How long are cheques good for?

[wilbur]

An elderly relative has just sent a cheque to me for a donation to a charity in memory of my Dad, that she obviously wrote last summer but forgot to send. If it's dated July last year, can I still send it to the charity or will it be no good?

No good I'm afraid. A cheque is stale after 6 months.

I just paid a cheque into my account last week that was dated August (2003). It was a company cheque (rather than from a personal account) and went through fine. I'd just try it and see.

The machines at the clearing banks do not read the date, so you can put through a an old cheque and a posted dated cheque. This has changed from the old days when it was done by hand a cheque would run out after 9 months and a posted dated cheque couldn't be cashed until the date marked.

I tried to bank a cheque last month that was over a yera old, and they wouldn't let me.

6 months is the deadline (if they notice). I've had company cheques returned after this date.

we also have a cheque sent by a relative - she inadvertantly dated it something like 20/03/03 instead on 20/12/03 - we have been puzzling what to do about it (keep forgetting about it). I always thought there was something like a 6 month age limit - which is why we didn't try and cash it in late December when we received it.

I heard on the radio last night that cheques are actually good for 2 years, but many banks make it a policy not to take them after 6 months. I have had my cheques cleared more than 6 months after I wrote it; I would just ask the bank before presenting it, and they should take it if you lean on them.