Original poster back to report Sinclair is fine, solid and NOT to blame for the bounced check. This was all a screw-up on my the part of my bank and Sinclair did nothing wrong. That explains why it only happened to me and no one else.
Here is the email I received from Sinclair explaining what went wrong:
"It appears that the error was made by your bank--not ours.
We use positive pay, meaning we provide our bank with a list of the check numbers, and the amounts. In this day and age, with all of the fraud that is going on, most large companies do this, and your bank will be very familiar with the process--I am sure they offer this feature to their business clients as well. Checks not on this list, or changed from this list, are rejected (this is the protection that positive pay allows).
As you can see from the paperwork that you sent me, your bank presented this check with a different amount, and so it was rejected. We were protected by our processes, now you need to get protection/service from your bank. Our check is for $7.03--not $7.00.
Please have your bank present the check at the correct amount. They should do this (checks are allowed to be presented twice). They should also reverse your bank fee, as this was entirely their fault."
I owe a big apology to Sinclair for this gaffe on my bank's part. Then again, I didn't know; all I saw was a letter from my bank that Sinclair had bounced a check. My husband is going to our bank this morning to re-deposit the check and tear them a new one for upsetting us, Sinclair and all of you!
I'm so sorry, my mystery shopping friends, for causing you grief over this. I feel absolutely awful.
Robinv