Sir, British banks seem set on the elimination of the cheque, an instrument which has served the public well for hundreds of years. From July 1, the cheque guarantee card no longer guaranteed cheques.
The banks have made this change without fanfare or perceptible consultation. My own bank merely sent me a “Notice of Variation” to my terms and conditions. There in the small print is “Withdrawal of the UK Cheque Guarantee Scheme”. The reason, they blandly explained, is that the UK Payments Council had decided to withdraw the scheme.
This move by the banks will have a big impact on businesses large and small. In my local Post Office the other day I saw a notice listing more than 20 ordinary transactions that now cannot be executed using a cheque.
John M. Radcliffe
London N1