Chamber urges residents not to accept or purchase CertifiChecks after company ceases operations
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
On Friday evening, the Columbia City Area Chamber of Commerce notified members that CertifiChecks, Inc., the company that administers the Chamber’s CertifiCheck program, has ceased operations effective immediately -- leaving local businesses with no choice but to stop accepting the gift certificates or risk further losses.
Local residents are also being urged not to buy the gift certificates, known locally as "Chamber Bucks," either.
According to representatives from the local Chamber office, CertifiChecks, Inc., ceased operations without any notice.
“Certifichecks, Inc. failed to provide any advanced warning of this action. We are trying to learn more and as additional information becomes available we will share it with you,” Chamber representatives stated in a written notice provided Friday evening. The Chamber is attempting to notify local businesses as quickly as possible so that they are not negatively impacted by unfortunate turn of events.
According to the CertifiCheck website, the news was posted on Thursday, however Columbia City Area Chamber of Commerce, who has participated in the CertifiCheck program for many years, was not notified of the closure of the business until late today.
“In the interim, we wanted to inform you of this development so that you would not incur any additional financial hardship by purchasing or accepting CertifiChecks,” the notice stated.
As of 7:30 p.m. this evening, the CertifiCheck, Inc. website reads:
“Due to an extremely difficult economic environment, CertifiChecks, Inc., has ceased operations, effective immediately. CertifiChecks will no longer administer gift certificate programs. CertifiChecks gift certificate sales have been halted. CertifiChecks is in the process of filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Dayton, Ohio. Do not deposit CertifiChecks gift certificates in the bank as they will be returned. Merchants: Please remove all door and register decals.”
The website also adds that businesses can submit the gift certificates they’ve already accepted to their office for “potential reimbursement” at: CertifiChecks, Inc., Attn: Redemption Dept., PO Box 13603, Dayton, Ohio 45413
A recording on the company’s voice mail reiterates the message posted on their website.
The nationwide CertifiCheck program offered gift certificates that were accepted at thousands of businesses across the US and, locally, at Columbia City Area Chamber of Commerce businesses. News of the closure is reaching Chamber businesses across the country who have utilized the service.
The Columbia City Area Chamber of Commerce will continue to investigate the matter and provide information to local Chamber member businesses who may accept the gift certificates. In the meantime, local businesses are warned against accepting the CertifiChecks.