"We only accept cheques drawn on UK banks via a mail order..."

[Guest WM183]

Hi all.

Serious question; do checks still get used that much in the UK? Here in Holland no banks even issue them anymore, and my bank has stopped even letting customers deposit or cash them as of the 1st of the year (2020). I have found a few suppliers who actually have websites, but then who insist on order by post only, paid by check. 
 

For folks in the UK, how common are cheques still? Do people still like pay with them often? 

Wondering,

 

Amanda

[Stephen Freeman]

There are a few one-man traders who only accept cheques -Masokits (Peter Clark) springs to mind, personally I try to avoid taking cheques in payment due to the inconvenience of dealing with them, perhaps I write  two per year maximum, there are easier ways these days.

[Johann Marsbar]

HSBC still issue them, but you have to ask specifically for a new book if you need one.  I've just obtained a new one from them, but it will last me a long time...

I generally just use them for specific financial transactions nowadays - primarily donations to organisations/charities, though I have just paid for a model loco with one, for the first time in years!

Edited December 13, 2020 by Johann Marsbar

[andyman7]

I write hardly any, indeed I only really have to use them for some of the smaller suppliers of model parts these days.

[Wheatley]

 Still in use but not very often. I've just sent one to South Eastern Finecast for a kit as it was easier for me than phoning the order through, the kit arrived a week later.

Edited December 13, 2020 by Wheatley

[Patrick SPF]

I cannot remember the last time I wrote a cheque on my personal account and I last used a society a couple of years ago.
I can remember about 10-12 years ago having to set up a paypal account for a society as one member could not get cheques from his UK bank any more...

 

Patrick

[31A]

Occasionally; usually for paying subscriptions.  I've recently used one to renew a magazine subscription, but most societies etc. for which I recently used cheques to renew subscriptions now offer electronic banking options.

 

[spamcan61]

Maybe 3 in the last decade, I have no idea where my last chequebook is.

[sir douglas]

ive never even had a book let alone written one, i have cashed in a cheque for overpaid tax reimbursement years ago

[Kylestrome]

While I like to see examples of British eccentricity, it can sometimes be frustrating when you want to order some items and you don’t live in the UK.

 

David

[DCB]

Until Covid Local Councils had to have two signatures on cheques so our Parish Council and Local Charity still pay by cheque, if you don't accept cheques then you don't get our business.

I haven't paid by cheque for about 3 years, but I am for ever counter signing the damn things.

They are good for traders in that they have the money before sending the goods, with credit cards the purchaser can often get a full refund and with PayPal the money can be snatched away again leaving a hole in your overdraft.   Selling cheques are good, buying they're bad.   Hows that for a balanced answer!

[Paul Cram]

I have written cheques regularly for things although all are model railway related.

[Gwiwer]

Honestly I cannot remember the last time I wrote a cheque (or check for our US / Canadian friends) and have only received one in recent years.  That was from HM Government as a tax "adjustment" and those are now transmitted electronically.  

 

Many places stopped accepting cheques years ago.  A few small businesses and sole traders still take them.  A few clubs, including railway and modelling clubs, do so too and there might be  one or two out there for whom it seems to be the only means of payment.  There is always a workaround however (and no I don't mean mailing cash) if one asks the appropriate party nicely.  In a situation I know of a club set up a Paypal account in response to requests for electronic funds transfer following the general demise of cheques.  

 

When I drove buses (in Cornwall and in the 1990s) we only accepted them "by prior arrangement" which means the passenger would normally be expected to phone the office and get a clearance before presenting a cheque to the driver.  The reality was that so few were ever offered that we took them in good faith though with a name and address written on the back and a phone number for contact in case of need.  They would not have been used for normal fares but very occasionally we were presented with one as we sold multi-journey and all-network tickets for up to a week on the bus which could cost over £40.  In those days most of our single and return fares were less than £3.  

[Nile]

National Savings still send out premium bond winnings in the form of a cheque. I can't remember the last time I used one of my own.

[caradoc]

I use cheques rarely nowadays, also mainly for charity donations. But my 90-year old Mum still uses them regularly and has no desire or intention to use online banking. Presumably any such folk in the Netherlands were simply given no choice in the matter ? 

 

8 minutes ago, Nile said:

National Savings still send out premium bond winnings in the form of a cheque. I can't remember the last time I used one of my own.

 

NSI have recently attempted to stop sending cheques, but I believe the public outcry has made them reconsider.

 

[Guest WM183]

27 minutes ago, Stephen Freeman said:

There are a few one-man traders who only accept cheques -Masokits (Peter Clark) springs to mind, personally I try to avoid taking cheques in payment due to the inconvenience of dealing with them, perhaps I write  two per year maximum, there are easier ways these days.

 

Hi Stephen,

 

This was one of the ones I had in mind, with Dave Bradwell being another. They both produce things I genuinely would like to buy, but I do not live in the UK, cannot send a check, and seem to have no other way save getting a friend in the UK to order for me, then sending the bits on to me, which is just... annoying.

Amanda

[Guest WM183]

1 minute ago, caradoc said:

I use cheques rarely nowadays, also mainly for charity donations. But my 90-year old Mum still uses them regularly and has no desire or intention to use online banking. Presumably any such folk in the Netherlands were simply given no choice in the matter ? 

 

 

NSI have recently attempted to stop sending cheques, but I believe the public outcry has made them reconsider.

 

 

Seems that way. Of course banks here tend to just do whatever they want and let the customers complain, knowing they don't really have a great range of options.

[Steamport Southport]

Probably a couple of dozen a year.

 

Not just the older "small suppliers", it's some of the retailers that only use PayPal. For some reason PayPal refuses to acknowledge my bank account is real. So I can't use them.

 

 

Jason

[Joseph_Pestell]

9 minutes ago, caradoc said:

9 minutes ago, caradoc said:

NSI have recently attempted to stop sending cheques, but I believe the public outcry has made them reconsider.

 

 

 

I don't mind how NSI send me the money. I just wish that they would send some!

[Quarryscapes]

I haven't had a chequebook since 2008, and the bank won't issue me with one. It does mean there are a few small suppliers who won't get any business from me unfortunately. 

 

I have only been presented with a handful since starting up Coast Line Models, I'd prefer not t get any as the bank is a long way from home and doesn't even keep normal business hours anymore, so actually taking a cheque to be paid in means having to take half a day off work! 

[spamcan61]

3 minutes ago, Quarryscapes said:

I have only been presented with a handful since starting up Coast Line Models, I'd prefer not t get any as the bank is a long way from home and doesn't even keep normal business hours anymore, so actually taking a cheque to be paid in means having to take half a day off work! 

That's odd, the few cheques I've had to deal with in recent years have been posted to the bank (First Direct) no need to physically present them in person.

[Colin_McLeod]

20 minutes ago, WM183 said:

 

Hi Stephen,

 

This was one of the ones I had in mind, with Dave Bradwell being another. They both produce things I genuinely would like to buy, but I do not live in the UK, cannot send a check, and seem to have no other way save getting a friend in the UK to order for me, then sending the bits on to me, which is just... annoying.

Amanda

 

Have you considered getting a Sterling draft?

[Bernard Lamb]

The only way to take out a direct subscription to MRJ is by cheque.

Other than that I cannot remember the last time that I wrote one.

Bernard

[Guest WM183]

1 minute ago, Colin_McLeod said:

 

Have you considered getting a Sterling draft?

I have no idea what that is, and where I would possibly get one?

[Colin_McLeod]

A banker's draft, (in your case in Sterling  GBP)   also known as a banker's cheque, is like asking a bank to write a cheque for you. You give them your money and they give you a cheque for that amount to give to the person you're paying. For this reason, they do not bounce because of a lack of funds.

 

Unless your supplier is a complete luddite it should be acceptable.