Nationwide will not cancel my cheque?

teamanp

Can anyone help me understand why the Nationwide will not cancel my cheque?
On August 30th 2010 I purcased a 3 & 2 Seater sofas from a company called Exclusive Leather Sofas of Cannock for £698 after I saw their advert for sale. The salesperson asked for a cash deposit which I duly obliged with £50 and she told me I had to pay the balance by 3rd September or the sale would fall through, on the 2nd Spetember I went into my local Nationwide BS the Bilston branch and asked them for a cheque for £648. I took the cheque over the same day and gave the salesperson the outstanding balance on the sofas.
On the 8th September we read on the front of our local newspaper the Express & Star that the company had ceased trading on 3rd September and was being mobbed by angry customers.
On the 9th September we went to Nationwide BS to see if my cheque had been cashed it had not been cashed so we asked if they could cancel the cheque but the said it was a corparate cheque and could not be cacelled plus the cheque had not been lost or stolen so they could not and would not cancel my cheque, I still cannot understand it ?? We have not received any goods from Exclusive Leather Sofas so in effect it has been stolen?
I phone head Office spoke to the local branch manageress but no help at all, I tried Citizens Advice, Consumer Direct although they did tell me to write to the Nationwide requesting a confirmation letter stating that they have refused to cancel the cheque?
We went into another Nationwide BS on 13th September and found out the cheque had still not been cashed.
We understand the company Exclusive Leather Sofas is being wound up on 20th September and a administrator being appointed.
Can anyone help or advise or tell us if we have lost our money? What makes it worse is the fact the cheque has still not been cashed and the Nationwide BS will not cancel the cheque?

regards
Marilyn

JuicyJesus

If it's a building society cheque, it'll be the same as a banker's draft - it cannot be stopped under any circumstances, as it's supposed to be guaranteed funds. Nationwide have no interest in the underlying transaction, so they'll have nothing to do with whether or not you got the sofa or not. They've got no reason to give you your money back.

In future, try and pay for such things on a credit card or Visa Debit card, which give you some protection in this scenario. With a cheque or cash you have no protection whatsoever.

dzug1

Building Society cheques cannot be stopped unless lost or stolen - I doubt if yours has been either. The fact that you have not received any goods does not mean that 'in effect' it has been stolen It will be in the possession of the defunct company and is their property just as much as if you had given them cash. Receipt of the goods is a separate issue.

It will go into the possession of the administrator - I'm not at all sure what he will do with it. He may return it to you - or more likely he may regard it as a company asset he is duty bound to cash and use to pay debts, in whole or in part. One of those debts will be to you and you will have to claim it.

Not good news I'm afraid.

Toe-Jam

Why don't you just go into another branch and tell them a little white lie. Say the retailer has mislaid your cheque, can you cancel it. Problem solved.

opinions4u

Toe-Jam wrote: »

Why don't you just go into another branch and tell them a little white lie. Say the retailer has mislaid your cheque, can you cancel it. Problem solved.

Unless they ask for a letter from the company confirming the loss.