Section 2: Frequently Asked Questions

 

Here are a few questions about various frauds and answers given by a District Attorney of the State of Florida (Fla.), USA:

Text 1 Question: If someone gives me a check for service/merchandise and it later turns out to be worthless because of NSF, Account Closed, etc., what do I need to make a criminal police report? Answer: If the goods/service change hands at the same time as the check is passed, and the check is in the amount of $150.00 (Fla. Law) or more in order to initiate a police report you will need to: 1 Send a notice of dishonored check form to the last known address of the person who gave you the check, either certified or registered mail return receipt requested. 2 Wait the specified period of time for the person to make good on the check (7 days in Fla., after receipt of the notice), not required on checks returned «Account Closed». 3 Have identified the person who rendered the check, this is your responsibility as the recepient of the check. 4 Be able to identify the person from a photographic line up consisting of at least 6 similar photographs of individuals. 5 Be willing to give a sworn statement and testify in a court of law regarding the incident. 6 Not have taken a partial payment from the person toward payment of the check (makes civil). 7 Not have taken a check at the time that was post dated (makes civil). 8 Not have entered into an agreement with the person when they gave you the check to hold the check until a future date (makes civil). 9 Not have taken a worthless check from this person in the past (makes civil). Question: What if the amount is less than $ 150.00? (Fla. Law) Answer: The giving of a worthless check in an amount of less than $150.00 is a misdemeanor crime.   1 It is not necessary to make a police report. 2 You must accomplish items #1 thru #5 above. 3 You must not have done items #6 thru #9 or the matter is considered civil. • All checks, regardless of the amount, given before or after the goods or merchandise is received are misdemeanors. • All checks, regardless of the amount, which are given as payment on an account are misdemeanors. • All checks, regardless of the amount, which are payments for rent are misdemeanors. If you have a question, regarding a check which you took, you can call the State Attorney's Office in the county in which you reside for the answer.

 

§ Vocabulary notes

 

check (Am.) = cheque (Br.)		банковский чек; переводный вексель, выставленный на банк и оплачиваемый по предъявлении
merchandise	['m@:tS@ndaIz]	товары
syn. goods, commodities
NSF = not sufficient funds		на счете средств недостаточно
to pass		проводить, принимать
to initiate	[I'nISIeIt]	начать, принимать, положить начало
to initiate measures		приступить к проведению мероприятий
notice	['noutIs]	извещение, уведомление, предупреждение
to dishonour a check	[dIs'o:n@]	отказывать в платеже по векселю
dishonoured check		опротестованный чек
certified		заверенный
registered mail		заказная почта
receipt		квитанция
to make good		1) сдержать слово; 2) вознаградить; 3) подтвердить
to swear (swore, sworn)		клясться, присягать
statement		заявление
a sworn statement		заявление под присягой
to make a statement		делать заявление
misdemeanor		судебно-наказуемый проступок, преступление
to accomplish		совершать, выполнять, достигать
thru (Am.) = through (Br.)

 

§ Have a look at a cheque sample:

 

 

§ Vocabulary notes

 

sample	[s{mpl]	образец, образчик
payee	[р@'I:]	получатель
payer	['реI@]	плательщик
counter signature		контрольная подпись
to draw (drew, drawn)	[dro:, dru:, dro:n]	выписывать (чек)
drawee	[dro'I:]	плательщик (банк- плательщик)
drawer	['dro:@]	получатель
sort code		сортировочный код
amount	[@'maunt]	сумма
Pay... or order (of)		Платите (такому-то лицу) или приказу /или как он укажет/

 

Words study

 

a Write down nouns formed from the following verbs:

to check– .. check, checker...

to initiate.............................. to certify...................................

to notice................................ to state.......................................

to honour.............................. to accomplish............................

 

b Write down as many nouns as possible with the following adjectives:

 

 

 

с Give the English equivalents, using the text:

 

по чеку нельзя получить.........................................................

указанной суммы (чек, ниче-.........................................................

го не стоящий) неоплаченный чек.........................................................

написать заявление в полицию.........................................................

сделать первые шаги для заявлений.........................................................

если товар переходит к другому.........................................................

владельцу указанный период времени.........................................................

лицо, выписавшее чек.........................................................

 

d Write down a sentence with each of the following words, using the text:

receipt..................................... statement.....................................................

recepient................................. to identify....................................................

notice...................................... to enter into an agreement.........................

 

e Choose the synonyms from the box:

 

goods, notification, sum, to go to, to live, to start, to concern, to forward, to fulfil, obligation

 

merchandise....- goods....................................	to call.....................................................
amount............................................................	to initiate................................................
notice..................................................................	to accomplish..........................................
to reside..............................................................	to send.....................................................
to regard............................................................	responsibility..........................................

 

f Explain the meaning of the following words and word combinations in English and write down the Russian equivalents:

 

Account Closed..................................................................................................................

NSF....................................................................................................................................

a photographic line up........................................................................................................

a sworn statement...............................................................................................................

to take a check at the time that is postdated.......................................................................

to hold a check until a future date......................................................................................

makes civil.........................................................................................................................

a misdemeanor crime.........................................................................................................

 

Suggested activities

 

g Write down answers to the following questions:

 

 

h Write out the cases which are considered misdemeanors.

 

i Write out all the instructions for making a criminal police report (you may make them as short as possible, but very clear at the same time).

 

j Act out this dialogue between the District Attorney and his audience (you may omit detailed instructions).

 

k Sum up all the details of the chegue illustrated. I Use your imagination and fill in this chegue form:

 

Skim and scan:

Read the text quickly and say if it is the continuation of the talk-off the District Attorney of the State of Florida. USA.

 

Text 2