HMRC expired cheque question

isayhello

Hi, I hope this is the right place to get some help for this question, I found an old HMRC cheque for a tax rebate of about £1000 a few months ago, the cheque was about 11 years old. I'd lost it and never cashed it, I called HMRC and they asked me to send it in and they would have a look, since then I've heard from them that they've looked into it but because it's been over a certain number of years they can't do anything about it now and issue another one.

I'm wondering if I just have to accept this answer and leave it now. It's a large amount of money and after waiting ages to speak to someone on the phone twice, they've both times told me the same thing. Has anybody else had a similar experience? is there anything else I can do? Thanks

dgpur

In the UK cheques remain valid for just 6 months. The debt - and so the possibility of a replacement - lasts up to 6 years. So you would be out of luck with any institution, including HMRC.

if there are any special rules for HMRC debts/cheques, they are unlikely to be more generous. Sorry.

GrubbyGirl_2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82042286#Comment_82042286

Are you sure about that? I thought there was no statutory time limit on debts owed to the crown so it would seem very one sided if it wasn't the same in reverse.

Grumpy_chap

It's a large amount of money

Well, presumably not that large an amount of money for you, or you would have cashed it sometime shortly after receipt. £1k today is less value than £1k eleven years ago.

Keep_pedalling

The problem is that that it is possible that they reissued the cheque after you initially lost it and you have forgotten about it. Proving that a second cheque was never issued and cashed is going to be very difficult after all this time.

luci

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82042366#Comment_82042366

My understanding is that only one cheque has been sent and that the OP asked HMRC to reissue it a few months ago.

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82042535#Comment_82042535

Unless the OP stuffed the unopened envelope in the back of a drawer they would have been well aware that there was a cheque for £1k waiting to be paid in.

Perhaps they can confirm that they didn't get HMRC to reissue and received the rebate?

Easy to forget this stuff from 11 years ago.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82042535#Comment_82042535

But if they can forget to bank a £1k cheque it's likely they can slow forget it was sent a second time and that one was banked.

Kim_13

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82042602#Comment_82042602

Possible, but of course if HMRC would engage so far as to say one was reissued and banked, it would put the issue to bed rather than OP inferring from the 'out of time' dismissal that they are owed £1k but HMRC regard it as time barred.

sammyjammy

If the situation were reversed and you repaid a tax credit account via cheque and then heard from them about that debt in 10 years time (which happens) and they say they never cashed the cheque they would insist you still owe the money, maybe take it up with your MP?

Its not beyond the realms that there is not their policy and it just a call centre bod making it up as they go along, also not unheard of!

luci

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82042602#Comment_82042602

I agree. If I got a cheque for £1000, I would have paid it into my bank account within days.