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

MalMonroe

graememartin said:

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.

At the risk of being pedantic, the word is pedantic, not petantic. And what makes you think that the great aunt is so "old" that her writing is terrible? As a 71 year old who is often complimented on my calligraphy, I take umbrage! 

JayD

Personally, I would cross out her date with a clean line and write a legible one above it and scribble her initials beside it. I would match her colour ink of course . I doubt the bank would pick you up on it abd it keeps it simple for everyone involved.

justworriedabit

I've contributed to this thread before and just thought nw, if it was my cheque and this happen I'd want to know as soon as possible. It's a bit like when we've had to transfer money to family/etc we always tell then that the bank could make a mistake or we could so please, please tell us if the money has not shown in your account by tomorrow. The banking we using is same day transactions and often happens there and then but at times it can take a few hours but never more than 24 hours during a weekday.

D_UK_85

Say it with humour ‘aunt i think you have sent me a fraudulent cheque because it didn’t work’

ynysygwas

Pay it in at an actual bank and help keep a local branch open. Relying on apps to replace a physical bank has already given the big banks an excuse to sack staff and close thousands of branches. It's people like your great aunt that suffer the most inconvenience when banks close. She'd probably be delighted your app failed and you had to use a 'proper' bank!

bargainbarrett

Good excuse to call her and have a chat generally. Thank her for her generous cheque-and say I haven’t been able to cash it as the mobile app wouldn’t accept it but no worries.

cupcakelady

I found this question quite funny. It's hardly a moral dilemma. You're not really doing anything morally wrong either way. Best to send a thank you note also saying you weren't able to cash it because of the date. Though if you never say thank you it would be rather obvious if you did this time lol, though an immoral incentive to start doing so! 

74jax

You got the cheque almost 3 months ago.  I'm presuming you have spoken since then, when you thanked her I appreciate it was probably over Christmas and you hadn't attempted to bank it, but now you have can you not just mention it the next time you're talking?  It maybe the 3 months is up to bank it anyway depending when she wrote it, but if you are happy enough to bank it, then you're on good terms so next time you're talking just say you've had it knocked back.  I really don't get the issue.  

crmism

Write to her explaining about the date, and include a prepaid envelope. She will need to sign against the alteration, otherwise the cheque may well be returned unpaid a second time.

mdf14

Tell her but blame the bank