cheque expiration: no longer 6 months?

planteria

i was told recently by bank staff that cheques cannot be accepted if more than 6 months have passed since it was dated.

but today i put a cheque in which was 1 day within that, and was told that there is now no limit: it was 'done away with about 3 months ago'.

it was discussed in this, closed, thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1284209

can anyone give us a definitive response as to exactly how this stands now?

stclair

I don't think their is a definitive answer and it's at the banks descretion.

Is it true that cheques are only valid for six months?

No. A cheque is valid for as long as the debt between the two parties (i.e. issuer and payee) exists. In other words, cheques don’t have an expiration date. However, it is common banking practice to reject cheques that are over six months old to protect the payer, in case the payment has been made another way or the cheque may have been lost or stolen.

This timeframe is at the discretion of individual banks. It should not be assumed that cheques older than six months old would automatically be rejected – the only certain way to cancel a cheque is to request that a stop be placed on it. It is recommended that, if possible, customers in possession of cheques that are more than six months old obtain a replacement.

Where there is a dispute, a cheque remains legally valid in order to prove a debt for a period of six years, which is the Statute of Limitations.

http://www.chequeandcredit.co.uk/resources/faqs/cheques_and_cheque_clearing/

GingerFurball_2

Having just opened a TSB Classic Plus account, it is in their terms and conditions that they will not accept a cheque that is more than 6 months old.