ARC Best terrible accounting practices

Not sure if this is the correct forum for this. If not I apologize.

Normally I'm a driver and O/O but the very small company I work for on the side is having a hell of a time with an ARCBest bill. Had them ship a load for us 3 years ago with the bill was paid and we got a reciept the day after the check cleared. Ever since they have been reaching out for payment and backing down after they acknowledge the reciept. It eventually went thru several collections agencies who told us the bill was indeed paid and not to worry.

Fast forward 2 years and we get notification they are taking us to court. Now they are hardlining saying they never received payment and have gone so far as to say that the reciept was generated on a technicality. Our bank did the best they could do to track it but it was cashed in such a manner to make tracking impossible. ARCBest is claiming the endorsement on the back is not theirs either. Our bank says the check is too far in the past to reclaim the money.

What do we do? We can't afford to pay a freight bill AGAIN that is the better part of $10K.

Honestly we believe one of their employees fraudulently cashed the check and pocketed the funds. Of course they don't agree.

 

Agreed but we got a reciept from them the following business day after it cleared.