I was renting a half double house with no lease agreement but agreed to pay $700.00 for holding as security deposit. Upon moving out I have several emails provided to me stating that he has sent the check and now today get the check in the mail... only thing is it was a rubber check (refer to maker) and now can't get my funds... is there any recourse or protection I have in the state of PA which state that he must return all of the agreed funds.. I am concerned that he is playing games and will not honor our verbal agreement of the security deposit.. I have proof protecting me right?

Sending you a bad check is in itself a violation of the law... you are entitled to the money in that check, because by sending it to you its proof they owe it to you... I would contact your local police dept for assistance. Actually collecting might be a bit more difficult. But good luck.

Verbal agreements are harder to prove.(particularly if you paid cash, not a check).. but luckily, since they sent you a check (bad or not)... I don't think you have to prove that part. The Bounced check is the best proof you can have... check fraud is more serious than bailing out on a security deposit refund.

You have two ways to get back.

1) he failed to pay you within 30 days. Go to the local court and file for 3x the security plus court costs. Bounced check is proof enough.

2) while there you can file criminal case against him with the bounced check. Give it to court and they will file a case against him, then they will garnish his wages or make him pay it back to the court with your costs. They will then mail you a check from the court.