Blocking Payment on a Certified, Cashier’s, or Bank Check

When disputes arise between buyers and sellers over completed commercial transactions and payment has been delivered to the seller in the form of a negotiable instrument, a dissatisfied buyer may seek to suspend the instrument’s payment obligation. By blocking payment the buyer strengthens his bargaining position and prevents the seller from dissipating the proceeds of the sale before the buyer can establish the merit of his claim. Blocking payment forces the seller to enforce the commercial agreement through court action or satisfy the buyer’s grievances.