How long for a cheque to appear after paying in by post?

elljay

Morning. I've banked with First Direct virtually ever since it started but am now in the process of changing to a Co-op account. It's difficult for me to get to a bank to pay in so I've always paid cheques in by post. The payment always shows in my account within a day or so of when it has arrived even if not available to me at least I know it's arrived. However I've now paid in this way twice to the Co-op and it's been about a week (exactly a week today since I sent the most recent one) till it shows.

Is this normal with all banks, are First D extra fast and why should it take so long? I wish I'd asked about this when changing as it's a pretty important issue for me and I just assumed all banks were the same. Thanks.

stclair

Could you not just use the post office office to pay in the cheques.

MoneyMate

I always thought it was 3 working days B4 it clears unless there's a problem with the cheque or lost in post.

opinions4u

You would be best to establish that the address you send it to is where they actually process it.

It's possible that a branch doesn't open post and merely forwards it on to another location, generating delays.

elljay

Thanks all. From what I can see, the post office just put it in a pre addressed envelope and send it off, which I can do myself. It's just as tricky to get to a post office as a bank anyway to be honest. It's a good point about the address though, I just use the one on the paying in slip, I wonder if I post it to the branch it would be better.

It hasn't appeared in my account yet, so that's 7 days (but I suppose they would say it should be working days which makes it 5) I certainly hope it's in tomorrow. I'm really going to have to find a better way. It'd be quicker to post it to first direct then transfer across to the Co-op.

Is this the same with all banks? As I said, I've been with first d for so long, I just assumed they were all the same - seems not!

Googleplex

I have also had the same problem with the Co-Op Bank, with cheques posted to the head office taking about a week to appear. However, I have posted them to my local branch, and they have shown on the account the next day (when posted 1st class) - so it appears that branches do indeed process their own mail, rather than it being processed elsewhere.

elljay

Thanks, that's helpful. I'll try sending to a branch in that case. V annoying!