What happens if you pay at a store with a personal check and have no money in your account yet?

Question

What happens if you pay at a store with a personal check and have no money in your account yet?

Answer 1

Check will be returned "no sufficient funds" and you will be charged a fee (somewhere around 10$ depending on the bank. Plus, whoever you made that check to will be pissed at you.

Answer 2

That's bad be careful in some states you can get arrested for fraud.  Most cases the previous answers are correct, but if you happen to have too many traffic tickets or get caught in a DWI -- the DA would be happy to add a fraud charge to this.    

Answer 3

One of three things:

1) If you put money in your account before the check clears, you'll be fine.

2) If you have overdraft protection with your checking account, the back will honor the check and charge you an overdraft fee.  The fee plus the amount of the check will be deducted from any money you put in the account in the future.

3) If you don't have overdraft protection, the check will bounce.  You will then owe the store the amount of the check and any penalties they assess.  The store could also have you prosecuted for passing a bad check, or they could sue you for the money you owe, or both.

Answer 4

Bounced check.  You´ll get a charge in your account and you´ll have to pay the difference, unless you have some sort of overdraw prevention.  If you´re constantly having this problem, it might just be best to pay in cash.