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HELP, Words and Figures dont match on a cheque!!!

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My brother-in-law took a cheque from someone and the words and figures dont match, theres only about £2 difference, the words has the correct details whereas the figures are £2 less than what it should be, if they bank this will this be accepted/declined?? I remember reading somewhere at work saying that you should take the figures amount and not the words, does anyone else know the answer to this?? Its a business cheque so they didnt really want to drive all the way for the sake of £2 as it'll cost them more in petrol.

TIA
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  • Night-owl_6
    Night-owl_6 Posts: 858 Forumite
    pcyam wrote: »
    My brother-in-law took a cheque from someone and the words and figures dont match, theres only about £2 difference, the words has the correct details whereas the figures are £2 less than what it should be, if they bank this will this be accepted/declined?? I remember reading somewhere at work saying that you should take the figures amount and not the words, does anyone else know the answer to this?? Its a business cheque so they didnt really want to drive all the way for the sake of £2 as it'll cost them more in petrol.

    TIA

    Can they not ring the company that issued the cheque and ask them for a replacement to be sent?!
    As I am pretty sure if they cheque is presented that if will be refused as they could think it has been altered and they may even freeze there account pending checks
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  • pcyam
    pcyam Posts: 651 Forumite
    Sorry its a meal they delivered to a customer. I've told them not to alter the cheque in 'any shape or form' as doing so may be classed as fraudulent. But I wasnt sure if they could pay it in as the lower amount and learn to check the cheque in future.
  • Night-owl_6
    Night-owl_6 Posts: 858 Forumite
    pcyam wrote: »
    Sorry its a meal they delivered to a customer. I've told them not to alter the cheque in 'any shape or form' as doing so may be classed as fraudulent. But I wasnt sure if they could pay it in as the lower amount and learn to check the cheque in future.

    Unless where the company has altered/made the misake they have singed next to it then I would ask them to contact the company and ask them for a replacement cheque as I seriously think they will find it hard for a bank to take it due to security and the embarrssment if they are asked to the banks office while checks are made on the cheque:o
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  • Mikeyorks
    Mikeyorks Posts: 10,377 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    pcyam wrote: »
    I remember reading somewhere at work saying that you should take the figures amount and not the words,
    TIA

    It's the other way round. The figures are the 'courtesy' amount ..... the words are the 'legal' amount - and the one that would normally be taken if in doubt. However the application by Banks is wholly inconsistent and some will only take the lower amount - whichever that is. And some Banks won't accept it at all.

    Easiest way is to get a replacement or send it back for amendment / initialling by the Drawer.
    If you want to test the depth of the water .........don't use both feet !
  • pcyam
    pcyam Posts: 651 Forumite
    Sorry what I meant was the cheque is a written out to his business from someone he delivered a meal to. so doesnt want to drive all the way over to this persons house to ask them to alter it for £2.
    i've searched on the internet but the results are just how to write a cheque and to make sure the words and figures match. LOL
  • Night-owl_6
    Night-owl_6 Posts: 858 Forumite
    pcyam wrote: »
    Sorry what I meant was the cheque is a written out to his business from someone he delivered a meal to. so doesnt want to drive all the way over to this persons house to ask them to alter it for £2.
    i've searched on the internet but the results are just how to write a cheque and to make sure the words and figures match. LOL

    My only advice here is to get them a replacement cheque as even if you found a bank which is unlikely to take it then it may delay it being processed.
    They would be better of repalcing the cheque with the correct sum or doing a BACS payment?!
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  • pcyam
    pcyam Posts: 651 Forumite
    Thanks everyone for the information, I will pass it all onto him.
  • Mikeyorks
    Mikeyorks Posts: 10,377 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    pcyam wrote: »
    so doesnt want to drive all the way over to this persons house to ask them to alter it for £2.

    Then he'll need to ask his bank if they will accept it as 'LAC' (lower amount claimed'? And go for the £2 less as shown in figures.

    Althought the words represent the legal figure .. you won't get that past a Bank cashier. It's normally a mechanism employed by people (eg Credit Cards) who process cheques in bulk and put them directly into the clearing centres.
    If you want to test the depth of the water .........don't use both feet !
  • Night-owl_6
    Night-owl_6 Posts: 858 Forumite
    pcyam wrote: »
    Thanks everyone for the information, I will pass it all onto him.


    Your welcome!
    :D:D:D
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  • ~Beanie~
    ~Beanie~ Posts: 3,043 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I doubt the Bank will even notice if it's not a large amount :rolleyes:
    :p
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