“Please make cheques payable to”

asatelliteisnttoofarright · 2026-07-17T05:37:20+00:00

I went for a private healthcare appointment recently and just got the invoice in the post. It says that the preferred payment method is a cheque! I’m in my 20s and have never written a cheque before. AIBU to think they need to update their payment terms?

Papyrophile · 19/07/2026 09:52

I use cheques, infrequently, and usually only for larger sums or for wedding presents as below. And I do think they have a role in preventing fraud.

Backedoffhackedoff · 19/07/2026 08:22

MandemChickenShop · 18/07/2026 23:15

cheques are making a huge comeback to reduce fraud

They’re really not 😂

MandemChickenShop · 18/07/2026 23:15

cheques are making a huge comeback to reduce fraud

MimiGC · 18/07/2026 23:06

Jc2001 · 18/07/2026 18:27

What's to love about them? It must be at least 15 years since my bank issued me a cheque book.

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I like them, they sometimes come in handy, though not often nowadays, I grant you. I will be using one in a few weeks, when I make a gift to my niece who is getting married. I have ordered a nice personalised money wallet to put the cheque in. The alternative is handing over a large sum of cash or an impersonal bank transfer, neither of which appeals to me.
As far as I know, anyone can be issued a cheque book. I don’t request one, they just arrive, albeit very infrequently these days.

Original poster

asatelliteisnttoofarright · 18/07/2026 19:11

WerewolfOfLoudon · 18/07/2026 17:48

You don't think your own comments about using cheques and paying by card over the phone aren't ageist but anything directed at your age group is?

If phoning is inconvenient, send a cheque.

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How is it ageist to point out it’s 2026 and things have moved on? I can’t send a cheque when I don’t have a chequebook!

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Jc2001 · 18/07/2026 18:27

MimiGC · 18/07/2026 16:59

Yes! I love cheques, but rarely get to use them now.

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What's to love about them? It must be at least 15 years since my bank issued me a cheque book.

WerewolfOfLoudon · 18/07/2026 17:48

asatelliteisnttoofarright · 18/07/2026 15:54

It’s ageist and unacceptable. I’ve explained why the telephone call is hard for me, it’s not because I don’t like making calls but it’s because it’s inconvenient for me to fit it around my work. Especially when they don’t answer the phone!

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You don't think your own comments about using cheques and paying by card over the phone aren't ageist but anything directed at your age group is?

If phoning is inconvenient, send a cheque.

BaseballBraves · 18/07/2026 17:01

I remember cheques fondly. When you were skint back in the 90’s and payday wasn’t for another three days, you could do you grocery shopping and pay by cheque, safe in the knowledge that it would take three days to clear!

but today??? Really?

MimiGC · 18/07/2026 16:59

OwlCalledSage · 17/07/2026 07:17

Wow. Do cheque books even exist anymore?

Yes! I love cheques, but rarely get to use them now.

Poppingby · 18/07/2026 16:35

asatelliteisnttoofarright · 18/07/2026 15:54

It’s ageist and unacceptable. I’ve explained why the telephone call is hard for me, it’s not because I don’t like making calls but it’s because it’s inconvenient for me to fit it around my work. Especially when they don’t answer the phone!

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We'll have to agree to disagree about whether it's ageist. I've explained why it isn't. I don't think it's unacceptable either. There are generalisations people make about my generation that I accept because I'm a member of society affected by societal phenomena just like everyone else. Nothing to do with my age and I'm not special.

I think having to make a phone call in your lunch hour is not that difficult in the scheme of things tbh.

Original poster

asatelliteisnttoofarright · 18/07/2026 15:54

Poppingby · 18/07/2026 11:39

It's not ageist. I give you its a generalisation and one should should be wary of those.

I am in a good position to know, though, that many people in their 20s do avoid phone calls and incidental social contact when compared to other birth cohorts because they have grown up with different technology and with a couple of years' disruption to that kind of social contact in their socially formative years. So it will feel strange when such contact is necessary/ requested by someone.

It wasn't necessarily a criticism either, just an observation, but I'm sorry if it hurt your feelings. Especially as you say it doesn't apply to you.

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It’s ageist and unacceptable. I’ve explained why the telephone call is hard for me, it’s not because I don’t like making calls but it’s because it’s inconvenient for me to fit it around my work. Especially when they don’t answer the phone!

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notacooldad · 18/07/2026 11:39

Dh is self employed. Some if his customers give him cheques. Not all the time but he still gets them.
Hes not bothered, at least he has been paid!

Poppingby · 18/07/2026 11:39

asatelliteisnttoofarright · 17/07/2026 22:45

It’s a very ageist take from @Poppingby.

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It's not ageist. I give you its a generalisation and one should should be wary of those.

I am in a good position to know, though, that many people in their 20s do avoid phone calls and incidental social contact when compared to other birth cohorts because they have grown up with different technology and with a couple of years' disruption to that kind of social contact in their socially formative years. So it will feel strange when such contact is necessary/ requested by someone.

It wasn't necessarily a criticism either, just an observation, but I'm sorry if it hurt your feelings. Especially as you say it doesn't apply to you.

Missthemachine · 18/07/2026 07:55

Goatsarebest · 17/07/2026 22:46

Now you are just being a dick

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“Now”?

Goatsarebest · 17/07/2026 22:46

asatelliteisnttoofarright · 17/07/2026 08:33

Ah, because they shouldn’t be driving!

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Now you are just being a dick

Original poster

asatelliteisnttoofarright · 17/07/2026 22:45

SquirrelGG · 17/07/2026 22:11

I'm retired, worked on reception//customer service all my life so no problems making phone calls, or having social contact with people, and nothing to do with Covid. It's just an outdated way to pay accounts.

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It’s a very ageist take from @Poppingby.

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MsGreying · 17/07/2026 22:36

Virgin media repaid me about £14 by cheque.
It had stars around the written out numbers so my app wouldn't accept it.
Which meant a trip to town where lunch cost me more than £14.
Cheque failed to go into machine and had to be removed from the back by staff.
Teller told me the stars were the reason the cheque didn't scan.

I wonder how many people just wouldn't bother going to the bank for £14.

SquirrelGG · 17/07/2026 22:16

SerendipityJane · 17/07/2026 10:09

AS and until we find a way to replicate what they offer (and there's no sign of that yet) then yes.

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Cheques haven't been able to be used where I live since 2021. Somehow we manage.

SquirrelGG · 17/07/2026 22:11

Poppingby · 17/07/2026 07:48

People in their 20s just hate having to make phone calls or indeed have any incidental social contact with people. COVID did it. That's why you think it's weird.

I'm retired, worked on reception//customer service all my life so no problems making phone calls, or having social contact with people, and nothing to do with Covid. It's just an outdated way to pay accounts.

Hayfield123 · 17/07/2026 17:57

asatelliteisnttoofarright · 17/07/2026 07:19

I think paying by card over the phone is. Even most solicitors offices allow BACS now!

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Yes be careful with solicitors using BACS they sent my sons mortgage money to the wrong person £300.000.00 it was a very stressful 24 hours. Cheques all the way.

Missthemachine · 17/07/2026 17:42

asatelliteisnttoofarright · 17/07/2026 17:21

Perhaps you could get a life?

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Mid twenties you say?

NeverDropYourMooncup · 17/07/2026 17:22

That would be immensely annoying and involve me transferring the money to DP and getting him to call to make a payment, as Barclays stopped issuing me with a chequebook over 20 years ago.

I take it the consultant isn't in the habit of treating anybody with hearing loss.

Original poster

asatelliteisnttoofarright · 17/07/2026 17:21

Backedoffhackedoff · 17/07/2026 17:19

You sound really over invested in this. It’s just a post about cheques being outdated and inconvenient. No need to interrogate the OPs schedule

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Yeah but to be fair anyone who doesn’t understand that it takes less time to post on Mumsnet than it does to make it through a hospital switchboard is quite funny.

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Original poster

asatelliteisnttoofarright · 17/07/2026 17:21

Missthemachine · 17/07/2026 17:19

Waiting for a flight!

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Perhaps you could get a life?

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Missthemachine · 17/07/2026 17:19

Backedoffhackedoff · 17/07/2026 17:19

You sound really over invested in this. It’s just a post about cheques being outdated and inconvenient. No need to interrogate the OPs schedule

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Waiting for a flight!