Banking procedures - investigation of cheques returned unpaid

Each month, around 30 cheques are returned to us by our bankers, the Co-operative Bank PLC, as 'Unpaid - Please refer to Drawer'.

Each returned cheque has to be investigated by the Cashiers at County Hall and a replacement sought. This often involves the Cashiers, Departments and our bankers in a considerable amount of work in finding out which establishment paid in the cheque. In many cases the cheques are of low value, less than £10.

Could schools, if they do not already do so, please stamp the back of each cheque with the name of their establishment before paying them in?

Following this practice will help to identify quickly the source of unpaid items and reduce unnecessary work.

If you have any queries, please contact the Banking Team in the Department of Finance at County Hall:

Carol Hale
Tina Henderson
Eddie Kidd
John Newsome

Telephone: 01603 222693