How long is a cheque "valid" for?

[dave21478]

I wrote a cheque out to a guy for 200 euros some months back and they have not cashed it.

I would like to close the bank account, but dont want to leave them with a dud cheque and more importantly dont want to have the bank moaning at me. I cant contact the guy again, so whats the solution here? How long from the date of issue can he still cash it?

[andyh4]

One year and 8 days

[dave21478]

Well, that sucks.

[Chancer]

I recently found one for £6.72 a water bill refund from June 2006 [:-))]

That sucks as well as I had had a long running battle with them and I hate to think of them getting one over on me.

I guess you have no choice but to close the account, I assume the creditor know how to get in contact with you for you to pay him another way, if not then its a lesson in life to him, I dont think that you are doing anything wrong in closing the account when you want to, its not as if the cheque was written recently.

[EuroTrash]

It might be worth asking at your bank (or any bank). Yes a cheque is valid for one year eight days but I seem to remember there being something about if the payee doesn't present it promptly, and I think promptly actually means with a week or two, it's his lookout if complications arise.

[NormanH]

If you close the account and there is a cheque outstanding you could have a problem if it is presented in the 1 year and 8 days period, since it is still valid, but there is no provision and no overdraft to pay it.

Your old bank might call you, but you could run into problems with the Banque de France, for issuing a chèque sans provision

http://banque.comprendrechoisir.com/comprendre/cheque

here   http://www.village-justice.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17385

one of the members writes

La personne concernée pourra dans le délai évoqué récupéré son argent en

demandant une procédure de récupération à la banque en question ou le

compte a été cloturé. Cette banque mettra son ancien client en Interdit

banquaire le temps de la régulation par ESPECE ou AUTRE moyen qu'un

chèque (temps laissé pour la régularisation de la situation : 1 mois).

but of course that is not official.

[Judith]

If I remember correctly, though it is a few years ago now, when  I wanted to close a French account, there was some porblem with an outstanding amount to be paid, which I knew nothing about, but eventually, when the payment was sorted, I could then close the account.  I think you might best consider contacting the person and saying that you wish to close the account etc etc ...  French banks will not let you close an account until they are sure there is nothing outstanding ...