A relative recently opened a NatWest current account with a cheque in Euros drawn on a bank in the Irish Republic. She was told at the time that it would take 28 days for the cheque to clear, and after this time had elapsed phoned the bank to confirm that it was ok to draw funds from her new account. The Bank told her that their records showed that her cheque went into the account 14 days after she actually paid it in and it would take a further 2 weeks to clear despite her having a stamped and dated acknowledgement showing that the cheque was in fact paid in when she claims. What I am trying to find out is firstly whether it is usual for such cheques to take 28 days to clear, and secondly whether it is normal for banks to get in a muddle over dates in this way?
John