Real life MMD: Too late to claim for wedding cheque?

Augustus_the_Strong

You can't possibly ask for a replacement cheque when it's down to your own carelessness that you lost the original one. But you could say something like, "Do you know, I've just found the cheque that you so kindly gave us as a wedding present! I didn't know where it had gone, and didn't know what to say. It's much too late to do anything about it now, but I would hate you to think that I didn't appreciate your generosity." And then, if they offer to replace it, say "Oh no, absolutely not, I wouldn't dream of it!" and mean it. If they feel bad about it, they might send you a nice anniversary present instead.

Otherwise, I love the small claims court suggestion.

Claires01

NO definitely, absolutely not.

If you didn't cash the cheque thats your fault you should have been more careful. Also strange that it was in your paying in book, 3 years is a long time to not use it, this would have been one of the first places I would have looked when I first found I was missing £200.

Is it really worth possibly losing a friendship over?

JayD

You contact your friend and amongst the general catching up niceties, say:

"You will never guess what - I've just found the wedding cheque you gave me! It got hidden in amongs so much other stuff at the time and I have only just come across it!

You must have thought it very rude of us not to have cashed it at the time - I am so sorry. Needless to say, it is not valid anymore, so I can't cash it now.

Obviously, 3 years is a long time and finances change, so I wouldn't expect you to send me a replacement for it - although it would be wonderful if you could. But either way, we were very grateful for your gift at the time and we wanted you to know that us not cashing it was in no way a snub, or because we could afford not to - far from it. It was solely because the cheque had got buried amongst all the other paperwork etc that was about at the time. "

And then end your letter/email whatever with some closing pleasantries.

That would be my advice - and then hope your firend is sufficiently well healed to send you another one!

sundancegirl

MrsWassire wrote: »

I'd send it back with a nice thank you card, telling them the story and that you greatly appreciate their generosity and thought they should have it back so they could shred it etc. That way, if they still want to give you the money it opens the door but without a hint of you asking for it.

Yes I agree with this. Its a nice and thoughtful too:money:

whitewing

sundancegirl wrote: »

Yes I agree with this. Its a nice and thoughtful too:money:

I think it's a terrible idea. Sending the cheque back is a hint in itself.

Bertie4

Don't even think about it!

oldnewhand

Although I agree with the majority that you should let it go, the open and honest side of me would want to come clean. I would want to apologise for my lack of gratitude for their generous present and explain my stupidity without the hope or glimmer of them reoffering. If they were generous enough to offer to rewrite the cheque I would be embarrassed and perhaps agree to accept half because I had been so careless. They may have noticed that the cheque had not been cashed (I check that gift cheques have been cashed and I don't give such valuable ones) Your actions of course depend so much on your closeness to the friend, but the amount suggests it is a valuable or wealthy friend; probably both.

miggy

Sorry to muscle in on your thread but I'm in a more complicated version of the situation and hoping someone can advise.
I'm in the process of taking over a relative's affairs - Power of Attorney exists but will take some weeks to come into effect. In the meantime some cheques addressed to this person have come to light. Most are small share dividends, but there are two insurance payments which are for significant sums. One dates back about 8 years so I expect it is somehow written off. The larger one, however, is about four years old.
Does anyone know, please:

1. What happens to money from shares if the cheque isn't cashed? Does it just vanish? Is it reinvested? Sorry to be clueless.
2. Where might my relative stand with regard to the insurance payments? They were not cashed due to deline in health includuing mental facilities - One I think is for a claim on Buildings Insurance and the other is a payout at the end of a Life Policy. The sum involved could make quite a difference to the person's standard of living so I'm anxious to do what I can to recover at least some of it.

Thanks in advance.

Katie-Kat-Kins

miggy wrote: »

Sorry to muscle in on your thread but I'm in a more complicated version of the situation and hoping someone can advise.
I'm in the process of taking over a relative's affairs - Power of Attorney exists but will take some weeks to come into effect. In the meantime some cheques addressed to this person have come to light. Most are small share dividends, but there are two insurance payments which are for significant sums. One dates back about 8 years so I expect it is somehow written off. The larger one, however, is about four years old.
Does anyone know, please:

1. What happens to money from shares if the cheque isn't cashed? Does it just vanish? Is it reinvested? Sorry to be clueless.
2. Where might my relative stand with regard to the insurance payments? They were not cashed due to deline in health includuing mental facilities - One I think is for a claim on Buildings Insurance and the other is a payout at the end of a Life Policy. The sum involved could make quite a difference to the person's standard of living so I'm anxious to do what I can to recover at least some of it.

Thanks in advance.

The companies involved will probably have some standard way of dealing with this sort of thing but you can probably still get at the money. I would write to the company involved send the cheque back (keep a copy) with a letter explaining that you are now dealing with the persons affairs due to their declining mental faculties and that the cheques weren't cashed due to declining mental faculties ask that a replacement be sent out as soon as possible.

They should be able to reissue the cheque (you might even get a tiny amount of interest) but they may not be able to deal with you until you have power of attorney.

miggy

Thanks Katie, just what I was hoping! You could have done the person concerned a huge favour, bless you! I will certainly try.