Finally got refund from TUI but cheque not accepted

sammymaccat

Please help... We were booked to go on holiday on 11th April with TUI for my sister’s wedding. Everything got cancelled and we finally received on the 6th June it came in the form of a cheque. 33 of the party received their refund by bank transfer, we were the only ones to receive a cheque, not a problem... until I tried to bank it. They have printed the cheque with my initial, surname then first name. The bank will not accept this. I was straight on the phone to TUI who have advised me they now need to escalate our case to another department. They will be in contact when the escalation process is complete but they are unable to give me a time frame for this.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I might be able to speed this up? We’ve waited patiently for 10 weeks but I’m starting to panic slightly that we will not be seeing our money anytime soon. It’s needed now more than ever. 

Thanks in advance for any helpful suggestions. 

Life__Goes__On

So if it was John Smith   the cheque reads S Smith John or J Smith John?

[Deleted User]

Can't help thinking the bank are being pedantic!   Thinking back to my time in a bank, we had the ability to weigh up the situation and act accordingly.     Of course, most people were regular customers.  I am guessing you don't actually go into a branch now?
I still think common sense has gone out the window but....that doesn't help you does it?    Hopefully TUI accounts department will be able to reissue your cheque in the correct format?     It should not take weeks!   Point out where they went wrong and return the cheque but take a copy.    Tell them to reissue prompt!

Nebulous2

Have you tried one of the bank machines? Or an app on a mobile phone? Getting by the counter clerk is your biggest barrier. 

Sooler

Name must match

Name checks to begin on bank payments

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45900955

sammymaccat

The cheque reads J Smith John. I have two accounts at two different banks and neither of the banks accepted the cheque. I got told if I put it in the machine it would bounce. Apparently the problem with the cheque is it has both my initial and forename so it reads as my for name is my surname. 

I feel like the bank could have accepted but apparently rules are rules. Now I’m back to complaining and fighting for a refund with TUI. I’m back at square one, not knowing what is going on or when I will get money back. 

Life__Goes__On

Sooler said:

Name must match

Name checks to begin on bank payments

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45900955

That's if sending a payment to an account,  the payee's name , the sort code and account must match.
A cheque won't have the payees details apart from name

Life__Goes__On

sammymaccat said:

The cheque reads J Smith John. I have two accounts at two different banks and neither of the banks accepted the cheque. I got told if I put it in the machine it would bounce. Apparently the problem with the cheque is it has both my initial and forename so it reads as my for name is my surname. 

I feel like the bank could have accepted but apparently rules are rules. Now I’m back to complaining and fighting for a refund with TUI. I’m back at square one, not knowing what is going on or when I will get money back. 

It does seem a bit pedantic, as your name is on it, now if there were brackets around John  it would read like they are confirming the first name  J Smith (John)