Alliance & Leicester, cheques and unauthorised overdrafts

raukousshaun

Hi everyone,

Could someone answer a question I've got please?

If I was to write a cheque which did not have sufficient funds to clear it, would the bank a) allow the cheque to go through and put me into an unauthorised overdraft. Or b) bounce the cheque, send it back and charge me anyway.

I've heard it depends which bank you are with? is this correct? I'm with Alliance and Leicester.

I know it's not a good idea to do it in the first place, but it's either suffer toothache till the end of the month when I get paid or get it fixed next week, issue a cheque and pay the consequences with charges later.

and no, I can't get an extension on my overdraft, and my credit card is maxed out.

thanks in advance

YorkshireBoy

raukousshaun wrote: »

If I was to write a cheque which did not have sufficient funds to clear it, would the bank a) allow the cheque to go through and put me into an unauthorised overdraft. Or b) bounce the cheque, send it back and charge me anyway.

It depends on whether you're using a cheque guarantee card or not.

Cheque guaranteed:
It will be paid (as long as it's under your guarantee limit), and you'll incur a £25 payment review fee. You'll then be charged £5 for every day your account is in an unauthorised overdraft position.

Cheque NOT guaranteed:
It will probably be bounced, but you'll still incur a £25 payment review fee. You may then need to find a new dentist!

Abuse of your cheque guarantee card may mean it is taken off you, and your account downgraded.


That said, no doubt somebody else will be along shortly to tell you how to claim the fees back, so I suppose it doesn't really matter. :rolleyes:

and no, I can't get an extension on my overdraft, and my credit card is maxed out.

Then may I suggest a visit to the debt-free wannabe board.

PROLIANT

If I were you mate I would suffer the pain, I have been in a similar situation in the past where I couln't afford to go to the dentist so I went to the chemist and got some clove oil, cost about £2, apply this to the painfull area with a cotton bud or the corner of a flannel or something, be generouse with it and you should find that it will get you through the month. Oh and by the way, DONT get it in your eyes on on your sensitive bits. :eek: And as an answer to your question about the rubber cheque, dont do it, it will bounce and you will get charged, as it is a current account they report to all three credit reference agencies, so if you go over you will get a late payment marker on your file's, I also bank with A&L.

PROLIANT

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

It depends on whether you're using a cheque guarantee card or not.

Cheque guaranteed:
It will be paid (as long as it's under your guarantee limit), and you'll incur a £25 payment review fee. You'll then be charged £5 for every day your account is in an unauthorised overdraft position.

Cheque NOT guaranteed:
It will probably be bounced, but you'll still incur a £25 payment review fee. You may then need to find a new dentist!

Abuse of your cheque guarantee card may mean it is taken off you, and your account downgraded.


That said, no doubt somebody else will be along shortly to tell you how to claim the fees back, so I suppose it doesn't really matter. :rolleyes:Then may I suggest a visit to the debt-free wannabe board.

Well said, if you write a cheque knowing that you dont have the money to clear it you are asking for bother as I stated in my post above, if you do go ahead mate dont have the cheek to take them to court and ask for the charges back, because that would be the wrong thing to do wouldnt it.

Scousebird_2

Don't do it love-it's just asking for trouble, and you run the risk of the bank taking the book off you!

Don't do it!!!

MarkyMarkD

I agree with the others' comments, in the main.

Whilst it seems horrible to have to suffer the pain, it's not worth a huge amount in bank charges for a relatively small amount of spending.

Do you not have a friend or relative in the world who would take pity on you and lend you the money for dental treatment? Assuming it's NHS it is not going to cost you that much in any case.

Or is it even worth you considering one of those horrible "pay day loans" companies?

Anything is better than deliberately writing a cheque which will bounce.

The other alternative is to talk to A&L very nicely and explain the circumstances. Even if you can't get a permanent increase in your overdraft, it's rather more likely that they would give you one for one month to cover this medical emergency. Give them a ring and ask nicely.