Cheque book change and no communication

sacherlover

Both my partner and I recently noticed that our Lloyds cheque books were rather out of date - both are still Lloyds TSB books.

A member of branch staff suggested we should order new cheque books, which we both did via the Text service.

We have always had the counterfoil less cheque books, as most of us use cheques infrequently it is easier to use the sheets at the front of these type of cheque books to note all transactions and therefore have easy note of what the ongoing balance is on the account.

I was therefore surprised to find both new cheque books are with counterfoils.

I have just wasted best part of 40 minutes speaking to the Lloyds Call Centre. Even the woman I was speaking to did not find out that counterfoil less cheque books have been discontinued (a Business decision) that has not been communicated to their staff, much less us customers.

Or does the cynic in me think that the banks don't want you to know the true balance on your account (including cheques waiting to be cashed and DDs due before your next pay day) - they are quite happy for customers to go overdrawn and pay fees.

Lloyds - I am disappointed in you.

PeacefulWaters

Or does the cynic in me think that the banks don't want you to know the true balance on your account (including cheques waiting to be cashed and DDs due before your next pay day) - they are quite happy for customers to go overdrawn and pay fees.

I don't follow your logic here. In what way does a counter foil disadvantage you?

silvercar

I write cheques so rarely, I can't see any value in keeping note of the current balance anywhere in my cheque book.

I guess OP is saying that it is easier to record all transactions at the front of your cheque book rather than on the counterfoil that is more suited to write details of individual cheques.

TheShape

The banks do offer a number of solutions for keeping track of your accounts. Internet banking, apps and text alerts all keep me up to date on the 10 current accounts i'm managing.

May not be the preferred methods for the OP but if you rarely use cheques it shouldn't be too much bother to keep track.

Katiehound

I prefer the counterfoil less books simply because they are smaller and fit into handbag more easily, don't have to be folded- but they seem unavailable!

EarthBoy

sacherlover wrote: »

I have just wasted best part of 40 minutes speaking to the Lloyds Call Centre. Even the woman I was speaking to did not find out that counterfoil less cheque books have been discontinued (a Business decision) that has not been communicated to their staff, much less us customers.

What a load of hoo-ha over nothing. Have you nothing better to worry about than whether chequebooks have counterfoils or not? You seriously wasted 40 minutes discussing this with them?

sacherlover wrote: »

Or does the cynic in me think that the banks don't want you to know the true balance on your account (including cheques waiting to be cashed and DDs due before your next pay day) - they are quite happy for customers to go overdrawn and pay fees.

No, cheques are an antiquated payment method that only a minority of customers still use. It makes good business sense to standardise the format of chequebooks, rather then waste money on producing different versions to suit a handful of people. Just be grateful that they still offer chequebooks at all.

Wellard_Mann

EarthBoy wrote: »

No, cheques are an antiquated payment method that only a minority of customers still use. It makes good business sense to standardise the format of chequebooks, rather then waste money on producing different versions to suit a handful of people. Just be grateful that they still offer chequebooks at all.

I fully agree. I can't remember when I last wrote a cheque. I have had to use a voided cheque to send to financial institutions when I have wanted to have the proceeds of savings/investment products sent to a bank though. That strikes me as strange in this day and age as well but if the alternative is to wait for a cheque in the post I'll go along with it.

Straying off topic a bit. Why is it that the DVLA makes car tax refund payments by cheque? The insurance company and the local authority that issues the parking permit both refund to the card on which the payment was made (with the understandable caveat that it's still valid). Surely not beyond the DVLA's technology.

Paul_1977

I don't get what you mean, do you mean you wanted a cheque book without this part?



BTW, there was no reason get a new book, if your account number and sort code were unchanged after the TSB split.

Robin9

sacherlover wrote: »

Both my partner and I recently noticed that our Lloyds cheque books were rather out of date - both are still Lloyds TSB books.

A member of branch staff suggested we should order new cheque books, which we both did via the Text service.

We have always had the counterfoil less cheque books, as most of us use cheques infrequently it is easier to use the sheets at the front of these type of cheque books to note all transactions and therefore have easy note of what the ongoing balance is on the account.

I was therefore surprised to find both new cheque books are with counterfoils.

I have just wasted best part of 40 minutes speaking to the Lloyds Call Centre. Even the woman I was speaking to did not find out that counterfoil less cheque books have been discontinued (a Business decision) that has not been communicated to their staff, much less us customers.

Or does the cynic in me think that the banks don't want you to know the true balance on your account (including cheques waiting to be cashed and DDs due before your next pay day) - they are quite happy for customers to go overdrawn and pay fees.

Lloyds - I am disappointed in you.

Time to move on and find something better to do with your time.

YorkshireBoy

Paul_1977 wrote: »

I don't get what you mean, do you mean you wanted a cheque book without this part?

The other type has some sheets of lined paper in the front. Apparently sheets of lined paper are very hard to come by these days.

GingerFurball_2

sacherlover wrote: »

Both my partner and I recently noticed that our Lloyds cheque books were rather out of date - both are still Lloyds TSB books.

A member of branch staff suggested we should order new cheque books, which we both did via the Text service.

We have always had the counterfoil less cheque books, as most of us use cheques infrequently it is easier to use the sheets at the front of these type of cheque books to note all transactions and therefore have easy note of what the ongoing balance is on the account.

I was therefore surprised to find both new cheque books are with counterfoils.

I have just wasted best part of 40 minutes speaking to the Lloyds Call Centre. Even the woman I was speaking to did not find out that counterfoil less cheque books have been discontinued (a Business decision) that has not been communicated to their staff, much less us customers.

Or does the cynic in me think that the banks don't want you to know the true balance on your account (including cheques waiting to be cashed and DDs due before your next pay day) - they are quite happy for customers to go overdrawn and pay fees.

Lloyds - I am disappointed in you.

It was communicated to the staff.