Switching accounts - which to write cheque from?

gracie83

I am in the middle of switching accounts from natwest to alliance and leicester. The alliance and leicester has set me up a new account with overdraft and cheque book and the are in the middle of swapping my direct debits and wages over.
I am also in the middle of paying for my wedding so cash is incredibly tight. No sooner do I get paid then I have to pay off more wedding bills! I have just had another bill to pay and they want paying by cheque. I don't actually have the money to cover the cheque but I will be paid in the time it takes to arrive so I cannot just put the money in the correct account.

So my quandry is which account do I send the cheque from? I am concerned that I may get stuck half way between the switching process. If I give the cheque from natwest, the account could be closed and moved before the cheque is cashed. If from alliance and leicester the money may not have arrived in time! Would alliance and leicester mind if the first thing i do with them is to go into my new overdraft!

latecomer

could you not phone the people you need to pay, explain the situation and ask if they would wait until you've been paid to receive the cheque?

leviathan

Speak to the bank you are moving to.
They should help you out if they want your custom.
It's supposed to be a seamless process so let them prove it to you!

My experience of Natwest moving accounts would force me to suggest to trust them to screw it up and instead talk to A&L.

Merlin139

I had a similar situation with the A&L when moving too them. I had an OD for £1000 and had £2500 in my Current Account. I need to write a Cheque for £4100 and only needed to increase my OD by £600 for about 4 days until the money arrived from financial institution. They did not want to know! In the end I waited a day to write the cheque, but it was presented 2 days later to my account in the morning then then £4100 arrived in the afternoon.

That cost me £25 for them to bounce the cheque. About 2 months later they to increased my OD to £2500 and I have never used it. I think you will find it hard to get them to increase your OD.

When the Bank Charges case is finally settled I will claim it back.

gracie83

Thanks for replies. I will try to get the other end to hold off a week to give me time to move some cash myself to Alliance and leicester (but it is the wedding reception so not sure if I can risk someone else jumping in before I pay deposit!) The Alliance and Leicester overdraft is far more than I need for the cheque if need by but I just hate the idea of using it!