Question about name on cheque

Uncertain

Can any banking expert help me please.

Names changed for confidentiality!!

Today I tried to pay in a small cheque on behalf of an elderly friend who is not able to get out. I had one of her pre-printed paying in slips.

Unfortunately the cheque had been made out rather formally using her late husband's initial saying pay Mrs F Bloggs.

She is Gladys Bloggs and her paying in slip is printed G Bloggs.

Her late Husband, Fred, had an account at the same branch.

The cashier refused to accept it as did a fairly junior manager who was called.

Although I pointed out that cheque was in some ways correct, i.e Gladys Bloggs was Mrs Fred Bloggs and that technically Mrs Gladys Bloggs would be wrong they wouldn't have it.

Driving home I thought of another example, Princess Michael of Kent - obviously her Christian name is not Michael!

This is now going to cause my elderly friend some considerable inconvenience trying to get the cheque re-issued.

Was the bank right or wrong?

chunkychocky

I have had the bank refuse to allow me to pay a cheque made out in my husband's name into our joint account, even though his name is clearly on our joint account. Apparently to pay it in to the joint account it should have both our names on it. I usually just pay these cheques into the machine in the bank rather than at the counter now and we've never had a problem. They seem to clear them into the joint account just fine. Bloomin' annoying though.

BoGoF

Mrs F Bloggs doesn't exist as an account holder. I would say the bank are correct.

Gromitt

I'd say the bank are correct. The account name isn't in the name of Mrs F Bloggs (and I assume isn't a joint account with Mrs G Bloggs), so she can't cash a cheque which is intended for Mrs F Bloggs.

If Mrs Gladys Bloggs isn't really her name, then you need to change the account name to Mrs F Bloggs, with suitable identification.

mancitychick

chunkychocky wrote: »

I have had the bank refuse to allow me to pay a cheque made out in my husband's name into our joint account, even though his name is clearly on our joint account. Apparently to pay it in to the joint account it should have both our names on it. I usually just pay these cheques into the machine in the bank rather than at the counter now and we've never had a problem. They seem to clear them into the joint account just fine. Bloomin' annoying though.

Have to say I have never heard of this before. I have never had a problem paying cheques into any bank, made out to just one of the names on a joint account. I suspect the cashier made a mistake with your cheque.

Mikeyorks

Uncertain wrote: »

Was the bank right or wrong?

You left out the 'or stupid' option? Which I would go for.

The determination of whether a cheque is payable is purely between the drawer and their Bank. The payee Bank has no responsibility whatsoever .... other than to ensure it goes into the right account.

So there is a jobsworth righteousness about rejecting something with an incorrect initial. But how stupid when just a few seconds research would have adequately verified the explanation.

sarahk100574

Quote:
Originally Posted by chunkychocky
I have had the bank refuse to allow me to pay a cheque made out in my husband's name into our joint account, even though his name is clearly on our joint account. Apparently to pay it in to the joint account it should have both our names on it. I usually just pay these cheques into the machine in the bank rather than at the counter now and we've never had a problem. They seem to clear them into the joint account just fine. Bloomin' annoying though.

Have to say I have never heard of this before. I have never had a problem paying cheques into any bank, made out to just one of the names on a joint account. I suspect the cashier made a mistake with your cheque.

I am treasurer for a parish council and we used to have all sorts of problems paying cheues in written out to various different versions of the account name.... and with donations its very difficult going back to the people and asking them to change the payee name.... so now we just do as above and pay in via the deposit box in branch and we've never had a cheque returned!!
Sometimes I think the cashiers etc are being obstinate on purpose... makes me smile to myself everytime I do it as they just don't seem to notice/care about who the payee is when using the box!!:D

pinkdalek

How do the bank not know there is an actual Mrs F Blogg out there who is missing their cheque?

What if there was a scenario where there is a separated/divorced couple, ex wife is called Mrs F Blogg and ex-husband is trying to pay into mother's account using the excuse that she is Mrs F Blogg because she is married to a Fred Blogg.

Just because the manager you spoke to was "junior" does not make them incorrect or awkward.

The account hasn't been opened as Mr & Mrs F Blogg so the bank is correct, sorry if you don't like the response, but complain to the incompetent company/person who has issued the cheque incorrect in the first place!

Uncertain

Gromitt wrote: »

I'd say the bank are correct. The account name isn't in the name of Mrs F Bloggs (and I assume isn't a joint account with Mrs G Bloggs), so she can't cash a cheque which is intended for Mrs F Bloggs.

If Mrs Gladys Bloggs isn't really her name, then you need to change the account name to Mrs F Bloggs, with suitable identification.

Sorry but you are completely missing my point!

If Gladys gets married to Fred Bloggs, and if she chooses to use her husband's surname (she doesn't have to), she is technically Mrs Fred Bloggs. Obviously her friends call her Gladys, not Fred. They should never write Mrs Gladys Bloggs.

For the same reason you address a letter Mr & Mrs Fred Bloggs but you never put Mr & Mrs Fred & Gladys Bloggs on the envelope.

Have a look in Debrett's. I quote "The established form of address for a widow is by her late husband's initials, or indeed by his Christian name (ie Mrs D. M. Russell, or Mrs David Russell)".

In this case this is exactly how the sender of the cheque addressed the envelope and what he wrote on the cheque itself.

So a bank seems to deviate from the established norm and causes no end of grief in the process!

I'm tempted to send a cheque for 10p to Sir Fred Goodwin and see if it is rejected!

BoGoF

I don't think anybody is missing the point. The cheque is crossed a/c payee only - the bank do not have an account in the name of Mrs Fred Bloggs do they.

Why ask for opinions when your mind is obviously made up. Perhaps your wrath should be directed at the people that issued the cheque. I would say it's a very old fashioned way of addressing people.

Uncertain

pinkdalek wrote: »

Just because the manager you spoke to was "junior" does not make them incorrect or awkward.

I never mentioned the word "awkward"!

pinkdalek wrote: »

sorry if you don't like the response, but complain to the incompetent company/person who has issued the cheque incorrect in the first place!

Well it is not a case of don't like the response but according to Debrett's the sender was correct as I detailed in the previous post.

So, what I'm trying to find out is if there is a specific banking regulation that prevents this or if the bank staff are being awkward or ignorant.