Cheque has typo in name - options?

[sayerbloke]

Hi,

Hoping for some advice, please. My wife received a cheque but there’s a typo in her name and the bank wouldn’t accept it.

Logically the best answer would be ask for it to be reissued but here’s the complicated bit; she’s American and the cheque is from the IRS. I’m told their system looks at the surname and then the first 3 characters of the first name when it checks if the name/address are correct. Want to guess where the typo is? Yep - the 4th character of her first name . It has an N when it should be an H. The rest of both names and the address are all fine. Getting hold of someone at the IRS who can fix it has proved impossible so far, despite trying on and off for months.

Any ideas of any other methods for getting a cheque processed, please?! I’ve never used a cheque cashing service (do they still exist?) to know if that’d work…

Any questions, please ask.

Many thanks

Edited by sayerbloke on Monday 1st May 17:16

[Heathwood]

Some banks allow a cheque to be paid in virtually. I believe you just scan it using your phone. Presumably it goes through certain checks but perhaps this might be sufficiently lenient to allow it through as in all likelihood no person will actually look at the image.

[Red9zero]

Heathwood said:

Some banks allow a cheque to be paid in virtually. I believe you just scan it using your phone. Presumably it goes through certain checks but perhaps this might be sufficiently lenient to allow it through as in all likelihood no person will actually look at the image.

I've paid in cheques to Nat West on the app with my surname spelt incorrectly.

[sayerbloke]

Thanks for the reply. We thought of that but the bank won’t allow you to pay in virtually if it’s in foreign currency.

Also just found out that cheque cashing services single out the US as not available so no route there.

[hairy v]

Red9zero said:

I've paid in cheques to Nat West on the app with my surname spelt incorrectly.

I've paid in cheques with my name spelled incorrectly to the NatWest branch without any issues too.

[Kirkmoly]

If it is low value cheque (<$1000 for most checking accounts) then she will be able to use the banking app from one of her US accounts to pay it in virtually.

[The Leaper]

sayerbloke said:

Thanks for the reply. We thought of that but the bank won’t allow you to pay in virtually if it’s in foreign currency.

Yes, that's a bummer. I occasionally have USA $ cheques and have to go (well put of my way) to a branch to pay them in.

R.

[OutInTheShed]

You can pay cheques into paypal I think?

Maybe open a paypal account wit the name just initials?

[anonymous-user]

Open a current account and spell the name as per the cheque?

[Pistom]

JB99 said:

Open a current account and spell the name as per the cheque?

Not sure if a serious suggestion but good idea if it would work and not take more hassle than it's worth. I suspect however that the biggest issue would be ID checks which banks do - you would only have a cheque in your name.

[Rick101]

I'd prob just try someone else, different day, different branch, most non interested looking person.

[C5_Steve]

As it's a cheque in a foreign currency, it'll actually be sent to the US to clear. For USD cheques there are very strict rules around them so cashiers take a bit of extra time checking them over before accepting them to avoid the US banks rejecting them. If it was a sterling cheque I doubt it would have been noticed.

The bank could actually accept it as is as it will be down to the US bank to pay/not pay the cheque. I'd suggest trying to pay it in again but ask to speak to a manager/supervisor. Explain to them the mistake, if the cheque came with a letter take that in as well. Explain that you're aware it may be rejected and that you're happy with the consequences. If you have a reasonable member of staff you should be ok, banks do have discretion with this.

Aside from the above, you'd need to get another cheque reissued. It's all down to the UK bank taking it and sending it for clearing if you're confident that that US bank will clear it.

[Red9zero]

Rick101 said:

I'd prob just try someone else, different day, different branch, most non interested looking person.

This. There are different ways to spell my forename and surname, and I have had most of them over the years. Not once had a problem paying a cheque in.

[vindaloo79]

Have a bundle of cheques to pay in at same time… safety in numbers ?

[anonymous-user]

Try again?
A few years ago I ordered some goods in the name of Dr James, as a bit of a wheeze (as well as Reverend etc).
Backfired when I had to return the goods & I was refunded by cheque Dr James!
First try the bank declined.
Next time, hello Dr James, how are you today etc etc
Paid in no problem ..