The Future of Cheques
Posted by Nick Harvey, MP for North Devon, at 15:55, Fri 10 December 2010:
Dear Fellow Local Resident,
Many thanks to those of you who took the time to email me or comment on my post on the Daylight Savings Bill.
The Bill passed its Second Reading in the House last week, and received support from across the political parties. It now progresses to Committee stage where it will be looked at in more detail.
The Payments Council announced last year that it had set a target date of 2018 for closing the cheque clearing system due to the declining use of cheques.
These plans have been quite controversial, especially as many people have not been made aware of them. Some groups representing the elderly have concerns about the plans, and the RNIB are also warning that any removal will have a detrimental impact on blind people.
The impact that the withdrawal of cheques will have on small businesses is not yet known.
What do you think – do you still use cheques? Do you think that they should be withdrawn? What alternative ideas do you have if they are replaced?
I think that this issue is going to be a big one in the future, and I would like to hear your views. Please do let me know what you think.
This will be my last email before Christmas, so please let me take this opportunity to wish you and your family the very best of the season.
As always, if you want to get in touch, please feel free to email me on mail@nickharveymp.com or telephone my office on 01271 328631.
Kind regards,
Nick
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Posted by Haydn Gresty, 16:06, Fri 10 December 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
This comment has been removed
Posted by Barbara Martin, 16:25, Fri 10 December 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
I do occasionaly use cheques for things like birthday presents, paying school dinner money, paying a builder, ..and the like..I suppose I use them in places where a debit card cannot be used. I expect by 2018 there will be a much better system in place. Does anyone still use postal orders? travellers cheques?
Posted by Deborah Burnside, 16:56, Fri 10 December 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
For organisations such as the Scouts, and local interest groups the implications of the removal of cheques could be very problematic. It is unlikely that they will be able to have systems such as chip and pin devices available to them. Not many Scout huts have phones and therefore no means to connect to banks computers. Implications of those involved in things like Scouting carrying cash could be problematic both in terms of cash getting lost and the implication of such places having cash on the premises might make them vulnerable as targets to criminals.
Posted by Stephen Wilkinson, 12:02, Sat 11 December 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
I think cheques definitely have their place still especially for local clubs and charities.
I don't write many cheques, probably 10 a year but I'm not sure if there is a real alternative.
Posted by Terry Penney, 12:38, Mon 13 December 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
I very rarely write a cheque these days prefering to pay via internet banking or using credit or debit cards. But as mentioned above if more and more companies make hefty and unreasonable charges for paying with plastic, then I could need to start using cheques again. Also many people especially some elderly folk cannot or will not use the internet, or don't trust internet banking and/or credit/debit cards. Also many people now avoid using credit cards for fear of incurring unmanageable debt. All these people would find the removal of cheques very problematic and very stressful so I think, for now, they should be maintained. If necessary banks can charge for their use, as I think these people would be willing to pay for peace of mind.