How long can you wait before cashing a cheque?

oojeyboojey

Well if the lovely people who wrote me these cheques (and they are lovely) had asked to find out if a) I would be taking my husband's name, b) we would have a joint bank account, then this wouldn't have been a problem in the first place. These days, it is a big assumption.

We originally wanted to upgrade his current account to a joint one, but because I didn't want to get my passport changed until it expires next year, and I don't have a driving license, I didn't have the required paperwork to get his account changed to my new name, too. We had months of back and forth trying to find out what paperwork I would be able to use instead, but because my utility bills were in my maiden name, there didn't seem to be anything I could use. In the end, I had to open a new account with a different bank using my old passport and the marriage certificate, and we're going to make that one joint at the weekend. I wish these things weren't so complicated!

PBA

oojeyboojey wrote: »

Hey - thanks for that last link, it's good to know that the cheques will be valid for 6 years, legally. I'm sure that the folks who wrote the cheques will be able to afford them (the biggest cheque was for £60), so that shouldn't be a problem.

Affordability is irrelevant. There a plenty of people with lots of money who keep next to nothing in their current accounts, because they prefer to keep the money in savings accounts earning decent interest. Because of internet banking and the like people don't have to balance their cheque book the way they used to, but as a result they also rely on transactions they make coming out within a couple of weeks, not 11 months later.

oojeyboojey wrote:

Well if the lovely people who wrote me these cheques (and they are lovely) had asked to find out if a) I would be taking my husband's name, b) we would have a joint bank account, then this wouldn't have been a problem in the first place. These days, it is a big assumption.

Why's it a big assumption? If you're getting married and accepting cheques as wedding presents then I'd expect to make the cheque out to Mr & Mrs XXX unless told otherwise. Even if you didn't want to merge all your finances, there was nothing stopping you from going down to the bank with both your passports and the marriage cert and opening a joint account in your married name.

My point, basically, is that even though the cheques may still legally be valid, it's a courtesy to give the people who wrote the cheques know that you're about to cash them. I'd certainly be pretty damn annoyed if I gave a gift to someone, only for them not to bother cashing the cheque for 11 months and then incurring me a bank charge for cashing it when I didn't expect it.

wishiwasarichgirl

I agree with PBA, I'd send a brief note to the senders letting know about the delay opening a new account and letting them know you would be cashing their kind gift in the near future, and give them a chance to let you know if it'll be a problem.

This might also make it easier if the bank refuses to accept the cheques and you feel the need to ask your relatives to re-issue them.