“Please make cheques payable to”

[asatelliteisnttoofarright]

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?

When I was with axa last year they used to send me cheques in the post for any claims which meant it took at least 4 weeks to get the money. Now with vitality and there is a bank transfer which takes hours. I amazed that such big companies can be so antiquated.

Preferred? So not the only method of payment?

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 Both methods are pretty outdated

I don’t mind receiving cheques as you can pay them in via mobile banking and mine usually clear the next day. Even before banking updates for cheques the only took a week max where do you bank that takes 4 weeks to clear a cheque?

OP you say their preferred method is cheque, just use one of the alternatives instead. Chequebooks are not given as standard with accounts now and even those who use them don’t get them sent out automatically when they run low, they have to request them every time now with BOS, presumably the whole Lloyds group is the same. Just an extra layer to make it more difficult to use them.

So do that 🤷‍♀️

Probably because they’re from the 80s! The only two options are cheque or over the phone, both of which just strike me as very odd and old fashioned

It was still common to use cheques in the 2000s. There was no widespread mobile banking. I was at uni from 1998 to 2002 and we had to use cheques to pay for things like uni fees and accommodation fees.

Anyway, I don't see what the problem with calling up and paying over the phone is.

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!

@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!

Using a phone is outdated?

Wow. Do cheque books even exist anymore?

Which would be making it take twice as long as necessary

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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 Both methods are outdated and rare these days.

Most people would pay via the internet.