Cheques

[Twirly00]

I don't often receive cheques but I received a Barclays cheque and it has a date on it (printed by Barclays) to the left of the cheque, under the 'Pay' section. The date is a couple of weeks in the past, what does the date mean, is it an expiry date or something?

[Sixtus]

This is most likely the date when the cheque was printed - personalised for the particular person who sent the queque to you. There is certainly no need to worry - it is not an expiry date. The date of issue of the cheque - usually on the top right-hand has a six months life before it goes `stale`, that is if you bank it after six months from that date, the bank MAY ask you to get it re-dated.

[Carol Anne]

My cheque book was issued in Oct 2002 and still not used up. Doesn't seem so long ago that I would go through about one a month just on general housekeeping,petrol etc. So since the advent of debit cards the banks must be releived of having to handle all that paper, why the hell does it now take four days to clear a cheque when it used to only be three back then ?

[khana]

You have answered your own question Carol Anne. Why would the Banks spend money introducing a system to clear cheques faster when their use is dropping over time.

[PFA]

Dont Worry - Cheques are valid for 6 months from the date of issue.