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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think you can't JUST take cheques?!

143 replies

hairtoday1 · 29/07/2015 21:03

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 Confused

OP posts:
EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 30/07/2015 12:04

(Sorry - the battery in my keyboard is running low, and not registering some keystrokes. That should have been 'elect TO pay')

LurkingHusband · 30/07/2015 12:12

Are cheques being made obsolete ? Much as I loath them, I'm forced to agree with my banker friend that they have no modern equivalent - hence my recollection they had been spared. And with some banks allowing you to pay a cheque in by photo they could live on. Certainly if I could pay a cheque in that way, I'd drop my objections.

Tinuviel · 30/07/2015 12:21

We were informed yesterday by our bank that they have no intention of phasing out cheques.

OP, I thought banks offered a 'counter check' for which there is no charge. I've used one to buy a car before and they wouldn't accept a personal cheque as it's only guaranteed up to £100.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 30/07/2015 12:22

The banks keep threatening to make cheques obsolete, LH, but thankfully they haven't yet! If you could pay in photo cheques, that would be great! (Now all I have to do is get one of them new-fangled mobile phone things) Grin

I'd still have to make a visit to the bank to pay in the cash, though (I don't expect the bank would accept photos of banknotes) Hee hee!

Pastamancer · 30/07/2015 12:28

I thought that cheques were going to be stopped but that had been reversed as there were too many instances where cheques were needed.

My Guide unit prefers people to pay us via bank transfer as it means we don't have to make a trip to the bank to pay money in but we still need cheques as we need 2 people for authorisation on payments. Online payments are not allowed for charity accounts in a lot of banks so unless 2 people go into the bank at the same time to withdraw cash, cheques are our only option.

takeinyourhen · 30/07/2015 12:41

Tinuviel Lloyds bank told me when I was paying in cheques for work a few months ago that they are going to be obsolete by 2018.

Mehitabel6 · 30/07/2015 13:09

They can't make cheques obsolete. Those not on computers couldn't pay anything.

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 30/07/2015 13:13

Exactly that, Mehitabel My parents can barely use a mobile phone and really cannot manage anything on computer at all. (Same as many of our customers). If cheques became obsolete, many elderly people would not be able to access services, as they would have no way of paying.

RedSoloCup · 30/07/2015 13:19

I use the chequebook for passports etc, I don't for school / clubs as they take so long to cash them and I forget I've given them and spend the money on something else.

Mehitabel6 · 30/07/2015 13:19

My mother is over 90yrs. She is of sound mind and may well be here after 2018. She hasn't a computer- she is never going to have one, and her hands are too shaky if she did. She is disabled and rarely gets to the bank. She is very frail and doesn't want to be carrying much cash. She pays regular things by direct debit or standing order but she needs cheques for anything else. She is not alone.
Maybe she could have a piece of paper promising payment............ hang on....... that is called a cheque!
She is already a second class citizen- the best rates for savings are all online accounts- it is unfair.

Original poster
hairtoday1 · 30/07/2015 13:31

For those that are interested, I went into the bank asking for a bankers draft thingy which they charge £10 for. Very helpful chap behind the counter said I could have a 'counter cheque' which cost nothing (mentioned something about being able to do it because I had money in savings...?). Anyway that was free.

No need for it now though as the flat was no good!

I need to give the cheque back though rather than rip it up.

OP posts:
GraysAnalogy · 30/07/2015 13:32

I got a cheque book from Halifax about 8 months ago, I was shocked.

takeinyourhen · 30/07/2015 13:45

Mehitabel6 - I do believe that pieces of paper promising payment are more commonly known as banknotes

to think you can't JUST take cheques?!
LadyNym · 30/07/2015 14:01

I'm another one who has never had a cheque book or written a cheque. I'm close to 30 and have never been issued a cheque book with any of my accounts and it's just not something I've ever needed.

Littlef00t · 30/07/2015 14:20

Ooh its good to know about the counter cheque, I have no idea where my cheque book would be even if I was ever issued one.

RosePetels · 30/07/2015 14:22

That is bonkers, I don't think I know anyone who has a cheque book

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 30/07/2015 14:29

Ask around, RosePetals , ask around. I'm pretty sure you will find someone you know who actually does own a cheque book Hmm

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 30/07/2015 14:30

My son is only just 20, and we have to provide a cheque to his sports club annually.

GGabcd · 30/07/2015 14:35

I write between 2 and 4 cheques every month!

I can't imagine not having a cheque book!

How do you pay your lawn guy and the window washer?!?!!?!

Melonfool · 30/07/2015 14:36

Cheques aren't being phased out - in fact they are being digitalised by the end of next year, which will probably increase their use.

There are still nearly 3 million written each day.

dhossell · 30/07/2015 15:46

I'm 28, have been in full time employment since I was 16 and I've never had a cheque book ! If I need a cheque for anything I normally go to my mum or gran and give them the money then they write me a cheque. You have to request one they aren't issued as standard and I can probably count on one hand the amount of times I've used one so I don't see the point, in fact I'm not sure I'd know what to write on them !Blush
Good luck securing the property !

RB68 · 30/07/2015 17:03

I remember having lessons in school on how to bank and write cheques!! We even had a school bank run by Midland Bank ...HSBC today!

I do think they are a waste of time, paper and security though. You should see how they are manufactured....

Mehitabel6 · 30/07/2015 17:20

No takeinyourhen that is quite different. Anyone could take your interpretation off her and use it anywhere. A cheque is quite a different personal promise that she needs to have signed and to have to a particular payee. No use to anyone else and if they did take it she could stop it. If someone takes her £10 note she can't stop it- she has lost it.

RedLentil · 30/07/2015 17:21

I live and work rurally, an hour from my business account branch, and everyone pays me by cheque despite my best attempts to get them to use bank transfers. Though i did get someone to make me a credit card payment using Stripe - an online service that makes it much easier for small businesses to accept card payments. I can see that persuading quite a few cheque-based transactions online ...

tethersend · 30/07/2015 17:25

Did you like the flat, OP?