Cashing in cheque

marylee

I have got three christian names, but use my middle name and this is sometimes confusing as my initials are MRJ, and I use the initials J to sign everything officially. I sometimes get official cheque with the initial M and I do not use this christian name. The confusion is, when people ask me what's your first name and I said M whereas I use J. (I was not born here and this was the common practice there to call every girl Marie and then use another christian name. I have now received an official cheque with the initial M only, will there be a problem to pay it in my bank account? When paying by cheque does people usually put all of that person chrisitan names if there is more than one? Thanks

soolin

It doesn't matter what you call yourself, it is the name on the bank account that matters. So as long as your bank account tallies with the payee on the cheque you are fine.

In fact, whilst banks are supposedly strict on payees, a cheque can often slip through un noticed, although I accidentally paid in a cheque at Christmas with my sons initial to my bank account and it was returned.

Soo

Dave_the_Ginger_Cat

I use my middle name not first name, which have different intitials (neither of which are Dave!).

My branch accept cheques written to both initials and both names, and to them it is about confidence that the cheque really was intended for me. Occasionally there is a cashier who does not recognise me and checks, but both names are unusual and not had any issue. They are entitled not to bank, but this is rare.

I think if I were called John Smith they may have slightly more of an issue!
DTGC

Dora_the_Explorer_5

It doesn't matter what you call yourself, it is the name on the bank account that matters. So as long as your bank account tallies with the payee on the cheque you are fine.

This isn't strictly true. My bank account name is first inital followed by surname, I often receive cheques made out to my nickname plus surname and never have problems paying them in.

marylee

I have found if the cheque is made out with my initial M, I sign using M and if it is J, I sign using the initial. Natonwide invest direct insists on the first name being used and had a cheque returned to me. It's no fun, if they crossed it as well and I cannot pay it in my other bank account which is Barclays.

fairylights_2

I have a similar problem. My parents (in their wisdom ) gave me two names, but call me a derivation of my middle name. If I remember I ask for all cheques to be made out simply to Mrs *** with no initial, which saves confusion. I bank at Barclays, and can not pay cheques in via the Post Office as they always get returned. I simply fill out one of the in-branch paying in slips and put it in one of their instant deposit envelopes. That way the slip doesn't disagree with the cheque (because I just make it out to Mrs ***) and the cheque goes through. I asked about moving to my local lloyds bank, but the lovely bank manager said unless I had drivers licence or passport with my nickname they couldn't cash the cheque.

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