N.J. moves to make sure some checks are not in the mail

The New Jersey Assembly has passed legislation that would prevent consumers from being ripped off by one type of check they get in the mail.

The measure would make it illegal to send an unsolicited check that, when cashed, automatically enrolls a person in a costly club or service plan.

Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, D-Bergen, said many people redeem those checks without looking at the fine print.

“I was almost taken in by it. My wife was about to cash one of these checks. I said, ‘Whoa, hold on,'” he said. “It is fairly widespread and my feeling is if you have a good service people will buy it. You don’t need to deceive them into buying it and that’s what I think is happening here.”

Violators would face fines up to $20,000. There’s no indication when the state Senate might consider the legislation.