Lack of Consideration Lowell, without any mention of payment, helped his friend Ransom move from Cambridge to Gambier. At the end of the day, after he was in his new apartment, Ransom told Lowell that hed give him some money for helping him move. The next day, Ransom gave Lowell a $200 check. Lowell cashed the check at a local bar and promptly left town. Ransom then stopped payment on the check. Ransoms promise to pay Lowell was not enforceable b e cause Lowell had completed the work when the promise was madeit was past consider a tion. The local bar could recover the $200 from Ransom, however, because it was a holder in due course and was not subject to the personal defense of lack of consideration.