How to cash cheques without a bank account?

bardsandwarriors

Hi people, I don't have a bank account and don't want one. I used to have one, got ripped off hugely, I had no chance in hell to pay what they said I "owed" them (the usual story - £800 of charges lumped on over about 6 months, after going overdrawn something like £20, including swallowing a rent cheque and forcing me to move home), and my credit record is now black as black. But I am being given cheques and can't cash them. Post office savings accounts are no good - one requires a bank account, and the other requires £100 cash to open it. Others eg Tesco's also require a bank account to open them. So where or how can I cash my cheques?

It would also be nice to open an account with someone, if such a thing exists, who would not rip me off. But I can live without one if I have to.

Many thanks for any advice you can give.

username

Surely if you don't want a current account then you can just have a savings or basic account (with an unrelated bank to the one that your problems are with)? You can deposit your cheques there and then draw it out as cash or pay using your card.

You will find living without a bank account very hard and inconvenient these days - employers do not like paying by cheque/cash and you usually need an account to receive such monies.

It would be much easier and less costly for you to open up a bank account. There are places that cash cheques but they often take a percentage off as a service fee.

alanq

What's wrong with opening a savings account with a High Street branch of a Building Society? Interest rates may not be good but if you will mainly be using it to convert cheques to cash that should not be an issue.

callum9999

I don't think you can do it without a bank account, I was going to suggest cashing it in one of those money shop places but I think they generally want to see your debit card.

You can open an account with almost any bank that won't "rip you off" - the simple thing to remember is that if you don't want to get overdrawn charges, don't go overdrawn (or at least get an overdraft so you'd just be paying a bit of interest as opposed to huge charges - if your previous behaviour hasn't already wrecked your credit report of course). If you really can't trust yourself, just get a savings account (or maybe basic bank account - don't think they can go overdrawn).

Gromitt

If your willing to lose 20% of the cheques value each time, you can normally cash a cheque with sufficient id.

Far cheaper to just open a basic bank account (co-op cash-minder for example) and put your cheques in there though.

MoneySavingUser

I agree with the basic bank account option have a look at: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/319736

and

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/basic-bank-accounts

Rafter

Suggest you try a savings account with your local building society?

You can at least pay in cheques there and have a safe home for any savings and earn some interest.

Depending on the account, you should be able to get a 'passbook' too so you can clearly see what is going on and reduce the risk of ever going overdrawn. As long as you can provide proof of ID (Eg passport or driving license) and proof of address (utility or council tax bill) you should be fine with providing who you are without having a current account.

Good luck

R.

bardsandwarriors

Thanks for the replies. But I really don't want a bank account. After they ripped me off and half wrecked my life (I was on benefits when it happened), and after the several times they did similar things to me in the past, I hate them more than bombs could express! In my mind they owe me hundreds of thousands in compensation and recompense, and if I find the opportunity I will try to extract it from them in a similar manner.

I was reading only yesterday, of a student who has a basic bank account, and is being thieved of £100 in "charges" after his stuff started bouncing. It only takes one thing to bounce, and then because of the industrial-scale charges that they levy on innocent, poor people who simply shouldn't be doing business with them at all, they are unable to clear it again and again, until the bank ends up swallowing their entire income. I wonder where he will get that £100 from, or how the bank will get it, if there is nothing in the account. They will get it somehow, and put the guy in debt, from which there is a nasty spiral downwards when you have no other income.

What I've done is to open an account with a local credit union - and found other people with similar views to me, and a friendly, willingness to help out. No charge. Problem solved.

Tiddlywinks

OP - you really do need to accept some responsibility for the bank charges as well you know - I know this sounds harsh but something you did or did not do set all of the charges into motion in the first place.

Plus, have you considered putting in a claim against the bank to get some of the charges deemed to be excessive repaid to you?

notts_phil

The op lives in a complete fantasy world blaming others for his Downfall. Then oddly stating he us going to get his own back.

First of all you need to get a grip!

Secondly you need to move on. There us no conspiracy by banks etc against you!

jfh7gwa

bardsandwarriors wrote: »

But I really don't want a bank account. After they ripped me off and half wrecked my life (I was on benefits when it happened), and after the several times they did similar things to me in the past, I hate them more than bombs could express! In my mind they owe me hundreds of thousands in compensation and recompense,

Take some self-responsibility, for pete's sake.

I'm assuming from your rants that you didn't read small print, couldn't manage your finances / cash flow properly, etc.

None of us are perfect - I've had one or two bank charges in my time (including one month where I accidently paid out my whole month's household bills into the wrong account, almost meaning that about 8 or 9 direct debits were about to bounce if I hadn't caught it when I did - idiot me! ).. but we're all adults. As long as you can read, you cannot blame anyone but yourself for the mess you got in.

Tarring all banks with the same brush isn't helpful.