My Travellers' Cheques are obsolete?!

[LifeIsGoodish]

I found some old Travellers' Cheques and tried to redeem them here, as they hadn't been accepted in a bank abroad to buy local currency. The TCs are in £ and in $. I've tried banks here in England, the Post Office, even Thomas Cook (they're Thomas Cook cheques), but nobody will accept them. Apparently they are too old. But they were sold to me on the basis that they never expire and I would always be able to convert them back into cash.

Any advice?

Try a busier post office and ask for a manager, or a bureau de change rather than a bank?
But they really should be accepted even if they are old, so complain to management at Thomas Cook and PO/banks as needed.

How old are we talking here?

I found some in my parents house that were 30 years old I'd guess. I just paid them in at Barclays. The cashier did say there was a chance they may be picked up on and rejected but nope. All fine. Only £60 worth but they cleared just fine

20-25years old, I think.

Hi OP, the Travelex website seems to suggest that you can encash old travellers cheques with them by completing a form, see link (hopefully it works).

www.travelex.co.uk/services/travellers-cheques/visa-mastercard

As a last resort you can visit the cashier desk at the Bank of England - check opening hours. Only worth it if the trip to London is a lot less than the value of the cheques.