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

Myrrhanda

This happens to me quite frequently, banking apps are really bad at recognising hand-written cheques.  If you cna't get to a branch you should be able to pay it in by post, check your bank's website for details.

Miss_Elly

As treasurer of a community association, I paid in a dividend cheque payable to me followed by SCA a/c (initials of the account which was held at that branch) via the hole in the wall, as previously encouraged to save queuing.  Not only was it rejected because the payee wasn't deemed acceptable, they destroyed it (so don't pay it in that way)!  But I digress: you must tell your great aunt.  I hope you normally write a thankyou note anyway.  If you don't, seeing it on her statement is the only way she knows that you received it.  But it's not your fault and I'm sure your great aunt would be hurt and wonder why it hasn't been cashed if you don't tell her.  It's her choice to give it to you; just write, or phone, and give her the opportunity to send another.  Please don't tell her not to worry about replacing it, as suggested in other comments, because that diminishes her regular act of generosity.

Peter_Vince

Unless you are desperate for the money - let it go.  You've acknowledged her good will, no need to give your g.aunt any anxiety.

Santinja14

You have to tell

bikaga

I would try in branch unless getting there costs you more than what's on the cheque.

meknowalot-51

You should go to the bank,then tell aunt all of what happened,this way she will be more carefull when writing out cheques and making sure that it's all very clear.

Fitzmichael

Absolutely as Graeme says. I would raise hell with the bank if they refused. I would demand to see the manager and point out why their refusal was illogical, adding that, if they still refused, I would take it to the Banking Ombudsman and ask for compensation. I've never lost with an Ombudsman and, re my own bank, for something similar to this, I got 50 quid.

MalMonroe

I would just tell my great aunt. Here in Britain we are always embarrassed when we have to discuss money, especially with relatives. You could just tell the truth, what's wrong with that? 

Oh and I have to say - for those who are speaking about great aunts as if they are antiquities with limited faculties, my best friend, whose sister is 10 years older, became an aunt at 14 and a great aunt for the first time at the age of 35. 

MalMonroe

Fitzmichael said:

Absolutely as Graeme says. I would raise hell with the bank if they refused. I would demand to see the manager and point out why their refusal was illogical, adding that, if they still refused, I would take it to the Banking Ombudsman and ask for compensation. I've never lost with an Ombudsman and, re my own bank, for something similar to this, I got 50 quid.

Or, you could just ask your great aunt for another cheque as the date is illegible on her first one. Bank is perfectly entitled to refuse a cheque if the date is not clear, surely?

MalMonroe

Peter_Vince said:

Unless you are desperate for the money - let it go.  You've acknowledged her good will, no need to give your g.aunt any anxiety.

What anxiety? The great aunt may be feeling anxious because the cheque hasn't been cashed. She's still a functioning person, why hide things?