Admin charge for re-issuing cheques

[Proofraider]

I had a letter telling me that I had some unclaimed share dividends (not a huge amount!), and after a hunt I found the old cheques which were dated 2005. I rang the people concerned and asked if I'd still be able to bank the cheques and they said no because after a year they were invalid. However, new cheques could be issued at a charge of �12. I asked what this charge was for and the person on the other end said it was for cancelling the cheques. When I said that if they were invalid now, they wouldn't need cancelling, he just said, "Oh, good point - well, it's our admin charge and our policy." This really annoys me - it's money earned on my investment and in effect they're charging me for giving me my own money! Has anyone been able to get round this, or does anyone know of a 'governing body' where I can send a complaint?

[bednobs]

what do you wantr to complain about? Your stupidly not cashing the cheques when they were issued to you has meant extra admin for them (ie the person on the phone, printing new cheques, sending them out to you) They have the right to charge you an admin fee for this. I would imagine there is something in your contract or policy informing you of these charges, so stop whig

[Proofraider]

Cheers - always helpful to hear someone's considered, courteous response - no doubt you think that everyone who's stupid enough to mis-manage their own money in their bank accounts and get charged for it shouldn't be trying to get those charges dropped either.

[bednobs]

no i dont. You were right, it was a rushed response (mainly due to the fact i am answering at work and i had "boss spasm" ie boss walked past at the time!) :)
You are right, i was discourteous and for that i apologise.
I just can't understand why you think you have any basis to complain, when if it's their policy you would have been nformed of this somewhere and it is completely your fault you didn't put the cheque in when you could. It's really not their fault as you created this situation. I just wonder where they go to complain about dim customers!

[DONNNAKEBAB]

Proof. Write them a letter and tell them what you have told us here. Mark it WITHOUT PREJUDICE to Customer Service, send it Recorded Delivery and I bet they will waive the fee.

Works every time for me hun.

Take Care.

Katie.

x

[Proofraider]

And of course there couldn't be any valid reason why I haven't been around to deal with this at the time or since - I must just be stupid and dim. Thanks, bednobs - we can only hope that your job, when you're doing it, doesn't involve making judgements about people...

[BertiWooster]

donnnakebab

Would you mind stating , what exactly you would say in the letter .

I too have come across some time expired dividend cheques , which i'm told will incur a charge to re- issue

Thanks

[Proofraider]

Sure - I've just explained to them the reasons why the cheques weren't cashed at the time and requested a re-issue. I've said that I was told on the phone that the cheques were no longer valid but that I would have to pay a cancellation fee, then I've asked why they need to be cancelled if they aren't valid. I've enclosed my cheque for the fee and asked if they could please explain exactly what that charge is for, or return my cheque if it no longer applies. Kept it all polite and business-like! Have sent it off recorded delivery but no reply yet!

I found out that there are some 'reclaim services' people who offer to do all this for you, but they also charge and it's more than going stright back to the issuer itself, so I avoided those. Good luck with yours - you might find it useful to sign up to www.moneysavingexpert.com which is a really good website for all things money-related, and you could also ask there what people have done about reclaiming charges. Sometimes there are model letters posted there as examples.

Hope you are successful!