Sending a cheque

[najaB]

Isn't part of the reason for doing this a hope that the TOC's admin people will (perhaps inadvertently) bank the cheque on receipt, before the letter is read?

That's never the reason I suggest it. As I see it, by tendering the amount that is due the poster is protecting themselves from an accusation that they are trying to avoid payment.

Depending on the incompetence of the TOC is a poor strategy.

 

[221129]

That's never the reason I suggest it. As I see it, by tendering the amount that is due the poster is protecting themselves from an accusation that they are trying to avoid payment.

Depending on the incompetence of the TOC is a poor strategy.

Except it doesn't. If you pass working facilities etc then You can offer a cheque after travel, and the TOC can reject it and still prosecute for Intention to Evade the fare.

 

[ainsworth74]

Except it doesn't. If you pass working facilities etc then You can offer a cheque after travel, and the TOC can reject it and still prosecute for Intention to Evade the fare.

Yes but that is not the scenario in which this technique would be used. See the example given by najaB earlier:

However we had a recent case where someone was presented with a PF having boarded at a station with no working ticketing facilities. The advice we gave was to send a cheque for the fare due and nothing more.

 

[holts]

For businesses/organisations who wish to receive money, surely online bank transfer is the way forward? Account number and sort code are safe to share freely I believe.

You must be joking , online transfers are becoming more susceptible to cons , at present it largely revolves around large sums , but you have little chance of getting money back when you discover someone has cooled you into transferring to the wrong account .

Cheques must not be done away with and would urge anyone to get a cheque book and use it from time to time , particularly as now banks , govt etc are getting together to discuss making customers responsible for online fraud .

 

[Andrewlong]

If you are paying a TOC, I would expect to be offered a secure debit/credit card payment option via a Web site with an email confirmation. Payment is near instant. I hardly use cheques and if a missed payment could result in a fine - I wouldn't risk sending a cheque.

I renew my road fund licence this way and it's got to be the way to go though I appreciate not everyone has access to this mechanism at the moment.

 

[najaB]

If you are paying a TOC, I would expect to be offered a secure debit/credit card payment option via a Web site with an email confirmation.

I agree wholeheartedly where agreed, expected payments are concerned.

However, what about when there is a disagreement between the TOC and passenger as to how much is due? I refer back to the recent thread where the passenger was issued a penalty fare when they had boarded from a station with no working ticket vending facilities.

 

[Hadders]

You must be joking , online transfers are becoming more susceptible to cons , at present it largely revolves around large sums , but you have little chance of getting money back when you discover someone has cooled you into transferring to the wrong account .

Cheques must not be done away with and would urge anyone to get a cheque book and use it from time to time , particularly as now banks , govt etc are getting together to discuss making customers responsible for online fraud .

All payment methods are susceptible to fraud, not just on-line ones.

I do wonder how secure giving someone a piece of paper with my bank details on actually is!

 

[najaB]

I do wonder how secure giving someone a piece of paper with my bank details on actually is!

OT. But remarkably secure. With your bank details alone there is very little that can be done other than pay money into your account. It's also possible to set up a direct debit (which normally requires additional information), but they are covered by the Direct Debit Guarantee Scheme.

Most online banking fraud involves convincing the mark to initiate a transfer to the con artist's bank account (which is then emptied and closed).

Getting back to topic, one downside of making a payment by online transfer is that you need to know the recipient's bank details - I don't know if there's a source anywhere that lists TOC's details, so it may be difficult to settle a fare by this method.

 

[holts]

All payment methods are susceptible to fraud, not just on-line ones.

I do wonder how secure giving someone a piece of paper with my bank details on actually is!

Yes details are present on cheque, however at least it is easier to claw back a cheque , note this article for example in yesterday's telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/co...onveyancing-scam-but-my-banks-fraud-team-had/

The trouble being money can now be moved so quickly with instant transfers that cleared funds is no longer an issue , cheques act as uncleared funds and the banks have the inter bank agreement that allows return of cheques beyond even the three working day period .