Post -dated cheques!?

Question

If I send someone a series of post dated cheques (only £3.00) can they bank the lot before the date? What happens if they do, if they can? I'm with Natwest. Thanks!!

Answer 1

Hi, I used to work for Lloyds Tsb and when I worked there just a year ago we were not allowed to bank any cheques that were post dated, and I think other banks are the same, so you should be quite safe, although obviously mistakes can happen, as if the cashier forgets to check the date or misreads it it may go through and is rarely picked up in the banking system if this happens. Post dated cheques are fine if you know the person won't try to pay them in early just in case.
Also ignore the info saying contact your bank and tell them, as say the person pays them into a non natwest account, they are obviously not going to know anything about your account.

Steph x

Answer 2

my experience is that yes post dated cheques can and do sometimes get banked before the date, this may be due to bank cashiers not noticing the date but whether it is due to staff error or not i have had post dated cheques which have cleared my account before their due date making it seem that the bank presented and my own ignore the date on a cheque. I don't know where you stand legally though with regard complaining to your bank for clearing the cheques early.

Answer 3

Firstly, you will have to let the payee (receiver of the cheque) know that you are post dating and that they should not attempt to deposit before the date on the cheque.
Secondly, let your bank know that you have issued cheques (list by chq number) post dated and that you have also informed the payee.

Reason:
1) not informing the payee will entitle them to deposit the cheque
2) not informing the bank may cause the cheque/s to be processed automatically.

Although it is not illegal to post date, there has to be a valid reason.

Most times when people post date it is due to lack of funds or an informal installment process..

It is far better to inform the payee that you will send the cheque/s, or better still a money order, on the date proposed showing good faith.. No one likes post dated cheques..

Answer 4

The terms and conditions of your account state that you will not issue any cheques unless the funds are cleared and available in your account. By issuing a post dated cheque you are predicting or assuming future circumstances.

The bank will endeavour to identify and return post dated cheques but ultimately the responsibility lies with you to not issue post dated cheques.

If you do so knowing that funds are not available in your acccount and they get cashed you will be liable for any charges as a result.

Answer 5

At £3 a time, does it matter? They can bank them all and they will all probably get debited to your account. You can then complain about post-dated cheques getting processed and the bank will say one of their terms is that you may not issue post dated cheques. Too much trouble for too little money.

Answer 6

They may do. banks rarely check the dates on cheques they process, even though they should. They could be processed through your account all at the same time. If this takes you overdrawn you will have charges to pay. The bank will not be sympathetic at all as you are not supposed to write a cheque unless you have the money in your account to cover it. banks always advise you not to write post dated cheques.

Answer 7

Banks can cash post-dated cheques. If you don't want someone to cash them early, don't give them the cheques until you have funds in your bank account.

Answer 8

in theory no, however in practice. unless the cheque is for more than 5,000 the banbk dont even check the signature is correct. Im secretary for a small group and we need 2 signatures, yet bank has cashed them with only 1

Answer 9

inform the person that they are post dated
sometimes the bank don't check the dates
and they will cash the check
if there are nsf in your account
the bank and the person u wrote the checks to will charge you for writing the cheque

Answer 10

I think that they can bank them early but you should write a letter to the person that you are paying clearly stating that they are not to bank them until the date shown on the cheques otherwise they could be bounced by the bank & that you will hold them responsible for any charges that the bank impose on you.

You can also write to your bank letting them know of your arrangement.

In respect of the bank they should not charge you for being overdrawn & for them to write you letters & charge say £25.00 each letter & if they do you can take them to court to get your money back.

Banks do not want to be taken to court for the excessive charges that they deduct from their customers & they always repay those charges if customers complain.

Good luck with your finances