cashing old cheque from insurance broker

[308gt4]

well I'm truly lost as I just found an old cheque when cleaning up and have tried to get it cashed but as it is 13 years old I have no idea how to get this money back.

It was issued to me from Cloverleaf motor policies for the settlement of property damages in 1989 through the Natwest Bank PLC ONE year later!!

I had left the UK by then and my old landlord took over a year to send it to me and it then got the run around from the local banks and then put in the drawer for many years.

I know there are some knowledgable banker types here that may be able to point me in the right direction, I have sent email to Royal Bank but nothing is forthcoming in over a month.

It's only for a few hundred so small bickies but I hate seeing banks keep this money (it's just the principal of the thing) but from here in Oz there seems little I can do except keep emailing the Royal Bank who took over Natwest if I am right ?????

The money's going to a good cause (muscular Dystrophy Society) as I have obviously never missed the money but I would like to see it away from the banks and in the hands of someone who needs it.

Thanks for all the help and laughs I get here

308gt4

[fish]

If you try cashing the cheque I beleive the will not as it is over 6 months old. I think you then need to reapproach the issuer for a new cheque. But as they are a bank anyway they might cash the banks cheque straight away?

[Podie]

Best bet is to go into the bank itself, rather than e-mail them - that way they HAVE to deal with the issue... although don't be surprised if you're there all day!

[308gt4]

thanks people, but do RBSG own Natwest now ??

I had trouble finding Natwest here in Australia let alone RBSG, and then got the run around (how strange a bank doing that )

Appreciate the tips, I really hope the banks don't get to keep this one

[Podie]

Yep, The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) own NatWest - although the two brands are being kept.

[308gt4]

thanks Podie

how did that happen ???!!!!

I would have thought Natwest were many times larger than RBS

Still I have been in several of the larger computer companies (WANG, DEC, Compaq) and seen them go down to what I considered small fry so I am obviously a poor judge of what is large and small in the business world

[Podie]

Actually NatWest was quite small in comparison... always been a misconception that it was big... even though it was touted as one of the "big four".

How do I know this? Old man is a Director of Insurance for NatWest / RBS...

[308gt4]

so he's got the company Jag AND a parking spot

[Podie]

308gt4 said: so he's got the company Jag AND a parking spot

Nope. Leased Audi, and takes the train.

[Nevin]

There may be limitation periods at work here which mean they don't have to pay you at all, as you have failed to claim a debt due for over 6 years. Not entirely sure how the English system works here though.

[kend]

ANZ have close banking ties with Natwest and maybe able to give you some local advice
hope this helps

[gnomesmith]

Am I missing something? Surely it is Cloverleaf, or it's sucessor company that you should be chasing rather than the bank? The money remains in their account as the cheque has not been cashed.

I think as more than 7 years has expired you probably have no legal claim but the company may acknowledge a moral responsibility.

[dougal]

I did exactly the same as you about a year ago, value of cheque was £400 and well over a year old. I phoned the issuing insurance company and they told me to send them the old cheque and they would re-issue me with a new one, they did so in about two weeks, paid the cheque in, hey presto.

>> Edited by dougal on Thursday 9th January 16:28

[308gt4]

Cheers guys,

I was always under the impression that these went into the dead accounts section but as I haven't drawn on the check then the insurer does seem the likely place to hunt up.

I did a hunt on Cloverleaf but drew a blank, is there any URL I should try to track down these people ?

TIA