HMRC cheque cashing recommendation please

gt94sss2

Penguin_ said:

Taken from Paypal:

Cash a cheque at a post office

Many post office branches allow customers to cash cheques without a bank account. A valid form of ID with a photo is usually required, as well as the physical cheque that is to be cashed out.

However, a post office may limit this service to certain types of non-personal cheques, such as government cheques.

I've seen that PayPal page before - the above is a situation in the USA and not the UK. 

PayPal should really update that page rather than saying it applies to the UK

gt94sss2

stanzelsa said:

PRAISETHESUN said:

Penguin_ said:

Can you deposit the cheque at a post office?

Doesn't look like it: https://www.postoffice.co.uk/monzo

stanzelsa said:

Hello,
Today I received a £670 cheque from HMRC, for overpayment on a private pension lump sum, £500 is the most I can pay into Monzo via the app. I can post it in, but normal wait times for it to clear are up to 4 weeks, and we all know Royal Mail Tracked means absolutely nothing apart from proof you sent it at this time of year. I tried my credit union but the cheque would need to be payable to them, not me, for me to deposit it. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a cheque cashing store? H&T want £100, so I'm not thrilled. But I might just do it cos I need the money for Christmas, don't want the drama of dealing with UC freezing benefits until they've investigated it, and it maybe going missing and not getting re-sent and in my account until next tax year!

What other accounts do you have access to? "Easiest" options seems to just be mailing it off and waiting for it to be processed after Christmas, as I don't think opening a new account just to bank a cheque would be significantly faster.

None. Just Monzo and credit union. I live alone on disability benefits, and have a dreadful credit score so opening a new account isn't an option sadly. I requested the refund because I need the money for Christmas, I didn't realise how difficult it was to pay your own money into your own account these days!

You should still be able to open a new account elsewhere - even if it's only a Basic Bank account.

https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/banking/basic-bank-accounts

stanzelsa

Problem solved. My sister got her April pay rise back pay, so is loaning me the money until it clears. Phew

stanzelsa

born_again said:

Rob5342 said:

They should really be doing bank transfers in this day and age,  for lots of people it can be quite difficult to deposit a cheque. 

The suggestion to try opening a Starling account is a good one as they allow chewue deposits up to £1000.it only takes 10 minutes to try and if they say no you've lost nothing. 

They do.
All tax refunds I have had in the last 6 years have been online.
Might need to have a personal tax acc set up

https://www.gov.uk/personal-tax-account

I have a personal account, but I wasn't offered the option. Possibly because it was on a P53 request

COIAHLGW

gt94sss2 said:

Penguin_ said:

Taken from Paypal:

Cash a cheque at a post office

Many post office branches allow customers to cash cheques without a bank account. A valid form of ID with a photo is usually required, as well as the physical cheque that is to be cashed out.

However, a post office may limit this service to certain types of non-personal cheques, such as government cheques.

I've seen that PayPal page before - the above is a situation in the USA and not the UK. 

PayPal should really update that page rather than saying it applies to the UK

It's not a USA scenario.  People don't cash cheques at the post office in the USA, plus it would also refer to them as "checks".  This just needs to be removed from the PayPal website.

TheBanker

stanzelsa said:

Hello,
Today I received a £670 cheque from HMRC, for overpayment on a private pension lump sum, £500 is the most I can pay into Monzo via the app. I can post it in, but normal wait times for it to clear are up to 4 weeks, and we all know Royal Mail Tracked means absolutely nothing apart from proof you sent it at this time of year. I tried my credit union but the cheque would need to be payable to them, not me, for me to deposit it. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a cheque cashing store? H&T want £100, so I'm not thrilled. But I might just do it cos I need the money for Christmas, don't want the drama of dealing with UC freezing benefits until they've investigated it, and it maybe going missing and not getting re-sent and in my account until next tax year!

Post it Special Delivery. It will cost you, but nowhere near the £100 the cheque cashing shop want.

username

gt94sss2 said:

stanzelsa said:

PRAISETHESUN said:

Penguin_ said:

Can you deposit the cheque at a post office?

Doesn't look like it: https://www.postoffice.co.uk/monzo

stanzelsa said:

Hello,
Today I received a £670 cheque from HMRC, for overpayment on a private pension lump sum, £500 is the most I can pay into Monzo via the app. I can post it in, but normal wait times for it to clear are up to 4 weeks, and we all know Royal Mail Tracked means absolutely nothing apart from proof you sent it at this time of year. I tried my credit union but the cheque would need to be payable to them, not me, for me to deposit it. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a cheque cashing store? H&T want £100, so I'm not thrilled. But I might just do it cos I need the money for Christmas, don't want the drama of dealing with UC freezing benefits until they've investigated it, and it maybe going missing and not getting re-sent and in my account until next tax year!

What other accounts do you have access to? "Easiest" options seems to just be mailing it off and waiting for it to be processed after Christmas, as I don't think opening a new account just to bank a cheque would be significantly faster.

None. Just Monzo and credit union. I live alone on disability benefits, and have a dreadful credit score so opening a new account isn't an option sadly. I requested the refund because I need the money for Christmas, I didn't realise how difficult it was to pay your own money into your own account these days!

You should still be able to open a new account elsewhere - even if it's only a Basic Bank account.

https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/banking/basic-bank-accounts

Doesn't even have to be one of those either, if you are worried about it being declined for credit reasons. Open a savings account and get a cash card (say, with Llloyds, Santander-those are two I have), and you can pay the cheque in at a local branch, either over the counter or in the machines, or maybe via the app.
Whatever you do please don't use one of those cheque cashing places, they will skim off and charge you fees and it sounds like every penny counts for you, right now. Given your sister has tided you over with the cash, it will give a few weeks to get an account set up.