Joint cheque but wife has passed away.

dug123

Hi everyone,
A little background, for the past 30 years or so my wife and I had a joint bank account with the Halifax and then 2 years ago my wife passed away. She used to deal with all matters financial so I went to the Halifax and took a copy of her death certificate and changed the account (same account number etc) to just my name.
Now 2 years later I have received a cheque which is made out in our joint names, it is marked A/C payee only and is written as Mr I & Mrs G XXXXXX.
This cheque has come out of the blue and is for approx £2,000, it is from a major financial company I have heard of but has no contact details and no telephone number (there are hundreds on Google!). There is no accompanying letter and I am somewhat stumped.
I would obviously love the cash in my account but can I pay the cheque in to my account?
As stated above the account was in joint names but is now just in my name.
I do not fancy spending hours on the phone and explaining to the people that sent the cheque that my wife has passed away and then the subsequent posting of my wifes death certificate etc. Even after 2 years I find it all upsetting to talk about.
So can I just pay the cheque into my account?
Thank you

agrinnall

I would just take it into a branch and pay it in over the counter, I would expect that they should be able to see that the account was previously in joint names, but if they do ask it's a simple and valid explanation for you to give.

eskbanker

I think I'd want to know more about what the cheque is for first - if it's unexpected how do you know it's not a mistake or that it's the right amount? If it's a major financial company there will be contact details on their website and emailing or filling a web form would avoid a phone call.

maninthestreet

Who is this major financial company? They must have a head office somewhere who you can contact to determine why you have been sent this cheque.

teddysmum

Surely a 'major' company would not just send an unexpected payment without explanation.


I would check its origins before banking so you know whether the money is actually yours.

Missus_Hyde

I wouldn't have thought that the actual paying in of the cheque would be a problem, as your name is on it as well as your late wifes'.

I'd be more concerned that a cheque for £2000 has suddenly appeared out of the blue, with absolutely no communication enclosed, to suggest from where or whom it had come and I would definitely query it's origins, before paying it in.

As your late wife dealt with both of your financial affairs, perhaps it was a company she may have had dealings with?

xylophone

If the cheque is drawn in joint names will the bank permit it to be paid into a sole account and particularly when one of the drawees died two years ago?

Apart from that consideration, should you not be checking the nature of and reason for the payment with the drawer of the cheque?

jonesMUFCforever

IMO if the cheque was £20 then probably 9/10 bank staff would be understanding and credit the account.
For £2000 and 2 years after the death it is highly unlikely that the bank will accept the cheque.
If it goes wrong it is possible that member of staff could lose their job especially if the cheque is the begining of a fraud.

Majestic12

What is the company name?

Newly_retired

Could it be a PPI compensation payment?
DH found a large amount paid into his bank account. No letter or other communication. He was reluctant to spend it Eventually the bank confirmed it was PPI.

teddysmum

The cheque could be from someone wanting to play a nasty prank, hoping the cheque will be banked and it's value spent, only for the recipient to find that the cheque bounced , but they had spent their money ( assuming sufficient funds to be available from the account ).