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| Cheque it out | Cheque it out |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Find out the shops that do and don't take cheques Tesco is the latest shop to stop taking cheques, with Marks & Spencer due to follow next week. So who will take them and who won't? BBC journalist Mario Cacciottolo finds out. | |
| Remember when a chequebook was an essential part of the shopping experience? Not any more. An increasing number of shops are refusing to accept them. | Remember when a chequebook was an essential part of the shopping experience? Not any more. An increasing number of shops are refusing to accept them. |
| Tesco is the latest, saying the move will speed up service at the checkout and help prevent fraud. Other cheque-free zones include Asda, Argos, Boots, Next, Sainsbury's, WH Smith and very soon Marks & Spencer. | Tesco is the latest, saying the move will speed up service at the checkout and help prevent fraud. Other cheque-free zones include Asda, Argos, Boots, Next, Sainsbury's, WH Smith and very soon Marks & Spencer. |
| So is this the end for them? After finally locating and dusting down my much neglected chequebook, I headed to the shops to see how much financial muscle it still flexes. | So is this the end for them? After finally locating and dusting down my much neglected chequebook, I headed to the shops to see how much financial muscle it still flexes. |
| Confusion | Confusion |
| The reaction of shop assistants ranged from surprise to complete confusion. Some looked at them like they were a museum exhibit and had to ask for help, having never dealt with one before. Others would accept anything else - even travellers cheques - but not bank cheques. | The reaction of shop assistants ranged from surprise to complete confusion. Some looked at them like they were a museum exhibit and had to ask for help, having never dealt with one before. Others would accept anything else - even travellers cheques - but not bank cheques. |
| Another common problem was having nowhere to write one out. Shops no longer seem to designate spaces where you can put pen to paper and I often had to balance my cheque book on to the edge of tills and display stands to write one. | Another common problem was having nowhere to write one out. Shops no longer seem to designate spaces where you can put pen to paper and I often had to balance my cheque book on to the edge of tills and display stands to write one. |
| I can hear people behind me in the queue let out a long sigh when I get my cheque book out Cheque user Michael Dyke | I can hear people behind me in the queue let out a long sigh when I get my cheque book out Cheque user Michael Dyke |
| The concept of cheques first came about in the 16th Century, according to Brian Capon of the British Bankers' Association. | The concept of cheques first came about in the 16th Century, according to Brian Capon of the British Bankers' Association. |
| Merchants had goldsmiths look after their gold and wrote notes to other merchants, asking that a certain amount of gold be paid to the bearer of the note. The first actual example of a cheque as we now know it dates from 1659. | Merchants had goldsmiths look after their gold and wrote notes to other merchants, asking that a certain amount of gold be paid to the bearer of the note. The first actual example of a cheque as we now know it dates from 1659. |
| "They became popular because they were safe, effective and efficient," says Mr Capon. "A much better way of handling your money rather than carrying it around with you all the time. | "They became popular because they were safe, effective and efficient," says Mr Capon. "A much better way of handling your money rather than carrying it around with you all the time. |
| Clumsy | Clumsy |
| "There was little chance of fraud because only the wealthy had bank accounts. If a gentleman came in off the street who didn't look wealthy questions would be asked." | "There was little chance of fraud because only the wealthy had bank accounts. If a gentleman came in off the street who didn't look wealthy questions would be asked." |
| There were over 4.4 million personal and business cheques issued every day in 2007. This is compared with 11 million in 1990, the peak year for cheque usage. By 2016 it is predicted there will be only 2.3 million per day. | There were over 4.4 million personal and business cheques issued every day in 2007. This is compared with 11 million in 1990, the peak year for cheque usage. By 2016 it is predicted there will be only 2.3 million per day. |
| There are a number of factors that have contributed to the decline in popularity of cheques, says Mr Capon. | There are a number of factors that have contributed to the decline in popularity of cheques, says Mr Capon. |
| A cheque from 1660, on display at the Bank of England Museum.Enlarge Image | A cheque from 1660, on display at the Bank of England Museum.Enlarge Image |
| "It's now much easier to pay by debit or credit card using the Electronic Point Of Sale (EPOS) system in shops, and you can go on the internet to transfer money via online banking. | "It's now much easier to pay by debit or credit card using the Electronic Point Of Sale (EPOS) system in shops, and you can go on the internet to transfer money via online banking. |
| There are some myths attached with the cheque system, not least that a man once paid a cheque in to a bank that was written on the side of a cow. | There are some myths attached with the cheque system, not least that a man once paid a cheque in to a bank that was written on the side of a cow. |
| But you could use one if you wanted, says Mr Capon. A cheque is simply an instruction to your bank to pay someone. You could write that instruction on a bovine, but banks do have the right to refuse and probably would. | But you could use one if you wanted, says Mr Capon. A cheque is simply an instruction to your bank to pay someone. You could write that instruction on a bovine, but banks do have the right to refuse and probably would. |
| "You could, however, use a blank sheet of paper as a cheque, so long as it has the relevant information," he adds. | "You could, however, use a blank sheet of paper as a cheque, so long as it has the relevant information," he adds. |
| Fakes | Fakes |
| Shops which have stopped accepting cheques say it's because they have become less popular and there was a problem with fake ones. | Shops which have stopped accepting cheques say it's because they have become less popular and there was a problem with fake ones. |
| The decline of the cheque is largely consumer led, says Apacs, the UK trade association representing institutions that deliver payment services to customers. This is why it has pushed for high street shops to ditch cheques. | The decline of the cheque is largely consumer led, says Apacs, the UK trade association representing institutions that deliver payment services to customers. This is why it has pushed for high street shops to ditch cheques. |
| Starbucks do take cheques - but clearly not very often | Starbucks do take cheques - but clearly not very often |
| "We're not predicting the end of the cheque as yet, but its demise is well under way," says a Apacs spokeswoman. | "We're not predicting the end of the cheque as yet, but its demise is well under way," says a Apacs spokeswoman. |
| "People now favour debit cards over cheques on the high street and direct debits, internet and telephone banking to pay their household bills. " | "People now favour debit cards over cheques on the high street and direct debits, internet and telephone banking to pay their household bills. " |
| But the cheque has not fallen out of favour with all consumers. Some are angry that a growing number of shops are refusing to accept them. | But the cheque has not fallen out of favour with all consumers. Some are angry that a growing number of shops are refusing to accept them. |
| "I'm not comfortable about using credit cards because of the risk of fraud, but I feel I am being forced into doing so because of shops like Tesco refusing to accept them," says Michael Dyke, 60. | "I'm not comfortable about using credit cards because of the risk of fraud, but I feel I am being forced into doing so because of shops like Tesco refusing to accept them," says Michael Dyke, 60. |
| Reliable | Reliable |
| "I'm angry that consumers have not been consulted about this and I think it is all driven by money and the handling costs shops have to pay for cheques. Again saving money is being put before the customer. | "I'm angry that consumers have not been consulted about this and I think it is all driven by money and the handling costs shops have to pay for cheques. Again saving money is being put before the customer. |
| CHEQUE - THE FACTS 5m people regularly use guaranteed cheques, compared with 16m in 1996Women make almost 52% more guaranteed cheque payments than menLess than one in ten regular bills paid by cheque, compared with one in three in 19954% of retail spending is paid by cheque, compared with over 60% by debit or credit cardMore than 4.4m business and personal cheques issued each day in 2007, compared with 11m in 1990 Source: Apacs | CHEQUE - THE FACTS 5m people regularly use guaranteed cheques, compared with 16m in 1996Women make almost 52% more guaranteed cheque payments than menLess than one in ten regular bills paid by cheque, compared with one in three in 19954% of retail spending is paid by cheque, compared with over 60% by debit or credit cardMore than 4.4m business and personal cheques issued each day in 2007, compared with 11m in 1990 Source: Apacs |
| "I think phasing out cheques will have serious consequences for some older people. Many still rely on them because they may not have credit cards or a knowledge of how to use them." | "I think phasing out cheques will have serious consequences for some older people. Many still rely on them because they may not have credit cards or a knowledge of how to use them." |
| Mr Dyke says up until recently he mainly used cheques, but is being forced to pay with his bank and credit cards more and more often. There is a lot of huffing and puffing from fellow customers, as well as staff, when he gets out a cheque. | Mr Dyke says up until recently he mainly used cheques, but is being forced to pay with his bank and credit cards more and more often. There is a lot of huffing and puffing from fellow customers, as well as staff, when he gets out a cheque. |
| "I can hear people behind me in the queue let out a long sigh when I get my book out," he says. | "I can hear people behind me in the queue let out a long sigh when I get my book out," he says. |
| Having encountered some huffing and puffing on my shopping spree, I know what he means. | Having encountered some huffing and puffing on my shopping spree, I know what he means. |
| At the end of my spree I have found three places that accepted cheques and four that don't. | At the end of my spree I have found three places that accepted cheques and four that don't. |
| After a flurry of use, I think my cheque book will be left in a drawer to become the museum piece it looks destined to be. | |
Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |