Alison Seabeck MP

Working hard for you

Cheque It Out

Alison Seabeck MP for Devonport said: I am horrified the banks are considering withdrawing cheques as a method of payment, and images of the elderly storing cash under their mattress as the fall back option is worrying.

This is just another way for the banks to cash in. They already make a charge to retailers for card purchases, a card handling payment for credit cards so do they intend to start charging us each time we use a debit card. Card payments have contributed to irresponsible spending, lending and debt but the banks want us to use them even more. The banks say people do not use cheques but there are still four million written every day and for lots of reasons.

Many people do not have access to internet banking and not every retailer has the facility to take card payments. After 350 years the humble cheque is still the optimum way to pay local suppliers, make donations to charity or simply send as a birthday present through the post. For the elderly it is an image friendly proof of payment and for many Community Associations a useful audit trail and safe payment method.

I hope small businesses and consumer groups will campaign with me on this to ensure, until a simple safe alternative is found, the cheque book will remain in use.The consumer should decide how they pay and when they pay, not the banks!