Re: Buying a car with cash - preferred method?

Under what circumstances could a bank disclaim vicarious liability in respect of a cheque issued by a branch? In fact, it wouldn't even be vicarious, since surely a branch is not an independent legal entity separate from the bank itself.

In other words, the difference sounds like it's as insignificant as might be the colour or size of the paper it's printed on, the effect in terms of what matters, namely the payment guarantee - unless stolen or forged or the manager has been forced to sign it at gunpoint or by blackmail/kidnapping etc - would be the same.

If not, what is the real difference?

I did say this was more applicable to a non-dealer deal. As for electronic transfer, that is indeed a possibility, but would work best if the seller also has electronic banking and an verify that the funds have arrived.

Even so, is it not possible for such a transaction to be reversed in certain circumstances, e.g. if the buyer's account has insufficient funds and an otherwise adequate overdraft limit is revoked before the end of the business day?

Cor, if you're going that far, why bother with real money? It might be equally prudent to accept Monopoly notes. Would you rather lose your car or your legs?

Once walked out of a petrol station without paying, bought 44 quid ish of petrol, only had a 50 on me and paid with it, or not, as they wouldn't take it. My comment was you take it or I just leave, they said no, pay some other way, I didn't have any cards with me, so repeated the position, they said they'll call the police if I drive off - Stupid attitude. Left my name and address, offered the 50 again, then left. Never heard anything from it.

Idiots.

Given that my wife and I have have some 40 years experience of working for banks between us, I suggest that you revise your opinion.

Actually, I think we bought the Disco the same way. Been a while, so I can't recall. But since we've been doing business with the place for

None of which is legal tender.

Jesus, no wonder I never bother looking at uk.finance.

Ta-da! Give this man a cee-gar.

Imaginary, more like.

Buy better drugs.

So what?

Palaver is palaver!

YOUR idea : Buyers writes cheque to 'cash'. Buyer cashes cheque. Buyer tells cashier to hang on to dosh and introduces Vendor. Vendor presents paying in slip. Cashier counts dosh again (silly, but she has to). Gives vendor receipt.

MY idea : Buyers writes cheque to 'Bloggs Autos'. Buyer presents cheque. Vendor presents paying in slip. Cashier gives vendor receipt. Vendor askes 'is cheque paid?'

Mine must be easier because it is only 23 words long and yours is 36. So mine is less of a palaver by 13 words.

In message , Huge writes

Your point being?

In message , Tim S Kemp writes

I'm always ready to be proved wrong, but I do know that many Barclays branches dont usually have a fully authorised signatory in them. Did the cheque have 'counter cheque ;written on it? And what address was on the cheque?

In message , Dave Plowman writes

Definitely not.

|I stand corrected. At least it shows the distinction between the two.

No thanks, grasshopper. I take it your experience is in the banks' transport divisions and your wife's in the catering divisions. I'll prefer JB's experience to yours anyday. He's Old School, and probably has 40 years' experience all by himself, not with someone else "between us". You youngsters don't know shit.

So don't try and buy a car off me with them.

Nice try. You missed out the bit where the trainee cashier hasn't a clue about the hidden meaning behind the words "is cheque paid" and just says, "well I just paid it didn't I", probably even forgets to check there are funds in the account as she would if issuing actual cash.

Also, what documentary evidence is there, other than that the buyer witnessed it, that the seller did in fact ask "is cheque paid" and received a "yes" answer?

Especially if the seller might be interested in stopping the cheque and denying all knowledge?

Nah. Cash is cash.

I see. You'd rather take a bank draft. That's not legal tender either, of course, nor is it guaranteed by anyone other than the bank on which it is drawn. In which respect it is almost as good as that bank's bank notes.