Travellers Cheques

ChangFai

Anyone had any success cashing Travellers Cheques in the UK (Scotland) lately?

Just discovered I still had a £1000 of AmEx Sterling Cheques, which I thought was probably best to cash in.

They are ONLY 10 years old, and I still have the receipt from when I purchased them, but the TSB Bank that I bought them from, just looked at them, and asked what they were for!!!

So, not knowing what to do with them, they have refused to cash them, as has the one only other Bank in my town, and my local Post Office.

I am sure there will be a way, but the ignorant reaction of my bank really surprised me, especially when it states on the receipt to take them back, or hold on to them, as they never expire.

JGB1955

It seems from Where can I cash Travelers Cheques? (americanexpress.com) you may be able to exchange them (in person) at branches of eurochange and NM Money.  Quite a few branches in Scotland - from Aberdeen to Ayr.

American Express - Travelers Cheques | Exchange Locator

zagfles

Just pay them into your bank account like any other cheque.

ChangFai

zagfles said:

Just pay them into your bank account like any other cheque.

No longer possible it would seem.

TELLIT01

zagfles said:

Just pay them into your bank account like any other cheque.

A lot of banks no longer accept them.  Eurochange did accept mine about 12 months ago.

zagfles

What basis do the banks have for refusing them, they're just cheques like any other cheque? Have you tried actually paying them in like any normal cheque (as opposed to asking them if they accept them - bank staff are often clueless).

ChangFai

zagfles said:

What basis do the banks have for refusing them, they're just cheques like any other cheque? Have you tried actually paying them in like any normal cheque (as opposed to asking them if they accept them - bank staff are often clueless).

No idea on what basis, apart from TSB Bank stating that widely advertised that you could no longer cash or buy Travellers Cheques after 2015.

eskbanker

ChangFai said:

zagfles said:

What basis do the banks have for refusing them, they're just cheques like any other cheque? Have you tried actually paying them in like any normal cheque (as opposed to asking them if they accept them - bank staff are often clueless).

No idea on what basis, apart from TSB Bank stating that widely advertised that you could no longer cash or buy Travellers Cheques after 2015.

That's a TSB-specific stance, albeit one published on their website:

As of 23 November 2015 TSB is no longer offering travel money services.

This includes the sale and buy back of foreign currency and foreign or Sterling travellers cheques through branches, Telephone Banking and Online Banking.

https://www.tsb.co.uk/help/support/travel/

zagfles

ChangFai said:

zagfles said:

What basis do the banks have for refusing them, they're just cheques like any other cheque? Have you tried actually paying them in like any normal cheque (as opposed to asking them if they accept them - bank staff are often clueless).

No idea on what basis, apart from TSB Bank stating that widely advertised that you could no longer cash or buy Travellers Cheques after 2015.

I'm not taking about cashing them, but about paying them into to your bank account like you would with any cheque.

ChangFai

zagfles said:

ChangFai said:

zagfles said:

What basis do the banks have for refusing them, they're just cheques like any other cheque? Have you tried actually paying them in like any normal cheque (as opposed to asking them if they accept them - bank staff are often clueless).

No idea on what basis, apart from TSB Bank stating that widely advertised that you could no longer cash or buy Travellers Cheques after 2015.

I'm not taking about cashing them, but about paying them into to your bank account like you would with any cheque.

Yes, that was what I was trying to do, or wanted to do, I have just worded it wrongly.

Would not make a difference anyway, and Bank of Scotland was the exact same.

NoodleDoodleMan

Can I suggest a call to Amex - they are always very helpful when I have a credit card enquiry, presumably they extend the same customer service to their Travellers Cheques ?

0800 917 8047