how long are cheques valid for

pKaTz

i was going thru some old paperwork, throwing them out and came accross a cheque dated septemebr 1999. could i still bank this cheque or is it too old.
its from a car insurance company for £177. so i wont let this slip again.
If I contact them do u think they would reissue it?

thx
Paul

alwaysonthego_2

I think cheques are only valid for 6 months, it may be worth ringing up your old car insurance company and asking if they could write you another cheque.

pKaTz

company is hill house hammond.
having difficulty locating their local office.
i think they've closed down
i did speak to someone from norwich union whose group they r in.
they can't locate the policy from reference numbers supplied by me.
all they can suggest is that i send the cheque in to them to investigate.

LifeisEvenbetter

I think alwaysonthego is right - cheques have only got a life span of 6 months from the date of issue.

I would suggest keeping hold of the cheque and sending a letter with cheque details to the Norwich Union - if you decide to writ to Norwich Union.

Have you tried to locate the head office for Hill House Hammond - might be a good place to start?

Best wishes.

Paul_Varjak

pKaTz wrote:

company is hill house hammond.
having difficulty locating their local office.
i think they've closed down
i did speak to someone from norwich union whose group they r in.
they can't locate the policy from reference numbers supplied by me.
all they can suggest is that i send the cheque in to them to investigate.

Hill House Hammond offices closed down a few years ago. They are part of the Aviva group (which includes Norwich Union). When my household policy came to end with Hill House Hammond I got an automatic quote fron Norwich Union Direct - but it was too expensive! So, I went online and got a few quotes. The cheapest was with whom? Yes, you guessed it, Norwich Union Direct!

Why not just try to cash the cheque? Most of the time the banks do not read the date! Of course, it may be picked up later and you will have to repay.

Jeewhizz

Paul_Varjak wrote:

Why not just try to cash the cheque? Most of the time the banks do not read the date!

If it's that old, and the company is now defunct, chances are there isn't money sitting in that account to be used for paying the cheque

RibenaBerry_2

I would send Norwich Union a photocopy of both sides of the cheque and a letter. Like people have said, you can't cash it now, but at least they can't lose it if you keep hold of it....

pKaTz

RibenaBerry wrote:

I would send Norwich Union a photocopy of both sides of the cheque and a letter. Like people have said, you can't cash it now, but at least they can't lose it if you keep hold of it....

yep thats what i'll do.
i would feel uneasy sending the cheque to them only for them to loose it.
ta :money:

bengal-stripe

pKaTz wrote:

i would feel uneasy sending the cheque to them only for them to loose it.

After you lost it for eight years?
That's the pot calling the kettle black.

us,thecat&thedebt

its def 6 months..

i tried to cash a cheque i found and it got refused at the counter it was 8 months old!

RibenaBerry_2

bengal-stripe wrote:

After you lost it for eight years?
That's the pot calling the kettle black.

I think it's technically known as "putting it somewhere safe".........