Donating a cheque to a charity?

[Deleted User]

I've just received a small cheque from my utility provider, and I'd like to donate it to a charity.

Is there any way I can send the cheque, or do I have to pay it into my bank, then send them a cheque drawn on my account?

I seem to recall, from a long time ago, signing the back of a cheque, and paying it into my mother's account.

Am I remembering correctly, and, if so, is this still allowed?

badger09

All cheques now are crossed with the words Account Payee pre printed, meaning you'll have to pay it into your account first.

If you have a smart phone and the mobile app, many banks will let you do this on your phone:)

20SmthngSver

You'll have to deposit it to your own account first. Then you can write one out yourself payable to the charity. Or if you have a building society account, they can write out a cheque for you.

colsten

Check if your chosen charity accepts online donations. Easier to just pay them with your debit card than sending them a cheque (and no, you couldn't send them the cheque made out to you)

Mistral001

You used to be able to use a cheque that you received from someone else as payment but not for some years now. I think the way it was done was by signing your name on the back of the cheque and then offering it that way but the receiver might refuse it. It was a lazy way of doing things and also messed up the books a bit so could be used for dubious purposes.


Just write the charity a cheque or send it a BACS transfer.

General_Grant

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I've just received a small cheque from my utility provider, and I'd like to donate it to a charity.

Is there any way I can send the cheque, or do I have to pay it into my bank, then send them a cheque drawn on my account?

I seem to recall, from a long time ago, signing the back of a cheque, and paying it into my mother's account.

Am I remembering correctly, and, if so, is this still allowed?

As others have said, you need to pay it into an account in your name. However if you donate the sum to a registered charity you can Gift Aid it so that charity gets even more and, if you are a higher rate tax payer, can benefit from that generosity.

Chino

Mistral001 wrote: »

It was a lazy way of doing things and also messed up the books a bit so could be used for dubious purposes.

It was likely a very practical way of doing things, particularly if it saved waiting an entire cheque clearing cycle. And why would the recipient of a cheque giving the cheque to someone owed money by the recipient be considered a "dubious purpose"? Particularly if the recipient did not hold a current account.

nick74

Chino wrote: »

It was likely a very practical way of doing things, particularly if it saved waiting an entire cheque clearing cycle. And why would the recipient of a cheque giving the cheque to someone owed money by the recipient be considered a "dubious purpose"? Particularly if the recipient did not hold a current account.

The problem was that one could obtain a cheque made out to someone else, write a squiggle on the back as the payee's 'signature' (with no system in place to verify if it was really anyone's signature, let alone the payee's) and then pay the cheque into anyone's bank account they liked.

[Deleted User]

colsten wrote: »

Easier to just pay them with your debit card than sending them a cheque

I don't have a debit card.

Zanderman

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I don't have a debit card.

Fair enough!

Do you have any cards - pre-paid perhaps if you don't have a conventional debit card?

[Deleted User]

I have a pre-paid Mastercard.