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AIBU?

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Original poster

“Please make cheques payable to”

259 replies

asatelliteisnttoofarright · 17/07/2026 06:37

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?

OP posts:
RoseOliviaAu · 17/07/2026 07:54

I have a chequebook and have used precisely one cheque since I got it in 2011. I enjoyed it. We have one we need to cash on the fridge but no idea how to do it because there are no actual banks near us that we are members of.

NotBreezy · 17/07/2026 07:54

I love cheque books! My parents still occasionally give my cheques. They are in their 80s though.

hahabahbag · 17/07/2026 07:54

It’s unusual I’ll give you that but I’m suspecting that as a surgeon most of his clients are older perhaps, I’ve not had a chequebook in many years, but paying over the phone isn’t uncommon, I typically pay my insurance that way

Owly11 · 17/07/2026 07:54

Sherararara · 17/07/2026 07:48

Most people would pay via the internet.

Show quote history

There are many reasons why a company might need you to call in. Fraud prevention, minimisation of mistakes by the customer especially in an organisation where some people self fund and some people are paid by insurance pay outs, cyber crime and most importantly admin. It creates a lot of extra admin linking payments to invoices via bank transfer and the organisation's software may be set up to link invoices directly to card payments where it won't be to bank transfers.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 17/07/2026 07:53

My daughter got a six thousand pound tax rebate two years ago from HMRC. By cheque. Too large to pay over the app (I don't know whether they've changed this since as I've not had another cheque that big!) and we live somewhere where banks are like hens teeth.

It took a ridiculous amount of organisation to get that money put into her account, Some places are still operating as if it's the 1980s. I'm due a tax rebate from HMRC next year and I'm looking forward to seeing how it arrives, particularly since they have my bank details already...

BringBackCatsEyes · 17/07/2026 07:51

SquirrelGG · 17/07/2026 07:44

I haven't paid anything over the phone by card in decades! I wouldn't say it is standard at all. We haven't had cheques here for quite a number of years either. Surely a bank transfer or online payment is more standard now.

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It’s becoming less common but there are still quite a few times I’ve had to “read out the long card number” over the phone.

Original poster
asatelliteisnttoofarright · 17/07/2026 07:51

itsmeitsyou · 17/07/2026 07:43

I don't get it.
You would be using the phone to send the money either way.
Put your big girl knickers on and speak to a stranger on the phone.

Again - my issue isn’t the fact I have to make a phone call. My job is to make phone calls. I love it.

My issue is that it’s so inconvenient! I have to hope that someone answers the phone promptly today, or it gets delayed by another two days. It’s just not useful in a 9-5 society.

OP posts:
Original poster
asatelliteisnttoofarright · 17/07/2026 07:50

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.

No, I literally work a job where I make phone calls all day and love it.

My issue is that it means that I have to hope someone will be actually able to answer the phone and take payment at 10:30 today, or somehow find a cheque!

OP posts:
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.

Sherararara · 17/07/2026 07:48

Owly11 · 17/07/2026 07:44

Oh I guess I must have imagined having to ring insurance companies this year to make payments then 🙄 Silly me.

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Most people would pay via the internet.

Sherararara · 17/07/2026 07:47

Despite all the obtuse replies OP you are correct. Both methods are outdated and rare these days.

SquirrelGG · 17/07/2026 07:44

Owly11 · 17/07/2026 07:22

I can't see a problem with paying over the phone by card. I always have to do that for insurance renewals. It's a pretty standard way to pay for things.

I haven't paid anything over the phone by card in decades! I wouldn't say it is standard at all. We haven't had cheques here for quite a number of years either. Surely a bank transfer or online payment is more standard now.

Owly11 · 17/07/2026 07:44

asatelliteisnttoofarright · 17/07/2026 07:26

Maybe ten years ago, but not offering a bank transfer or online payment is weird as hell

Show quote history

Oh I guess I must have imagined having to ring insurance companies this year to make payments then 🙄 Silly me.

itsmeitsyou · 17/07/2026 07:43

I don't get it.
You would be using the phone to send the money either way.
Put your big girl knickers on and speak to a stranger on the phone.

HelpMeGetThrough · 17/07/2026 07:42

OwlCalledSage · 17/07/2026 07:17

Wow. Do cheque books even exist anymore?

Yep, got one here. Last cheque I wrote was last year.

I pretty much pay for everything in cash, as that’s my preference. Will do card at a push.

Original poster
asatelliteisnttoofarright · 17/07/2026 07:34

TappyGilmore · 17/07/2026 07:27

That was written on a letter that came home from school earlier this year about how to pay for the residential. I don’t live in the UK and cheques ceased to exist in this country in 2021. There were other things on the letter that indicated that it hadn’t been updated since 2019 and they just use the same one each year.

And yes if they actually want people to pay then they should have easier payment methods. Calling them to pay by credit card is dependent on finding the time to do it during business hours, then someone actually answering when they call instead of them already being busy on another call, etc.

Exactly!

I have a 15 minute window that I can pay in today (I have lunch plans already), and if they don’t answer the phone it has to wait till Monday

OP posts:
TappyGilmore · 17/07/2026 07:27

That was written on a letter that came home from school earlier this year about how to pay for the residential. I don’t live in the UK and cheques ceased to exist in this country in 2021. There were other things on the letter that indicated that it hadn’t been updated since 2019 and they just use the same one each year.

And yes if they actually want people to pay then they should have easier payment methods. Calling them to pay by credit card is dependent on finding the time to do it during business hours, then someone actually answering when they call instead of them already being busy on another call, etc.

Original poster
asatelliteisnttoofarright · 17/07/2026 07:26

Owly11 · 17/07/2026 07:22

I can't see a problem with paying over the phone by card. I always have to do that for insurance renewals. It's a pretty standard way to pay for things.

Maybe ten years ago, but not offering a bank transfer or online payment is weird as hell

OP posts:
Owly11 · 17/07/2026 07:22

I can't see a problem with paying over the phone by card. I always have to do that for insurance renewals. It's a pretty standard way to pay for things.

Original poster
asatelliteisnttoofarright · 17/07/2026 07:19

UniquePinkSwan · 17/07/2026 07:17

Using a phone is outdated?

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

OP posts:
Original poster
asatelliteisnttoofarright · 17/07/2026 07:19

EmeraldRoulette · 17/07/2026 07:16

@asatelliteisnttoofarright i'm amazed you didn't have to pay upfront

Was this one person by any chance? Like a one man band?

@EverMissWicklowSometimes love the username!

Nope, at a private hospital. I asked at the front desk because I was surprised too and they said that they’d send me an invoice, which has come from the surgeon and not the hospital. So I’m guessing it’s tax or something.

I also didn’t expect it via post! I expected it all to come electronically

OP posts:
DeftGoldHedgehog · 17/07/2026 07:18

I got a credit refund from a water company sent by cheque. They do it deliberately to delay and perhaps avoid payment as it's much more likely that a cheque would be lost. It's archaic. Fine if someone specifically wants a cheque but I would like direct payment into my account, please. Perhaps I should pay them by cheque going forward.

fellupthestairs · 17/07/2026 07:17

EverMissWicklowSometimes · 17/07/2026 07:14

I would phone them up and ask for their bank account details so you can do a transfer. Just to make a point. Say you've lost your card or something!

Which would be making it take twice as long as necessary

OwlCalledSage · 17/07/2026 07:17

Wow. Do cheque books even exist anymore?

UniquePinkSwan · 17/07/2026 07:17

asatelliteisnttoofarright · 17/07/2026 06:42

The only other method is to call them up and pay via card. Both methods are pretty outdated

Show quote history

Using a phone is outdated?

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