Cheque not cashed for 6 years

[EmmalinaC]

Just had a call from someone my daughter went to primary school with. Didn't recognise the number as we weren't really friends. (My DD is now in year 11).

She was phoning to say she'd just found an envelope with a cheque in from me dated Feb 2016 for birthday cards (she was a Phoenix Cards trader) that she forgot to cash, and would I mind transferring the money now please...

So AIBU to say not my problem you've had it for SIX YEARS or do I owe her £28 given that I did receive the goods?

FWIW I have a joint account with DH and neither of us do a routine bank rec apart from for high value stuff so I had no idea it was never cashed.

Thoughts please!

I would pay it, anything else is frankly mean. Ok its her mistake but haven't we all cocked up here and there in a job, we are all human. Imagine how shit she feels to be trawling through paperwork and asking people for small sums. Then imagine seeing it on MN. I hope you have changed some details OP because I feel really sorry for this woman.

Devil’s advocate but what if she cashed it using her banking app?

I’m not sure this function was available 6 years ago. My own banking app still doesn’t do this.

In the olden days we used to check the dates on cheques as they were paid in and then the drawers bank checked those over £1000 were checked on presentation - a surprising number got through the cashier check.

I don't know what they do now but I think if she paid this in through an automatic deposit thingy, there's every possibility it would be paid.

@Gardengirl108

A cheque is a ‘promise to pay’ not a payment. So if you’ve had the goods then you should pay her, after she sends that one back. Technically a cheque doesn’t expire but most banks wouldn’t take it after 6 months.

A cheque is a ‘promise to pay’ not a payment.

So is cash. It says “I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of……” so unless she gives her gold or coins she still hasn't paid her.

To be honest, I wouldn’t pay. If you sent her a cheque at the time then you did pay her, it’s her fault for not cashing it in. That’s not your responsibility.

If you really want to then I guess you could pay her now but I wouldn’t be inclined to because you already did what you had to do.

Forgot to say OP, do you actually know for sure the cheque wasn’t cashed? She could be just saying that when in fact she has cashed it in

@BoredZelda

Devil’s advocate but what if she cashed it using her banking app?

I’m not sure this function was available 6 years ago. My own banking app still doesn’t do this.

It was for some banks, Barclays I think were the first. Also, if the cheque was from the same bank as yours, that was available then, it's the intrabank clearing that took ages to develop.

I've no idea if any of my apps do it, can't recall the last time I got a cheque.

@ifyouturnonthelight

Not the point but how many birthday cards did you get for £28?!

28. They were £1 each. It seemed like a bargain at a time when DCs were going to parties every week