Cheque in Maiden name

ender4

My wife changed her surname a few years ago (when we got married).
But we have just received a cheque in her maiden name.

We really don't want to send it back to the issuer to get it re-issued, as it took almost 2 years for them to send the cheque out in the first place (thats a different story!).

Will the bank accept it if she takes her current ID & marriage certificate along?

or will one of those cheque-cashing places (that i see popping up all over the place) accept it? we don't mind losing a small percentage, as long as we can get the rest of the money.

any other options which don't involve sending the cheque back?

Absolutely

What a pain!

I changed my surname last year and the bank wouldn't accept a cheque payable to me in my previous name as 6 months had elapsed from the name change. I offered ID, Deed Poll cert, but they still said no. I had to go back to the cheque issuer and get the name changed - but I totally understand why you are reluctant to do this.

Don't know about cheque cashing places, but hopefully someone else with more knowledge than me will be along shortly.

jonesMUFCforever

How much is the cheque for?

A small amount say a few hundred quid as a one off might be accepted but if it is a large amount it probably will not.

anamenottaken

Does she still have ID in her maiden name which would be sufficient to open a savings account? If so, do that. I've still got an account or two in my father's surname even though I married decades ago.

claireyrosey

When I worked at Barclays 5 years ago, we would have accepted current ID & marriage cert. We could see on the computer the customers maiden name.

If I was you I would try all the accounts you have, one the banks/ cashiers will take pity on you and let you pay it in. Worst case, they will give you the cheque back and just try again with another cashier another day.

virgin_moneysaver

if the bank account was originally held in maiden name, they;ll have a record of this, & its not for thousands, the bank should except when explanation given, especially if shes known at local branch

abercrombie

I had a similar issue about a year ago after my name had changed, a family member sent me a cheque for my birthday in my old name. I think it really lies at your banks discretion on whether they allow it to be paid in. I banked with Nationwide at the time and I took my Certificate of Deed Poll in and my passport and the guy said on that occasion he would allow it, bearing in mind the cheque was for a small amount (£50 I think) - if the cheque you have is of high value they might be funny about taking it as they will see it as a bigger risk to them if it were to get disputed (Not saying it's dodgy - but just from the banks point of view as a security issue)