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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you have a cheque book?

167 replies

DVLEh · 14/12/2025 09:06

I haven't had one since 2020.

I asked 4 friends. None of them have a cheque book either.

We're all 40s-60s and haven't needed one for years. 2 friends' bank accounts could request a cheque book, but the other 3 of us couldn't.

I need to send a cheque or postal order to the DVLA. So it's a national government service asking.

And on another note, the man in the PO yesterday didn't know what a postal order was, so couldn't issue me one.

YABU - change your bank account to one which automatically issues a cheque book

YANBU - the DVLA needs to join the 21st century

OP posts:
Vaguelyclassical · 14/12/2025 13:38

This is actually a cultural (well, national) thing. In the US, people paying things by bank transfers all the time is not so universally common and a lot of people even people under 90!) still have cheque books (aka check books) and pay bills by cheque from time to time. Mind you, the banks also still have lots of brick and mortar branches where you can deposit checks and do real banking with real people as a matter of routine.

19lottie82 · 14/12/2025 13:40

Yes, somewhere at the back of my junk drawer. I don’t think I’ve used it in over 3 years though.

ohtowinthelottery · 14/12/2025 13:44

I've got one but it lives in the filing cabinet. I think i may have written one cheque in the last 2 years and that was only because I thought it was amusing to send a cheque to a firm whose systems seemed to be so archaic that a cheque seemed appropriate. They did actually allow bank transfers but wanted a phone call to tell them that was how you'd paid if you used that method! You do wonder how some businesses manage to function in the 21st century!

AliTheMinx · 14/12/2025 13:47

I have one, but barely use it. I think the only time I have used it over the last few yeats was for school photos. My son receives a cheque every year for his birthday from an elderly family friend.

Igotu · 14/12/2025 13:48

It's somewhere in the house. Last used in 2016 if I recall.

Original poster
DVLEh · 14/12/2025 14:01

Bananafofana · 14/12/2025 13:33

@DVLEh I struck this last month - had to pay for replacement licence and couldn’t believe the only options were cheque or postal order. Might as well have suggested wiring the money or sending a telegram.
we turned the house upside down and found a cheque book with ONE cheque in it, last used in 2018.

I should have put an envelope of cash on a pigeons leg and sent it to Swansea.

OP posts:
Getoffofmyland · 14/12/2025 14:02

I have one but only person I pay is my gardener - one probably lasts me a year

ArcticGrass · 14/12/2025 17:36

I do have one, can’t remember the last time I used it, years.

Arlanymor · 14/12/2025 17:44

These are the DVLA services which you need to pay for by cheque or postal order - usually because there is a specific form which has to go alongside the payment so the two things need to coincide. I am sure that they are working on ways to improve this however and the vast majority of services are thankfully payable online or over the phone:

  • Application to exchange a non-GB driving licence for a GB one.
  • Application for a driving licence following a disqualification
  • Requests for vehicle information from individuals (companies and other organisations can use the automated online service)
  • Application for a vehicle registration certificate where the original is not available.
  • Applications for reduced vehicle tax for those receiving the standard rate of PIP
  • Application to amend vehicle excise duty details -
  • Trade licence applications, including firstlicences, renewal or replacement
TheHateIsNotGood · 14/12/2025 17:46

As a pp stated....Land Registry also give only the cheque/PO options to pay fees for some of their forms. Recently wrote a cheque for a friend who didn't have a cheque book.

ScrambledEggs12 · 14/12/2025 17:49

Yes, I use it once a year. It's sponsorship of a specific animal. The more popular animals you can do online. But this one can only be done by cheque or by writing my bank details on a piece of paper and posting them which I don't want to do. Every year I pay by cheque and write a note saying that I hope they sort it out so it can be done online next year....

ScrambledEggs12 · 14/12/2025 17:50

In my old house I used to send a cheque once a year for £1.10 for ground rent.

Rednotdead · 14/12/2025 18:34

I have one, but haven’t written a cheque for years, I just keep it in case of emergencies

Oldwmn · 14/12/2025 18:44

DVLEh · 14/12/2025 09:06

I haven't had one since 2020.

I asked 4 friends. None of them have a cheque book either.

We're all 40s-60s and haven't needed one for years. 2 friends' bank accounts could request a cheque book, but the other 3 of us couldn't.

I need to send a cheque or postal order to the DVLA. So it's a national government service asking.

And on another note, the man in the PO yesterday didn't know what a postal order was, so couldn't issue me one.

YABU - change your bank account to one which automatically issues a cheque book

YANBU - the DVLA needs to join the 21st century

Yes, but I don't where it is.

Blackhungrybirds · 14/12/2025 18:47

Yes I have a cheque book

Rarely write a cheque

Some banks now accept a photo of a cheque

Gingabex · 14/12/2025 18:52

I had a similar situation with the DVLA. No cheque book and the local Post Office couldn't issue a postal order on a Saturday, and I needed it sorted. A friend kindly wrote me the cheque and I paid her back.
It's so antiquated.

PlazaAthenee · 14/12/2025 18:53

Yes, it's in my desk. I don't think I've used it since just before the pandemic though.

Growlybear83 · 14/12/2025 18:59

I’ve got a cheque book and I wrote a cheque about two weeks ago.

Jc2001 · 14/12/2025 19:01

Must be at least 15 years since I was issued with a cheque book from my bank. It's quite an eye opener for me that they are still used.

Newyearawaits · 14/12/2025 19:04

TwinklyNight · 14/12/2025 09:16

Yes, but barely use it.

Me too but I like to know that I can use it if necessary

helpfulperson · 14/12/2025 19:11

I had to pay a speeding fine recently either in person as Police HQ or by cheque. I had to request a cheque book.

Jc2001 · 14/12/2025 19:13

helpfulperson · 14/12/2025 19:11

I had to pay a speeding fine recently either in person as Police HQ or by cheque. I had to request a cheque book.

Are you in the UK?

RealOliveTraybake · 14/12/2025 19:17

somanychristmaslights · 14/12/2025 09:14

Why does the DVLA need one? Are you sure that’s not a scam? When I replaced my driving license I just paid by card.

I had to send a cheque for a V62 application.

Lovely13 · 14/12/2025 19:23

Wrote cheques to adult offspring a while ago. They couldn’t pay them in. Lloyds have stopped paying them in via post office. Their online cheque payment didn’t work. Annoying. Service needs to be kept valid for those who need it.

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 14/12/2025 19:31

Yes. 3. Two that are in 'in use' and a spare for another account. The last cheque I wrote was for my driving licence renewal in 2016. So it's been a while!

Mail order and postal order still use them and banks might still cash them with that stupid 3 day clearing, but otherwise they're not useful anymore.