CertifiChecks Cessation of Operations

Company's website -- a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing is imminent

March 13, 2009
By: Bay Area Chamber of Commerce

Late last week, the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and chambers of commerce across the country discovered that CertifiChecks, Inc., the company which administers gift certificate programs for chambers and other organizations, has ceased operations. We were not contacted directly, but rather learned of the program termination through the company's website that a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing is imminent. Numerous attempts by the chamber, numerous chambers and our national and state associations to reach the firm's office and officers have been unsuccessful.

According to the official CertifiChecks company statement, any CertifiChecks gift certificates that are deposited as checks by participating merchants will be returned. This includes those issued in the Bay Area.

To protect your company from loss, we'd ask that all businesses that accept CertifiChecks immediately remove all related door and register decals indicating that you accept these gift certificates. All businesses should refuse to accept any CertifiChecks presented by customers.

You may wish to indicate to your affected customers that they may return the certificate to the source they received them from.

Additionally, anyone who purchased Certifichecks via credit card should contact the company issuing the credit card regarding possible reimbursement.

We apologize for this significant inconvenience and we share your disappointment that the program was ended without notice to the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce or our participating merchants. Regulatory agencies have been contacted and are examining this situation.

For further information, please the chamber.