jmh:trig42: Maybe since he wrote the cheque on a closed account, you could at least report it to the Police. That is using a document to gain pecuniary advantage I think?
Tell him you want the money by EOD tomorrow, or you will be filing a Police report. (Although, they will probably not show any interest, unless he's been doing it all over the place).
I rang the bank and they said to contact the police. I've told the guy via email that I'm calling on the police this pm and he's panicking. He has promised to pay by Wednesday, but this time he really will.
I'm guessing I'm not the only one he did the cheque dodge on.
Sounds like a typical fraudster to me - all talk no action. I hope you have made an official complaint to police already rather than leaving this as an empty threat based on his obviously worthless word.
Writing a cheque against a closed account is a clear case of obtains by deception. At the end of the day, even if no prosecutorial action eventually results, at least police will have a record of your complaint which may be useful down the track.
It's possible too, if what you surmise in your last sentence turns out to be correct, there may be others who don't complain because of similar small amounts so you taking the bull by the horns could turn out to be good for them as well. You'll just have to hope he's not planning on skipping the country...