Money Moral Dilemma: Should I tell my great aunt I couldn't cash her cheque?

gloriouslyhappy

AnneMary said:

I would try paying in at a physical branch first (so 20th century)! 

^^This. Or your local post office which is probably closer than a bank branch. Then contact her if necessary. And hurry up, it's March already.

B23b

Take it into a branch to pay in, the mobile app relies on the quality of your image of the cheque. 

mrpunk50

Sometimes bank branches can't accept a cheque if its already been rejected by the app. I had this with Lloyds for example. They tried processing it in branch but it gave an error as it had already been rejected online. 

justworriedabit

This is an open and shut case.
If she is not told, she may never realise the situation.
Tell her with a courtesy phone call that goes something like - 't hey how are you and hanks dear aunty ... the chq of xxx pounds. I tried to cash it the other day but the bank was unable to process it.  the bank said it needs to be reissued....'
End of scenario.

Bellisima

I personally would go to your bank and pay it in the old fashioned way........😊

JJW101

Definitely try a branch first - humans often say yes when computer says no.  

Cathwa

As a great aunt in her 50's, I send cheques to all my great nieces and nephews for birthdays/xmas as I refuse to post cash. I think if your great aunt has taken the trouble to get you a card, write a cheque then put a stamp on it and post it she must really want you to have the money. I would be really upset if my nieces/nephews tried to cash a cheque but couldn't for any reason so please just tell her so you can accept her kind gift. 

[Deleted User]

Tell her,she wants you to have it.  How would she feel if she notices you haven't cashed it?

primrose_penguin

Money is one of the most difficult things to discuss so I quite understand how you feel. I would go to the actual nearest branch of your bank and try to deposit it first. Then if they will not accept it for the same reason I think I would write her a nice letter explaining the bank would not accept her cheque due to the date being illegible, and return the cheque to her so she can see the problem herself, then if she wants to send you another cheque she will. If you do nothing she will probably be offended that you have not accepted her gift. I remember sending a cheque as a Christmas present to a relative for her children, it was never cashed and I never sent another one!

graememartin

You could challenge the bank (really they are just being petantic - and old people's writing is often terrible - so long as the amount and your name is readable). They could validate the date based upon previous and next cheques that she issued. After all, it doesn't really matter what date she wrote the cheque (unless expired), it is a promise to pay the money to you. Everyone's a winner.