to think you can't JUST take cheques?!

[hairtoday1]

I'm viewing a to buy a property tomorrow. If I like it I need to move fast. I've just been informed that 'To reserve a property you will need to provide a cheque for £100.00 payable to Metropolitan. We do not take any other payment methods on the day so without this you cannot reserve.'

Erm, really? I haven't had a cheque book in YEARS!

Is it me or is this bonkers? I could miss out on a home because of this

[halcyondays]

Can someone else write a cheque for you and you give them the cash?

[DirtyMugPolice]

It is bonkers. I have had my bank account 5 years and I wasn't issued a cheque book when I opened it. Can you ring your bank though and see if they can issue one from your account in these circumstances? I have no idea if that's a possibility but worth asking?

[Ilovecrapcrafts]

Metropolitan housing trust? I think they'll take a bank transfer if you ask

But yes totally outdated!

[Topseyt]

It is unusual these days. Cheques are fading out as a means of doing business. I go years without ever writing one these days and always have to search for my cheque book if needed. I have written one in the last 6 months, and before that none for a couple of years.

If that is a large house-building firm I would have thought they might take a credit or debit card, or online payment. Have you asked them directly?

[ILiveOnABuildsite]

Would they accept a postal order? You'd have to pay a small processing fee but in many cases they work just like a cheque.

[wooldonor]

Could your bank write out the cheque for you, do bankers cheques still exist?

[hairtoday1]

Yes it's Metropolitan!

They have one one bedroom flat left and it's come back on because a sale fell through.

Just seems mad to me.

I'll have to think how I can get a cheque... I'm squeezing the viewing in on my break tomorrow.

[VelmaD]

i get laughed at every time i request a new cheque book. but the school, and scouts, only like cash or cheques and i dislike large sums as cash which could go missing.

i write at least 1 a month still.

[Usernamegone]

Could you go to the bank and get them to issue with a bankers draft (which is like a guaranteed cheque). I think Barclays charged me about £15 seven years ago. I did this as the letting agencies wouldn't give me the keys until a normal cheque cleared and I needed the keys that day!

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

I'm in a WI and they insist we use cheques for everything, no bank transfers. It's maddening.

[addictedtosugar]

Cash and proof of ID???
Can see why credit\debit card not attractive to them. You need to process a lot of payments to make it worth while.

Or internet banking instant transfer???

[Ilovecrapcrafts]

You can get a cheque drawn up at the bank. I think they will take a bank transfer if you get them to call through to finance BUT it sounds as though you need to move quickly and this would just waste time.

They're just old fashioned with poor systems

[FelixFelix]

I've never written a cheque. I cashed one for the first time ever a few weeks ago and had to ask the bloke in the bank how to do it. It was very embarrassing.

[cardibach]

I use cheques quite regularly for paying small businesses that work in home (plumber, aga service etc). I'm surprised banks don't issue them - I get mine automatically and I'm not sure how I'd pay some service providers without one.

[hairtoday1]

Just phoned my bank. A cheque book takes up to 10 days (they're dinosaurs too).

They said I can pay £10 for them to write me a bankers draft made out to the housing trust

So I need to go do that in the morning too and then probably just lose the ten quid.

[londonrach]

I use cheques every week and couldnt run my business without them. As for the housing trust can you ask for a bank transfer.

[Janethegirl]

I've got 2 bank accounts and have cheque books for both. My dc ( both under 25) have cheque books, I do not get why an adult does not have a cheque book. So I don't understand the OP at all!

[Sparklingbrook]

I have had a bank account since about 1985 and had a cheque book ever since, before the cheque book runs out they send me a new one, so i don't understand why you wouldn't have one, if you used to.

Since the DC left first school I probably write about 3 a year. Even the window cleaner is paid online.

Weird for a large organisation to take cheques though.

[hairtoday1]

Jane: I've got half a dozen bank accounts and don't have a cheque book for any. How is my op hard to understand?

I won't lose the £100, no , if I decide not to reserve which is good!

I appreciate the points made in argument for, but still seems silly to me

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

I don't have a cheque book. I thought cheques were being phased out.

[Ineedmorepatience]

I still get paid by blinkin cheque while you are talking about dinosaurs!! Ridiculous but there it is! I also pay scouts and music exams etc by cheque as that is how they ask for it!

Hope you manage to get something sorted OP.

[EvansOvalPiesYumYum]

We are a small business, and lots of our customers (including some of the larger companies) choose to pay by cheque, even though we provide our online banking details.

Cheques are a pain but some people, and businesses, still seem to prefer them.

[Mehitabel6]

I don't use one very often, but I would find it difficult to manage without one altogether. There are some places where you need it.

[EggOnTheFloor]

Our small business also relies on cheques. I often request to pay certain invoices by BACs and equally request payment in the same method, but some companies and systems aren't using them so both need to be in use. It is harder when its not a business to business transaction. For example most of our personal clients use bank transfers to pay, but those with businesses tend to use cheques.

Seems like bankers draft is the way to go OP, fingers crossed the viewing goes well.