Old cheques...

aquarian3

Hi guys and gals,

A quick question......I lost two cheques made out to me that were issued by the Halifax bank, it's inheritance money left to my children from my grandad.

I found the cheques a little while ago and went into a Halifax to explain the predicament (they were issued a couple of years ago!!!). The chap explained that the whomever drew the money out would need to return to the issuing branch to get them renewed.

Problem is they were drawn by my dad who's really, really ill (on oxygen machine, in and out of hospital). Now I don't live near my dad, so I couldn't pick him up, take him to the branch and help him out, he's not well enough to do this by himself, is there anything I can do????

The money has obviously been loosing interest in the years they've been sitting uncashed and I feel a bit lost as to what to do. Each day they're sitting on my cabinet still loosing money and getting a day older! The money is to be given to my children when they turn 18. One son will be 16 this year so we've only got 2 yrs to get interest going (it's not a vast sum of money, a few pounds over £500).

Does anyone know what can be done? Other than recording them down to my dad and waiting till he's well enough to get to the branch (which could be a long time waiting???).

Thanks in advance!

Lee
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Murtle

Can you get online access to your Dad's account - obviously with him knowing! Then get him to transfer the money into your account? Or is it possible to do telephone banking and ask your Dad to speak to them to transfer the money across?

Or ask your Dad to write out new cheques??

Robert_Sterling

Murtle wrote:

ask your Dad to write out new cheques??

Exactly. This is the obvious solution.

jem16

The OP said that they were issued by the Halifax. It sounds to me like they came from a passbook type account as opposed to a current account so Dad would not be able to write new cheques.

aquarian3

Yup Jem16 is correct they were issued by the bank not my dad, I would have done as suggested if it was that easy cause he would be fine with that, it's just having these cheques issued from the bank and as he drew them out it seems he would have to go back to the branch, but he's just not a well man.

Any thoughts on what I can do? Do you think a nice letter to the manager might help if I explain my dad's health etc etc etc?

Thanks in advance

Lee
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Debt_Free_Chick

aquarian3 wrote:

Problem is they were drawn by my dad who's really, really ill (on oxygen machine, in and out of hospital). Now I don't live near my dad, so I couldn't pick him up, take him to the branch and help him out, he's not well enough to do this by himself, is there anything I can do????

Not just for this issue, but if Dad is so poorly, the family really needs to consider whether a power of attorny should be put in place. This would allow another family member to run his financial (and other) affairs.

Murtle

If they can deal with him over the phone or via is may be worth getting the accounts changed from passbook accounts to normal accounts so you can do online banking etc?

But as DFC says, a power of attorny would be a good choice to deal with this.

aquarian3

Thanks for your suggestions but my dad isn't a rich man - he owes more out than has in his bank! So it's not really a case of making someone his power of attorney, he is married but we don't get on very well with his wife, the issue is these old cheques and what I can do with them?

It'd be handy if someone worked in a bank who might read these messages to give me some advice on what can be done!

Not to worry, thanks anyway for all suggestions

Lee
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Debt_Free_Chick

aquarian3 wrote:

Thanks for your suggestions but my dad isn't a rich man - he owes more out than has in his bank! So it's not really a case of making someone his power of attorney

Power of attorney is not reserved for the well-off ... it's for those who are unable to manage their own affairs, no matter how "trivial". You shouldn't discount it yet ... you may have no option if your Dad has a branch account.

Have you actually spoken to his bank? He may be able to send something by post and get cheques back, by post

Gorgeous_George

Where is the money at the moment? If it's in your Dad's account and he owes more than he has, then I suggest you speak to a solicitor. Was the 'gift' from Grandad documented in his will?

If however, the money is in a Halifax account other than your dad's, I'd try presenting the cheques for payment. I've had cheques that have been incorrectly dated cashed - even when I've pointed the 'error' out to the cashier.

Finally, give yourself a good slapping for being so careless in the first place!



GG

jem16

As the bank has already issued the cheque, the money normally comes straight out of the account at the time of issue unlike a cheque written by yourself from a current account which doesn't come out until the cheque is presented.

I agree with dfc - contact the Halifax and see what they can do perhaps in the way of an electronic transfer.