Cheques are still the optimum way to pay smaller businesses and to send birthday gifts through the post. Also, I am currently Treasurer for a community association and we could not safely have any other  payment method where two people are required to sign.

I can understand why large scale businesse do not like cheques any more; they get changed fees for crediting thier business bank accounts with wads of cash and/or cheques, they have to either have a security firm collect it or take it to the bank, this all costs time and money. They feel,I suppose, that they are better off paying the credit/debit card commission upfront and getting also instant benefit  from the card company of the money being credited to their business account.

So it's all really only for the benefit of business and the banks, again the individual consumer/customer has to take what is offered. Whatever is the recently best profitable method for the banks and businesses will soon be copied by all the 'players' so we do not have much say about it. We are all so small as individual customers that we can be 'picked off' one by one by the institutions, where else will we move to but other businesses etc. Rarely will we all as comsumers get so worked enough about matters that we organise our collective strength to coordinate action to resist  detrimental changes .

But, hey, we're British, lets have that Dunkirk spirit and keep fighting [ if that's still ok to say and not be politically incorrect!].  

Most of my payments are made via Standing Orders/Direct Debits!

I do however still use cheques for donations to various charities which I find an excellent method when unable to make a total commitment to the charity, should cheques be removed completely then I fear charities will suffer even more than they are at present by the current economic climate!!

We use cheques to pay bills as they give us a receipt (stub). I also use them to get money out of the bank and also from the post-office.
I think it is a cheek for these businesses stopping them, we are the customer and we should be allowed to use what we want, there is too many firms/government etc telling us what to do, we just appear to be the 'cash-cow' for these people, whatever happened to the customer is always right?

Yes, I think the cheque book should still be available. Not everyone banks online and gets cash out of a ATM , especially if one lives in the countryside and has no car and there is no public transport (not that I would want public transport)

I still use cheques for:

• sending birthday/xmas gifts to family and friends;
• paying subscriptions and making payment to clubs, societies and charities;
• paying for deliveries from local suppliers who may not have electronic payment facilities;
• paying for accommodation at small B&Bs and guesthouses;
• when opening new bank or building society accounts initial deposit is often required by cheque - online banking facilities may or may not be available at a later date after the account has been opened.

I am treasurer of a local Women's Institute and receive members' subscriptions and payments by cheque or cash.  Also make payments and pay speakers by cheque requiring two signatures.  We have no facility to receive or make electronic payments.

Imperative that the banks retain and offer a cheque payment facility.

Typical of Banks......they think they know better than us and really all they are doing is trying to cut costs. Once cheques no longer are used they will then start charging us for using credit/debit cards. Ryanair are a good example of how money is expropiated from us.

Yes, I agree. We still need cheques, or at least I do.

Whilst the majority of larger businesses accept a debit card as a means of payment, smaller companies don't always.

I never know when the window cleaner will arrive and don't always have the money to pay him. I don't always want to order stuff online and give them all my bank details. My kids karate club takes them, so does their school.

Is the idea of getting rid of the cheque book for the convenience of the customer .... or is it for the convenience of the larger stores who refuse to accept them and for the banks who don't want to process them?

I also firmly believe that debit cards have a HUGE part to play in the debt problem in this country. If you have a cheque book you probably write in what your paid out. If you have cash in your purse you either have enough or not. IF YOU HAVE A DEBIT card, you 9 times out of 10 use is without thinking of what you are spending and without recording the payment.

Cards make us think we have more money than we do. Unless of course, you are one of those very clever people who budget to the last penny.

Good on you!

I use cheques to get cash from my account at the bank, I think it is disappointing that people do not use the facility of a branch and staff to get THEIR money. After all you are paying for this by the interest that you dont receive from your account. I refuse to use ATMs as I find it humiliating to wait in the rain or snow to get MY money, I have no choice but to have a bank account what with electronic transfers of wages etc but I dont see the fact of being able to get your money out at a machine as progress, the banks are making far to much money out of us and the closing of branches is but another money saving ploy. Support your branches and cash your cheques in the branches, get something back from your (IN SOME CASES) BANKS.
Long live the cheque book.

Let's face it, as reported by APACS cheques are not used as much as they used to be. I myself rarely use them and there are plenty of examples of this in the above statements. There are however times when there use is handy or I actually have no choice. Therefore I agree that cheques should not be abolished....but then who ever said they were going to be? HSBC have simply said that there numbers have declined and have reduced the cheque guarantee amount. Mountain out of a Mole hill springs to mind.

Whilst I agree that cheques are here to stay, the idea of encouraging people to use them to get hold of cash is absurd! In this country, on the whole we are very lucky. We get 'free' banking which makes our lives a lot easier. Other countries have to pay a fee for the services they receive. Sure banks make money out of our hard earned cash but so what? In return they pay us interest and think of all the benefits we get. To help you do this, imagine a world with no banks? Keeping all your savings under the bed - no thanks! Having to visit different companies in different areas to pay your bills – dream on. Sending cash through the post unsecure or spending money on recorded postage each time you pay a bill – think again.

Also, using cheques unnecessarily not only creates avoidable waste, but if everyone did it the banks would soon pass on the additional cost to us or remove the use of cheques altogether. This of course leads to the exact opposite of what you want to achieve. Remember, banking is a privilege not a right!

What is all the fuss about? I have issued about three cheques in as many years. There is no need now that any payment can be organised on the telephone or on the internet. Card machine issuers need to be controlled though, so that they don't raise their charges to businesses.

Hi Glenda,

I am working with the uk payments council on highly dependent cheque users like your aunt,i would be interested in know abit more about the kind of cheques your aunt writes, to who she sends cheques too and how many on average she sends monthly.

All of this information will be used and be discussed over the council meetings.