Sainsbury’s to stop accepting payment by cheque

Sainsbury’s is the latest big retailer to stop taking cheques, following the increasing popularity of paying using debit cards.Starting from the 1st of August, its customers will no longer be able to use cheques to buy goods in the chain’s 800 stores.

The supermarket says few people now use cheques and argues that paying with them is too time-consuming.

Other firms in the UK have opted to phase out cheques including Asda, Morrisons, Boots, WH Smith and Shell.

London Underground stopped taking them from tube travellers on 15 July.

“Like other retailers they are being used less and less by our customers,” said a Sainsbury’s spokeswoman.

The number who still use them among its 17 million weekly customers was “very, very, small,” she added.

However leaflets given to customers in Sainsbury’s stores say the main reason for the decision is the continued level of fraud involving cheques.

The retail group Argos will also stop taking cheques at the end of July.