How to settle this issue...advice needed???

My stepson and I are planning on paying back a bus company on the value of the tickets my 14-year-old son has counterfeited. However, I'm not so sure what is the best way to settle this issue. One, based on what i heard and also observed, the drivers as well as the bus company are very malicious, in the sense that they curse and yell at student. I not so sure whether I should settle this in person, but I'm leaning towards that. My stepson fears and is worried about how they will react, considering that they know how he looks like when they caught him using those tickets. Not to mention, we will also be riding that bus to go the company for pay them back. Hopefully, they didn't press charges, but they don't seem that merciful. I would like to keep case away from school because I don't want it to affect his education. Also, what is best way to settle this issue? Should I ask them if they pressed charges?

Thank you

i should also mention that we live in a city that is planning on getting "tough on crime" because of the number of crimes committed by juveniles and adults (highest crime rate in the state)

Deal with the company directly. Get a receipt, and make sure it's indicated on the receipt what exactly you're paying for. YOU do it - not your stepson.

Even if your stepson didn't actually know that the tickets were forged, he should be careful. Possession of a forged instrument is a crime in most jurisdictions. Check with the police to see if charges have been filed. However, the bus company could file charges, even after you settle the debt..

Deal with the company directly. Get a receipt, and make sure it's indicated on the receipt what exactly you're paying for. YOU do it - not your stepson.

Even if your stepson didn't actually know that the tickets were forged, he should be careful. Possession of a forged instrument is a crime in most jurisdictions. Check with the police to see if charges have been filed. However, the bus company could file charges, even after you settle the debt.

1. Call the bus company and find out who you should talk to - take your son to see the person in charge.

2. Before you go, figure out how much you owe them & write it down on a piece of paper. Show them your proposal.

3. Get it done & go home.

4. Now sit down with your son & find out why he did that? Is it because your family financial situation caused him to do that, or he just wanted to show that he's smart enough to make counterfeit? A lot of more serious problems stem from tiny incidents. Sometimes people just choose to ignore it.

It will go a long way with the bus company that your stepson take responsibility for his actions. I would think that anyone willing to make ammends towards their wrong doing, would be viewed favorably. You may want to take it one step further and offer the bus company some insight on how your stepson managed to fool them. This would show the bus company and others the need to be responsible for ones actions.

Talk this over with a lawyer. He will be able to determine the correct way to get this mess straightened out without placing you or your son in an even worse position. You can check your yellow page for a legal clinic near you. Most are cheap. We can give you all kinds of advice here which may or may not be correct. A lawyer will give you correct factual advice..