Cheques retained for the foreseeable future
Summary
On 12 July 2011, the Payments Council announced that cheques will continue for as long as customers need them and that the target for possible closure of the cheque clearing in 2018 had been cancelled.
In the report 'The Future of Cheques’ (HC 1147) the Treasury Committee believes that the industry-dominated Payments Council should no longer have the unfettered power to decide the future of cheques, or other payment methods that directly affect millions of people.
The report recommends that:
- The Treasury make provision in the forthcoming Financial Services Bill to Bring the Payments Council formally within the system of financial regulation.
- A commitment from the banks should be given to the Payments Council that the Council will receive advanced sight of any material relating to the future availability of cheques that the banks send to their customers.
- All banks should write to their customers stating that cheques will continue to be in use for the foreseeable future.
- There should be an investigation into the reintroduction of the cheque guarantee card.
- Changes to the composition of the Board of the Payments Council should be made in order to significantly strengthen the voice of consumers.
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