7 million plan on giving a cheque this Christmas

24 million Britons (50%) have written a cheque in the last month, with around 7 million (14%) planning on giving them as Christmas presents according to research by Which?.

And, although the use of cheques continues to decline, 37 million people (76%) have written one in the last year.

Two in five people (41%) used a cheque to pay a tradesman or supplier, while one in five (23%) had sent one to a friend or relative as a present and one in eight (14%) paid by cheque for school costs such as meals and outings.

Once cheques have been phased-out in 2018, the alternative methods of payment people say they would be most comfortable using are cash, internet banking and direct debit.

People say they would be less comfortable using emerging payment methods such as pre-pay cards, ‘wave and pay' contactless cards and mobile phone banking.

Which? chief executive, Peter Vicary-Smith, says: "Cheques may be in decline but millions of us still use them every year, whether it's to pay for tradesmen, for a school trip or as gifts to loved ones. 

"Banks must ensure sure that alternative payment methods that all consumers are comfortable with are in place before cheques are consigned to the scrapheap."