Promise to make some advance payment in lieu of some future service is not a debt or a legally enforceable liability.
You haven't taken any service but may take service in future ... but if you pay now in advance ...... you will get concession ...won't you?..............
why? .............. because that money which that service provider uses it as 'capital' for free ...
Otherwise to raise such 'capital' from a bank that service provider has to take a lot of efforts..
Even airline companies say ......'if you book in advance you will get air ticket cheaper'.
But if you pay to that future air ticket let's 8 months from now, by a cheque .............. and even if airline deposits that cheque immediately and it gets bounced, .......................... then airline company doesn't go to court for bounced cheque!!!
So ensure that you don't make any intimation of 'request of service'.
If you have already made any intimation, then first withdraw that intimation.
(let's say you made a req to a holiday resort scheme to be availed in dec-2011 in Goa!! then withdraw that request to them that you won't be able to make it in that period.
and also do a stop payment in bank.
once you do above, lastly then request them to cancel your scheme altogether!!)
Many companies raise such 'capital'.
Let's say ....
They float a schme and say ......."Pay 25k now ........... and live in our resort for a week for free (subject to availability) in dec-2011 (peak time) ...... which otherwise would cost you atleast 50k if you book in the last minute!!!"
If let's say 10000 people apply. Then that Resort-company gets a liquid money, interest free, to use upto dec-11
10000 x 25k=25 crores !!
(In reality, actual statistics ................... actually lacs and lacs of people in India apply!! ............... but all never get accomodated ...... nor all actually book such request also.... there is a condition of 'subject to availabiliy'!!
End result ..... almost 2000 people actually intimate the date!! ...out of which 1500 get the booking !!.... and in Jan-2012 ...................... 8500 people get their 25k back as refund !!
In short, company uses 25k of those 8500 people's money for free!!! ) TO raise such capital from bank, otherwise it may be difficult.
Same is the scenario for IPOs in stock market!!
Hence don't worry, go to bank and make a stop payment. It will cost you probably 50 bucks in ICICI, I don't know about other banks.
In short, you shouln't be penalised if cheque gets bounced, if above conditions are met.