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

I still have to write cheques for

Football subscriptions
Hairdresser

Occasionally plumbers/oven or carpet cleaners etc.

the schools have gone all 'ParentPay' which actually takes longer than writing a cheque but is easier for the school.

Sometimes, a cheque is used as a sort of deposit, for something like a property reservation. It will be held for a while, pending some action. Cashed if necessary, not cashed if not necessary. Whereas an online bank payment may need to be refunded if it's not needed.

(IYSWIM)

I'm in my 20's and have never had a cheque book. I occasionally ask an older relative to write me one and give them the money.

If for any chance it doesn't work out will the bank still charge you for the cheque?

When I opened a new account about three years ago, I was told no cheque book. I wasn't worried as never used one and still haven't needed a cheque since. I just transfer or use my debit card.

I haven't had a cheque book in about a decade and I can't say I've ever needed one.

when we booked out registrar for our wedding they would only take a cheque to confirm it, I had to spend an hour rooting around the loft trying to fine my cheque book. I hadn't used it since 2004!!

I'm surprised that so many people don't have cheque books. I do online banking, pay most bills by direct debit, use paypal a lot etc etc but still have a cheque book and get sent a new one whenever it's almost finished.

I mostly write cheques for dd - school trips, school photos, guide camps etc.
The one that surprised me recently was having to write a cheque when I renewed my driving licence. I tried to pay online, but it wouldn't let me. DP hadn't been able to pay online either when he tried renewing his licence a few months earlier.

I'm 24, I don't have a cheque book and I have never written a cheque.

I would have no idea how to write one .

I need cheques for

Anything for school - trips/ uniform/ dinners/ nursery snacks

Window cleaner

charity sales (NCT sales)

I pay ballet lessons, rock climbing and Rugby by transfer and everything else (swimming, other sports) by credit card - if I didn't have a credit card that would've cash or cheque rather than transfer

I write cheques all the time - for school, dancing, Guides, paying tradesmen etc. And my husband, who runs a small business gets paid by cheque on a daily basis. I don't know how I'd manage without a cheque book!

I hadn't used cheques for ages until my children started primary/rainbows/cubs etc. Now I need to write several a term (but still tend to have no idea where I have left the cheque book and need to hunt for it each time). I'm also a signatory for two clubs and they seem to only pay by cheque, no facility for online banking.

I write cheques weekly. School dinners, trips, paying the childminder etc.

I can't understand how people manage without. I am off staying in small B&Bs soon. Unless I carry huge amounts of cash I need cheques- they don't take credit cards/ debit cards and they don't do online banking.

Toads we are the same age. I'm glad it's not just me who has no clue about cheques!

I haven't written a cheque for about 3 years! Think that was for my daughter's prom ticket.

So few places take them now, even my window cleaner takes a card payment!

I'm 29 and I don't have a cheque book. I wasn't given one when I opened my bank account but I can request one if needed. But I've never needed to use a cheque.

I'm 25 and I've written about 3 cheques in my lifetime. The only reason I have a chequebook at the moment is because we're getting married next year and I knew some places would want deposits sent as cheques rather than directly into their bank accounts. I'm always worried I'm writing it wrong as I do it so infrequently! I think it's a generational/small business thing, my mum is a treasurer for Scouts and she still gets tons of cheques sent through.

I've never written a cheque in my life.

I expect you are OK if you are a city person and not wanting to go off the beaten track.

Also OK if you don't deal with the very elderly. My mother is over 90yrs and if you want her money you would need to take a cheque.

We are sent a new cheque book regularly by one of the big banks, we received one just this week. We've had this account with them for about 6 years.

Recently I've paid for Beavers, music lessons, sports clubs, school photographs, afterschool club.

Window cleaner has just moved over to giving us his bank details and letting us pay direct.

Only thing I've needed a cheque book for in the let 10 years is school related stuff but they went over to parent pay a couple of years ago. DDs do dancing, brownies etc and they all take cash or bank transfer. No idea where my cheque book is these days.

I frequently use cheques, to me it is so much quicker than faffing about on-line, remembering your security codes, using the right account etc etc. But then I am probably a lot older than most mumsnetters and live in the sticks .