank you for letting us know what happened, Scott. The idea of a check that is not honored can make us and any customers in the forum a little shaky. Over the years, I have taken my employers check to their bank at times. Twice, their bank at first refused it. Then, after a little bit, their bank cashed it. The first time, the owner was led out of the building by the police with handcuffs. It made the news. She was arrested for fraud. The second time, the owners sold the company to a larger company, but stayed to run it. The larger company is well-known. So, the little company has gained in public recognition, Both times, I had a new job in days.

I no longer buy magazine subscriptions because I got stung when  I did a two year renewal and a few months later, the magazine ceased publication. There are multiple stories of bride-to-be being stung by the closing of wedding venues and dress shops. Then there was the local motorcycle repair shop that closed and the technicians had to file with bankruptcy court to recover their personal tools. So, this kind of issue can make people jumpy.

Thank you again for letting us know that all is well.

[shellifitz]

Yes, and thanks @Scott for the reply. I was interested because I have considered changing my payment method to a check in the recent past and that made me think twice.  Already the long wait time was strike one... if checks are not honored that is strike two and three.   

And forgive me but this is another perfect opportunity to beg again for direct bank deposits as an alternate payment method.   

[CrazyMermaid]

Just supporting your direct bank deposit request. If I had one improvement to request this year, that would be it!

[MasterpieceCafe]

I've always received checks from Zazzle and never had any issues. But I would prefer direct deposit as well. Direct Deposit must be cheaper for Zazzle than sending out checks so I'm confused why we haven't been given this option over the years. I'll keep asking as well.

[idraw]

Hi shelli, it happened to me I remember back in 2009? I had checks from z, cp, and one other pod all returned to sender…the reason…A huge  nightmare created when several of us reported the mail person to the post office for leaving locked boxes open, actually kicking the boxes, and leaving confidential and official mail stuck outside the boxes. One of the pods confirmed  (sent me copies of the envelope) and overnighted my check. All three pods re-sent the checks immediately.. I then switched to PayPal. I now live in a different city and have a mail person who just retired, the new one is not a workaholic to be blunt.
i too would prefer direct deposit, especially since PayPal seems to be frequently updating their terms.