Wal-Mart And Telecheck Telecheck trying to recover 173.25 from a check I did not make. City of Industry, California

Something is fishy in Denmark on this one??  I am pretty sure all Walmarts know scan the checks and then give them back to the consumer.  That is what they do at the Walmarts I have shopped at.  If the scanner can't pick up and read the routing number and banking number, then it won't let the check go though.  Plain and simple Walmart won't cash it, I have had this problem in the past of a few occasion!  So right off the bat, them saying you owe $175 because saying "couldn't be completed because the banking information was not read correctly by the check reader" sends red flags up! 

If I was in your shoes, this is what I would do.

1. If you have internet access to check your checking account online, go access your account and look up to see if a check in $173 was cashed.  Your bank should have scanned it and it should be available for you to view, front and back of the check. 

2. If you find that a check was cashed and you did not write the check, then print it out right away.  Then go make a Police Report ASAP, don't wait on this!  Get the case number of the police report and try to get a copy of it, that might take a few days to get a copy, not sure.

3. Once you get a copy of the Police Report and the case number, call these people back explaining your side of it and give them the information and case number on the police report.  DO NOT give out any information what so ever, as to a driver licenses or bank account!  Ask them to send you a form to fill out and tell them you will look it over and get back with them.

Now if you didn't find that a check was never cashed from your account, well then that pretty much tells you what is going on.  I would still call them back, DO NOT give any personal information, request a form from them to fill out.  When and if you get this for, send it to the states attorneys office!

As far as I know Telecheck does not call people and ask for more info.  They either cash the check or bounce the check. 

What did they say the check number was?  If that check isn't still in your book, who does your registry say it was written too? Or is it just missing? 

Call them back and tell them they MUST fax/send you a copy of the paper check. If this isn't a scam they will provide you with that.

My guess is IF there really is a paper check, you will recognize the handwriting. If you didn't write it, then a friend or family member who thought you wouldn't notice one check and $173.25 missing, is now pooping their pants and hoping you wont figure out it was them.