Mutilated cheque

Alexis27

Just a little something I though I'd vent at...

Paid in a cheque from Music Magpie into my local HSBC in their fancy new deposit machine (the branch has just been refurbished). Everything was fine - pristine cheque, paying in slip and envelope.

Came home this evening and the cheque has been rejected because it's torn in two and half the top is missing. There's a big stamp saying "MUTILATED CHEQUE".

So I'll have to pay a visit to the branch on Monday to find out how on earth a pristine cheque left in the care of HSBC has ended up in multiple pieces!

notts_phil

Alexis27 wrote: »

Just a little something I though I'd vent at...

Paid in a cheque from Music Magpie into my local HSBC in their fancy new deposit machine (the branch has just been refurbished). Everything was fine - pristine cheque, paying in slip and envelope.

Came home this evening and the cheque has been rejected because it's torn in two and half the top is missing. There's a big stamp saying "MUTILATED CHEQUE".

So I'll have to pay a visit to the branch on Monday to find out how on earth a pristine cheque left in the care of HSBC has ended up in multiple pieces!

Well i am sure they wont give you any useful answer and simply tell you to get the issuer to re-issue the cheque!

Gromitt

I've had a similar experience - they stated they don't know how it happened, but regardless, they can't handle the deposit.

My local HSBC was 'refurbished' last year. Now there's a single cashier point which most of the time displays 'Position closed', a 'Currency' window which complains when people don't correctly bag their coins, and a large 'Customer services' area with a broken coffee machine, a TV showing HSBC adverts, and grubby chairs. I think they are trying to replace all the staff with self-service machines!

Got cheque re-issued and gave it to Halifax instead, in person.

Mikeyorks

Alexis27 wrote: »

Came home this evening and the cheque has been rejected because it's torn in two and half the top is missing.

If the payee is clear, signature and the MICR line intact - they can process it. There are sealable plastic carriers used to put such cheques through the high speed transports used in Clearing.

Unfortunately the branch staff won't have a clue on such matters. Nor do they make the effort to find out despite cheque processing has been around a little while.

casper_g

If you paid the cheque in via one of the in-branch machines at HSBC you should have the receipt with a scan of the cheque showing it was fine when paid in. I'd go into the branch and complain if I were you. If the key details are readable they should probably be able to process it.

rb10

casper_g wrote: »

If you paid the cheque in via one of the in-branch machines at HSBC you should have the receipt with a scan of the cheque showing it was fine when paid in.

In the original post it was mentioned that an envelope was used when paying in ... which suggests that it wasn't an Immediate Deposit Machine/IDM (which provides a receipt with a copy of the cheque) but an old-fashioned machine instead, which would not provide an image of the cheque on the receipt.

Jsameds

Try contacting magpie - they should re-issue a cheque for you.

lolavix

It has probably been damaged at Voucher Processing and may have had nothing at all to do with the branch. If you take it back, I'm sure the cashiers will know about processing a mutilated cheque, they just need to be sent off in a separate envelope for processing, as long as all the key details can be read.

Alexis27

Quick update - the branch said it couldn't have been them and that it probably happened at the clearing centre, which is in Bootle.
I've emailed Music Magpie the paperwork, but no reply as yet.

In the original post it was mentioned that an envelope was used when paying in ... which suggests that it wasn't an Immediate Deposit Machine/IDM (which provides a receipt with a copy of the cheque) but an old-fashioned machine instead, which would not provide an image of the cheque on the receipt.

It's a brand new machine, but it is not the type that gives you a printout of the cheque. I know the machines you mean and an image of the cheque would have been handy.

Mikeyorks

Alexis27 wrote: »

- the branch said it couldn't have been them and that it probably happened at the clearing centre,

Which makes it the more ludicrous it got back to you. The processing machines can mangle cheques almost beyond recognition - but I've never seen one yet the staff couldn't reprocess without pestering the customer.

AlexisV

Yep, it's a weird one. It came back in a thin plastic wallet, so presumably it's been around some cogs at the clearing centre.

Music Magpie have told me they will send out a replacement. Thumbs up to them!