A Cheque Book.

Hi All,
At our Mens Shed, Wed. discussion came up on Cheque Books.
1 Chap who is Left Handed, said that Westpac Bank provide him with Left Handed Cheque Books.
Also being L/H, I asked NAB if they had them, Answer, " We don't have that many customers who still use Cheque Books ".
Well that to me is Cods Wallop, as I know of a few NAB People that still use Cheque Books, but how many are L/Handed, I wood not know, & that is only in Geelong, Vic. & we are mainly of the Older People who don't or can't use the Electronic Method.
We are told, by 2017, all cheque books will be invalid.

According to this news item dated June 2014 there are no plans to get rid of cheques in Australia.

FWIW Wikipedia shows
Finland stopped using cheques in 1993
Poland stopped in 2006.
Canada is stopping in 2016
The UK is set to go cheque-less in 2018 - provided sufficient alternatives are in place.

To give you an idea of cheque use and its decline. Over the years I sold Clearvue products I would have been paid by cheque less than five times. I was dragged kicking and screaming into the electronic banking world when I started CV and now I am a total convert. The only cheques I write are for my super fund and no more than three a year. The biggest hold out I have found for electronic banking are accountants which surprised me.

The last time I wrote out a cheque was in 2006.

I had to put a deposit down on a purchase to be ordered. That was the first cheque I had written in probably 10 years.

The solution for the lefties in the group is to use top stub cheque book. BTW - There are many printing companies that will print cheques in almost any format with a huge variety of backgrounds. I don't know if they print a stub on the right for the lefties.

BTW - When we got married 49 years ago, it was decided that the cheque book was 50/50. I made all the deposits and SWMBO writes all the checks. It's worked.

I don't think I've written a personal cheque since the early 1990's. I'm a leftie too.

still use ours

I still write the occasional cheque.

I accept cheques as payment and receive about one a month.

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Originally Posted by rrich

The solution for the lefties in the group is to use top stub cheque book. BTW - There are many printing companies that will print cheques in almost any format with a huge variety of backgrounds. I don't know if they print a stub on the right for the lefties.

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The last place that I worked at had their own printed cheques by Kalamazoo but the format and design had to be approved by our bank's head office in Sydney. They would place the order and check the printed cheques before passing them on to us all at our expense and the minimum order for the cheques was 50,000 copies.

Whilst possible it's not something to be entered into for a personal account.

Peter.

I like writing cheques as it is really retro. I also like to write cheques for things I don't want to pay .... just to provide maximum disruption to the person requesting my money ..... that reminds me rates are due soon! :dev:

Quite a few people still pay me by cheque, and I write the occasional one.
Haven't been offered bitcoins yet, though.

Hi All,
Thank you for all your input, but I still like our C B.
I feel we wood both be in trouble, trying, at this late Stage of Our Lives, getting around Electronic Banking.
I have enough trouble with the PC, let alone E/ Banking.
Funny how 1 Bank has L H C B's, & their competitors don't.
Might have to change to Westpac ?????. Then Again ..........

One of the theoretical advantages of a cheque is if you have a requirement for two to sign. This could be an advantage for any organization but only works if the bank actually checks the signatures.

With electronic banking and great secrecy of PINs, having two people authorize a transaction may have its limitations and problems.

While we all put our trust in those handling money in any organization, there are those who move it to their own account.

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Originally Posted by Handyjack

One of the theoretical advantages of a cheque is if you have a requirement for two to sign. This could be an advantage for any organization but only works if the bank actually checks the signatures.

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Doesn't matter if the bank checks the cheques for the correct signatures or not for if it's not correctly signed then the bank is responsible for reimbursement if the money was misappropriated.

Many years ago , even before computer became the norm, I used to work for a major bank when the decision was made to stop checking the cheques for correct details as the cost of checking and dishonouring them for minor details was more expensive then the occasional time when it went wrong.

It was cheaper to pay up without question rather then employ 500 members of staff checking all those cheques. Saved them money but it was the beginning of the decline in personal service and the bank's eternal drive for ungodly profits.:((

Peter.

Wow Sturdee! That brings back some memories! When as a teenager I worked for one of the big 4 (or 6 as was then) and one of my jobs was checking signatures on larger cheques, I can't remember the amount of the cheques but it was pre-decimal.:hmm:

I could do without cheques as I do internet banking but SWMBO still insists on having a cbk for her transactions, maybe 3-4 a month.:no:

I haven't needed to write a cheque ever since the penalties payment office went electronic. :U:U Now if only I didn't t have to keep up my annual speeding subscription :B

I found the change to internet banking very stressful at first as I had no one to hold my hand and after all it was my admittedly very small amount of money I was worried about that might disappear into the ether, entirely unfounded of course but real at the time. I can understand the older person (like me) being reluctant to enter the cyber banking world but in the end it simplifies life. The banks are making it easier as well, just recently Westpac changed their website and it is hugely better than before. I needed some statements for my tax return so I went on line and printed them, interest paid during the year is available but the best one is paying bills. The payment can be set up as soon as the bill is received and timed to be paid a day before the due date which appeals to me as they haven't got my money any sooner than they need it.

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Originally Posted by Mulgabill

Wow Sturdee! That brings back some memories! When as a teenager I worked for one of the big 4 (or 6 as was then) and one of my jobs was checking signatures on larger cheques, I can't remember the amount of the cheques but it was pre-decimal.:hmm:

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Those were the days.

I started work in 1962 for the Bank of New South Wales as a junior, at a branch where we still had handwritten ledgers, and quickly moved through the various positions at various branches until I was promoted to the Melbourne overseas department and ended up being only one of five official signatures in Melbourne able to sign overseas transactions for all the Victorian branches.

That became rather depressing so I left for a better offer of double the pay and free food and drinks at that iconic place in the hills, the "Swagman Restaurant".

Both great places to work and brings back many memories.

I still have a cheque book on my savings account, all no fees, and write maybe one a year but would not like to lose the ability to issue a bill of exchange payable on demand at my bank. :U


Peter.

Hi again,
Great to read all the responses, BUT, I still can't get my Left Handed Cheque Book. Bummmerrrr.

Life is tough sometimes:C

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Originally Posted by issatree

Hi again,
Great to read all the responses, BUT, I still can't get my Left Handed Cheque Book. Bummmerrrr.

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Lewis,

Have you thought of tearing the cheque form out of the book prior to writing it out and then filling out the stub, seems a simple solution but I'm not left handed so wouldn't know.


Peter.

Hi Peter,
Actually it is the Stub, that is usually the problem. Getting over it is the hard bit. Could pull it apart, but we like to keep it intact, as it is kind of receipt, & you can go back & have a look to see if you have paid or not.

I'm also not a leftie (lefty) whichever is more politically correct.

would it be logical to spin the cheque book upside down and fill in the stub this way? Write your cheque still in the book or out but I am sure you could get used to flipping the stubs from "the other way".

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Originally Posted by issatree

Hi again,
Great to read all the responses, BUT, I still can't get my Left Handed Cheque Book. Bummmerrrr.

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Hey Lewis, Turn you book upside down.:U:U:U John.

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Many years ago , even before computer became the norm, I used to work for a major bank when the decision was made to stop checking the cheques for correct details as the cost of checking and dishonouring them for minor details was more expensive then the occasional time when it went wrong.

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So maybe the banks could explain why it still takes the best part of a week to clear a cheque?

Don't start trying to bring logic into any thread concerning banks.:C

Hi John & All,
Yes, I did that once, but they don't like it one little bit.

Righting on the Stub, the other way sounds good but, then I will have trouble with The Domestic Treasurer, as She is Right Handed.

I'm starting to think I might put some pressure on NAB for Left Handed Books, & letting them know that Wespac have one.
I will try the Main Branch in the City, & see what they say.

Maybe some of you think this is petty. OK, then, you have a go at being L/ Handed, & I'm not having a go at our Ambidextrous Friends. I dare say you have seen a L/H with their hand all the way around above the Book, while Writing Above the Book, & facing down. Looks even worse to me.

Hi Lewis,

The cheque book we have with NAB doesn't have the stub. Earlier in the book there is a section (one page) where you will out the individual cheque details, then further on the cheques just remove from the book without the stub section. If you don't have any trouble writing on the cheque section then this may be the solution. If I recall correctly I think NAB called it a compact cheque book or something like that.

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Originally Posted by AlexS

So maybe the banks could explain why it still takes the best part of a week to clear a cheque?

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Rather simple really, it's the physical transfer of the cheque from your bank branch to the paying bank branch, both via their head offices.

Then the paying branch has 24 hours from receipt of the cheque to decide if they will honour it. In the event of them not honouring the cheque they post it back to your bank branch via good old Australia post who will take at least two days to deliver it.

In no time a week has gone and with Aussie post soon to go to 3 deliveries a week it will take even longer. Of course you can pay for a direct clearance, with phone confirmation, if urgent.

Peter.

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Originally Posted by issatree

Maybe some of you think this is petty. OK, then, you have a go at being L/ Handed, & I'm not having a go at our Ambidextrous Friends. I dare say you have seen a L/H with their hand all the way around above the Book, while Writing Above the Book, & facing down. Looks even worse to me.

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I'm sorry Lewis if you think I was having a go but never having seen a L/H write a cheque I didn't realise it was a big problem.

Peter.

Hi to all Left Handers,
Didn't think of this before, oh well, better late than never.
I belong to the LH Club, & although it is in the UK, I get Info, + a Newsletter every couple of weeks, & they also have (rather Pricey) LH Items for sale.

Email ; [email protected]

The Chaps name is Keith Milsom.
The International Left Handers Day was on Wed.13th.August.

They have just had a series of questions for us to answer to see how LH you are. Me, I'm only 47% LH.

Sorry, Peter, I wasn't meaning it that way at all.

Hey, Michael, I will ask about that Cheque Book, Sounds like the Solution.

There used to be a shop for left-handers in Sydney in the Rocks area. It is a long time since I have been there so not sure if it still exists.
Our son is left-handed so have some sympathy for you. Left-handers are supposed to be smarter than the rest of us.

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Originally Posted by issatree

Hey, Michael, I will ask about that Cheque Book, Sounds like the Solution.

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They must have them as they sent us a new one a few months ago. My memory is rusty but I am sure when we first got the account we elected to get the compact cheque book and it has always been sent out since. If you have trouble with the NAB let me know and I will take a few photos that you can take in and show them.