Critical alert regarding Chelsea Cash gift certificates

I received this email from the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce, regarding the Chelsea Cash gift certificates.

Attention all members:

We have just received word that Certfichecks, the company that manages our Chelsea Cash program has ceased operations as of 2/26/09. We had absolutely no warning regarding this announcement. DO NOT accept any Chelsea Cash certifichecks. We will be following up with additional information as soon as it becomes available. Please follow this link for information from Certifichecks: http://www.certifichecks.com/

Folks can email or call us at the Chamber office with any questions or concerns.

Bob Pierce
Executive Director
Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce
734-475-1145
www.chelseamichamber.org

Not only is this an inconvenience for merchants and customers, but it's a shame that there wasn't any warning. I hope the Chamber of Commerce will be able to replace this program. It was really handy to be able to pick up gift certificates we could use anywhere in town.

UPDATED, 3/6/09 with more information from the Chamber:
This update came in from the CACC yesterday:

On February 26, 2009, CertifiChecks, Inc., the vendor for Chelsea Cash gift certificates, ceased operations and, according to its website, claims to be in the process of filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Any member of the public who holds a Chelsea Cash gift certificate should deliver it to the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce office. At the proper time, the Chamber will present the Chelsea Cash gift certificates to the bankruptcy court as part of a claim against CertifiChecks, Inc.'s assets.

The Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce will post updates on this website about this situation as soon as information becomes available: www.chelseamichamber.org. Bob Pierce, Executive Director, is working closely with the Board of Directors and The Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals to bring this situation to a resolution. If you have any questions, please email Bob at bpierce@chelseamichamber.org or contact the office.

To view CertifiChecks, Inc.'s official notification on its website, please follow the Chelsea Cash links as though you were going to purchase a new gift certificate: Chelsea Cash (this is now an informational link only, the gift certificate program is currently suspended).