I just went to the bank to pay in a cheque. The cheque was made out to “Pete Ashton” who, as you’ll be aware, is me. The nice lady pointed out that the account was in the name of “Peter Ashton”, who is also me, and that this was a problem, though not by all accounts a critical one as she was letting it slide this time. In future, she said, I’d need to get all my cheques payable to Peter-with-an-R.
But hang on, I said. I’ve been using the name “Pete” since about 1995 and it’s never been a problem. This information obviously didn’t compute and produced an evasive diversionary response as I can’t remember her answer, so I asked if I could officially change my account to the name of Pete-without-an-R. Yes, if I brought in ID showing an official name change, such as a passport. But my official name is Peter and, since I’m generally able to be identified by both of the commonly used derivations of my name, I’ve never really seen the need to chose one over the other. Doesn’t Pete = Peter? What else could it mean?
More to the point, if I were to come across a cheque payable to some other Peter Ashton that wouldn’t be a problem, but a cheque intended for me using my commonly used moniker is not allowed?
One solution she offered was have a stamp which I could give to people who write me cheques, rather like shops used to do in the dark ages. This, of course, would be really effective since most of the cheques I receive come through the mail.
Whatever, since this hasn’t been a problem for eleven years and since she was able to let it slide “this once” it obviously wasn’t a big deal, so I smiled the smile of acquiescence and left.
Back in the old BugPowder distro days, before the internet and the rise of PayPal, I used to sell comics by mail order. People would send me cheques for sums ranging from £1.50 to £150+ all of which were made out to “Pete Ashton”. I’d usually bank about 10 or so a week into the same account I was using today and never once had a problem. Suddenly this is an issue.
It’s kinda odd. I can understand if I was using a pseudonym but isn’t Pete a logical and universally understood derivation of Peter? If I go to the deed poll people and ask them to change my name from Peter to Pete won’t they just laugh (and charge me a lot of money)?
I’m sure I just got a jobsworth on a post-holiday power-trip but even so…
Yep, reckon she was just an idiot.
Or else she just wanted to use any means whatever to talk to you for longer ‘cos she liiiikes you.
I got this recently. My account is (and has always been, chosen by the bank) G C Ewing, yet often cheques are made to Garen Ewing. For the past 20 years, no problem. One month ago, just once so far, it was suddenly a problem – same reason as yours.
Hmm. I wonder if we’ve stumbled upon something here. Could be with all this worry about ID fraud the banks are getting tough, even if it’s in completely the wrong direction, which is not that surprising.
Perhaps a swift letter the CEO, using a common variant of his name, and a heavy dose of sarcasm, would do the trick?
I think the banks are having a bit of a drive on the account-name thing at the moment.
At work we’ve recently had to start entering the account names for people we’re paying money to in a different way, as apparently there’s now more chance that the banks will reject the payments if it doesn’t suit their format.
I have no idea what has prompted it all.
What would have happened if the cheque had been addressed to “Mr P Ashton”, I wonder?
I’m pretty sure they’re required to accept cheques with just an initial for a first name. I can’t imagine how Pete could be worse than P when it comes to “security”.
Eh, this whole attitude of banks that they’re doing us a favour is so sick. YOU HAVE OUR MONEY YOU CLAATS!
When I got married we squashed our surnames together to appease our parent’s, this caused no end of bank hassles. I used to dread getting cheques, phoning someone up to say thanks, but can you send it again to the name I’ve been using for 10 years always seems a bit rude, and you find out how little you’re trusted – ‘Will you tear up the cheque and send it back to me?”
Sorry, slightly off topic there.
Paul: In your case you were creating a new name so it’s slightly more understandable, although thinking about it, haven’t the upper classes been doing that for centuries? And they invented money in the first place!
Hg: That’s probably the nub of the issue. P = Pete and P = Peter but Pete != Peter. Are they saying that since Pete isn’t my given name it’s a nickname? If I was commonly known as Pet or Peet, which are not common derivations of my name, these would not be admissible and since there are no hard rules as to what constitutes a diminutive name they don’t admit any?
Common sense is not logical so we can’t allow it? However, abbreviations, such as P Ashton, are logical so they get through?
This is about 10,000% more interesting than I suspected it would be.
See what happens the next time you take a cheque in… pound to a penny the teller won’t bat an eyelid.
On the name thing, my Dad’s name is John but he goes by Ian. The number of times that’s tripped ME up during those “453 security questions” things is frustratingly high!
(he is also known as Lachie… but not by many)
The solution is to have a diminutive or nickname that bears no relation to your official name (like mine)
Parents, in future, should choose names that aren’t usually shortened, like Jo or Bob. Eventually we will have a generation whose names will suit the banks’ preferences.
The banks are introducing new systems at the moment so that money moving between accounts by cheque or BACS transfer moves faster than the current 3-5 days. No doubt the new systems are less tolerant of variation.
Did you consider taking a pen to the cheque and simply adding your own “r”? Might be the simplest option in future.
But surely adding the “r” would be fraud?
Agreed, a month or two ago, it suddenly became a problem. My jobsworth cow claimed it had always been a problem, and actually accused me of lying about how cheques to Jeremy Dennis had never been a problem before.
Re: Gordon – The teller’s not the issue, you’ll get picked up on the backroom cheque processing. As one who’s worked back there I can say with confidence that it certainly did used to be the case that nick-names, initials and similar names were fine on cheques under £1000 — considered not to be worth the bother of picking out. But in a sense they’re right that policy hasn’t changed — their enforcement of is, however, has become stricter. *sigh*
I’ve currently got a commission cheque that I’m in that exact embarassment moment with, for someone I forgot to tell to use the (ironically, far less secure) “J. Dennis” …