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AIBU?

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Original poster

Do you have a cheque book?

167 replies

DVLEh · 14/12/2025 09:06

I haven't had one since 2020.

I asked 4 friends. None of them have a cheque book either.

We're all 40s-60s and haven't needed one for years. 2 friends' bank accounts could request a cheque book, but the other 3 of us couldn't.

I need to send a cheque or postal order to the DVLA. So it's a national government service asking.

And on another note, the man in the PO yesterday didn't know what a postal order was, so couldn't issue me one.

YABU - change your bank account to one which automatically issues a cheque book

YANBU - the DVLA needs to join the 21st century

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
ViciousCurrentBun · 20/01/2026 18:08

It’s an ancient one, last used for primary school dinner money, DS is 24.

janj52301 · 20/01/2026 17:56

not for 20 years..

PollyPlumPeach · 17/12/2025 20:10

Haven't had one for well over a decade now, and haven't missed it, aside from very recently when a government service required payment either by cheque or postal order. No longer have a chequebook, and too much of a hassle going to the post office to sort a postal order. Bizarre that the govt won't accept electronic payments

StarlightLady · 17/12/2025 20:07

I still have a cheque book at the back of my knicker drawer, but can’t remember when l last used it.

Surprised the DVLA are not only still accepting them, let alone asking for them.

fatcat2007 · 17/12/2025 19:37

Yes, I needed to give wedding presents a couple of times in the last few years and have written combined cheques for me and other family attending who don’t have them!

NormasArse · 17/12/2025 07:59

Weirdly, my bank sent me a new one a few weeks ago. I still have most of the last one left, and it must be 20 years old!

Astra53 · 17/12/2025 07:55

Yes I do. It's about 20 years old. I haven't had to use it in that time, but keep it just in case.

NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 17/12/2025 07:48

Doubledenim305 · 17/12/2025 01:22

This ☝️ the DVLA never demand a cheque as the only option. Nobody has one these days

Show quote history

I have a cheque book and I see I'm not actually alone from other replies. Where I work they sometimes get cheques (in addition to DVLA refunds) so they haven't died out completely just yet

NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 17/12/2025 07:46

somanychristmaslights · 14/12/2025 09:14

Why does the DVLA need one? Are you sure that’s not a scam? When I replaced my driving license I just paid by card.

You'd be a pretty stupid scammer if your scam relied on people having cheque books 😂

Not to mention having to change your name to DVLA and get fake documents to open a bank account in that name

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 17/12/2025 07:42

Doubledenim305 · 17/12/2025 01:22

This ☝️ the DVLA never demand a cheque as the only option. Nobody has one these days

Show quote history

They did, and I do. Which was lucky.

DemonsandMosquitoes · 17/12/2025 07:31

Yes. And have only just stopped paying the hairdresser with it.

Bananafofana · 17/12/2025 06:36

@Doubledenim305 i had to replace a lost drivers licence via DVLA last month. I had to do a paper form as my government issued ID (passport) is in a different name (maiden) to what has always been on my drivers licence (married) so I had to post in my original marriage certificate. I couldn’t use the online system to order a replacement.

the ONLY options for payment with the paper form are cheque or postal order. No option for BACS or online payment in any way shape or form. It is ridiculous.

Doubledenim305 · 17/12/2025 01:22

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 14/12/2025 09:15

I have one, kept at the bottom of a drawer. I might have to write one cheque every five years or so - I think the last one was something to do with DVLA?

This ☝️ the DVLA never demand a cheque as the only option. Nobody has one these days

redfishcat · 15/12/2025 20:41

I have one, and know where it is. can’t think when I last used it
My lovely ancient parent has a cheque book and still gives children and grandchildren a cheque for Christmas and birthdays, it still feels special to receive these.

Allmarbleslost · 15/12/2025 19:24

I recon it must be at least 15 years since I've written a cheque. I don't think banks issue cheque books as standard any more do they? We definitely didnt get sent one when we changed banks a few years ago.

somanychristmaslights · 15/12/2025 18:03

DVLEh · 15/12/2025 07:44

Beware of a scam. Do your research.

You too @PashaMinaMio

Yours is quite easy. You just need to read my posts, and others, on this thread.

It's been addressed a few times by several posters that it isn't a scam.

Like I said to another poster, just because it's outside your experience, it doesn't make it a scam. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Ooooh alright, no need to be a bitch 🤷‍♀️

KimberleyClark · 15/12/2025 09:12

DisplayPurposesOnly · 15/12/2025 07:48

I wrote several cheques yesterday - Christmas money for various young people. I like that they have to go to the effort of paying them in. It's probably the only time they see a cheque.

I also wrote a cheque to DVLA last year for a replacement V5C logbook.

If they or heir parents have phone banking apps it’s no effort paying in a cheque at all?

KimberleyClark · 15/12/2025 09:09

I have one but it’s years since I used it.

idontwanttomissathing · 15/12/2025 08:49

No, not had one for at least 10 years and I only used it then to pay my then 11 yr old sons football subs.
My now early 20s children have never had one but my parents (78 and 83) do and I saw my dad use it last week to pay the man who fitted their new front door.
I do remember being taught how to write one out in school though about 1983.

tourdefrance · 15/12/2025 08:41

I have a cheque book but have voted yanbu. It is rare to use it, sometimes to donate money to a charity through the post rather than giving my credit card details.
Used it a lot when kids were in primary like pp, discovering ParentPay at secondary was a great relief.

ErrolTheDragon · 15/12/2025 08:41

I’ve still got a cheque book but I can’t remember when I last used it…
oh, think it was for some work on our driveway which was very unsatisfactory so for the only time in my life I cancelled the cheque!Grin

Anyway OP, YANBU. It’s really weird the DVLA can manage online payments for (afaik) most things - I had no problem renewing my license online recently - but not for others and are insisting on what are now archaic methods.

MandemChickenShop · 15/12/2025 08:35

Personally, I think a cheque can be more secure and convenient than online banking, in certain circumstances, particularly higher value stuff (retail banking).

TappyGilmore · 15/12/2025 08:23

I live in New Zealand where cheques were officially scrapped in 2021, but I’m sure most people wouldn’t have used them for many years before that.

MrsClatterbuck · 15/12/2025 08:15

I have 4 for 2 accounts. Actually wrote a cheque a week ago 1st in 5 years. Not sure why I'm keeping them all. The reason I have so many is I was sent new ones when my branch closed and was sent new ones with new branch details. I worked in a bank but now retired and remember having to sort the cheques in the morning into alphabetical order and sorting them away after being posted to the ledger Also remember sending them out with the statements. I still have the paid cheque we used to buy our 1st house. Each cheque used to have be examined each day for date and amount and signature.

Also for any fraud especially on business cheques.

KabukiNoh · 15/12/2025 08:04

I have to do some paperwork for the DVLA sometimes and they pay me by cheque. Thank god you can pay them in by app these days rather than go to the bank.