Difference Between Stale Cheque and Post Dated Cheque

Edited by Diffzy | Updated on: April 30, 2023

       

Difference Between Stale Cheque and Post Dated Cheque

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Introduction

For big payments, an individual or an organization will write a check. Cheque payments, unlike cash, are recorded with the bank and reflected in your account. But what exactly is a check? A cheque is a document that instructs your bank to send a specific amount to a specific person or organization.

A cheque is a banking instrument that instructs a bank to pay a certain sum of money to the individual to whom the cheque has been issued. A cheque is a bill of exchange that contains an unconditional instruction from your bank to pay the specified amount.

The 'drawer' is the one who writes the cheque, and the 'drawee' is the person who is supposed to pay it. The individual listed in the instrument, to whom the instrument is paid, is referred to as the 'payee.' A check is a negotiable instrument that can be further exchanged by endorsement and is payable on demand.

Stale and post-dated cheques are just two of the various sorts of checks that can be cashed at a bank. A post-dated cheque has a date that is later than the one on which it was issued. It can only be redeemed after the payer's chosen deadline. The post-dated check is valid only after the specified date, not before. As a result, even if it is given to the bank, it will not be processed until the date specified. A stale check has passed its expiration date and cannot be cashed. A cheque is currently deemed good for three months from the date of issue.

There are several distinct sorts of cheques that can be issued for various reasons and drawer applications. We may become confused between words, which can lead to issues that arise as a result of a misunderstanding.

Stale and post-dated cheques are two types of cheques that are commonly misunderstood. Let's talk about this in layman's terms.

Stale Cheque vs. Post Dated Cheque

The fundamental distinction between a stale and a post-dated check is the time frame in which the individual can present it for payment. Stale checks are paid after three months, but post-dated checks are only seen after the date mentioned on the cheque.

A stale cheque has a date put on it that is three months or more before the time it is presented to the bank for payment.

A post-dated cheque has a date on it that is in the future. The recipient of the cheque must wait until that date to cash the check; they cannot present it to the bank until then.

A stale cheque is one that was written a long time ago and was not submitted for payment within a reasonable amount of time, such as three months from the date on the cheque. The post-dated check is one on which the drawer has written a date that is later than the current date, and it can only be honored when the date arrives. A stale check has a date on it that is three months or more in the past. A post-dated cheque, on the other hand, has a future date written on it.

If a check is drawn on April 4, 2019, it will be valid for three months from the date of issue, or until July 3, 2019. If the check is submitted after a fair period, it will be returned to the sender because banks do not honor such checks. Stale cheques are what they're called.

Consider a check that was issued on April 4th, but the date on it is April 19th. Such a check can be cashed on or after April 19, 2019, but not before. Post-dated cheques are the name for this type of check.

Difference between Stale Cheque and Post Dated Cheque in Tabular Form

Specifications Stale Cheque Post Dated Cheque
Meaning The recipient presents a stale cheque for payment after a long length of time has passed after it was issued. It is designed in such a way that it can only be presented for payment after a certain length of time has passed.
Printed date The date on the cheque is the date it was issued, but after three months, it turns stale. The date on the check can be set at any point in the future, regardless of how many months or years have passed.
Acceptance at the bank The bank will only accept a cheque for payment if the person presenting it has received permission to do so. If the recipient produces the cheque on or after the date issued, the bank is required to accept it.
Reason of issuing It is a typical check that is issued to a receiver in exchange for payment of a service. It's possible that the issuer doesn't have enough money in their bank account at the time. As a result, a future date has been set.
Responsibility It is the recipient's fault, not the issuer's, that the cheque was not cashed on time. The issuer is only responsible for ensuring that money are available in their account for the recipient to withdraw.

What is a Stale Cheque? 

When you receive a check, it's easy to put off depositing or cashing it. This is especially true if the cheque is for a little sum. If you leave an uncashed check unattended for too long, you may not be able to access the funds at all. This is because a cheque turns stale and no longer valid after a certain amount of time has passed since it was issued.

But, what precisely is a stale check, and what can be done about it?

First, let's clear up any misunderstandings about the difference between a stale-dated and a post-dated cheque. The following are the basic definitions, and the distinction is critical:

A post-dated cheque is one on which the cheque writer has written a future date on it. This implies that until that date arrives, your financial institution will be unable to cash or deposit the check.

A stale-dated cheque has been uncashed for more than six months after it was written. It's a stale check at this point, and no banking institution will accept it.

A post-dated cheque tells the bank that they won't be able to cash it until a specified date. The expiration date on a stale-dated check has long gone. If you have a stale check, your financial institution will be unable to assist you because it is no longer a legitimate check. So, what other options do you have for obtaining the funds?

If a check has gone stale on you, know that the money has never left the check writer's account. This means that if the initial cheque was for a service rendered, the money is still theoretically owed. If you contact the person who wrote the check, they might be willing to send you a replacement.

They should be able to check their bank statements and discover that the funds were never taken out. Of course, you'll have to explain why you allowed the initial check to go stale in the first place.

If you are requesting a replacement cheque for a business concern, you may encounter some pushback. The cheque writer may argue that they fulfilled their obligation by providing you with a valid original cheque and that you are too responsible for the stale cheque.

Stale checks are those that have outlived their usefulness as a means of payment. In most cases, this life is limited to six months from the date on the check. A post-dated cheque, on the other hand, is one on which the cheque writer specifies a future date for the cheque's cash date.

When a check becomes stale, it is no longer honored by your banking institution. This implies you'll need to contact the cheque writer for a replacement cheque if you want to obtain the money you're entitled to. This may go smoothly, but you may encounter some opposition from the check writer. As so, get ready.

Today is the day to be meticulous with your check deposits. You should deposit promptly, or at the very least daily. You could also wish to start phasing out checks in favor of more modern payment methods. Any size business may take online payments with ease, and there are no more stale checks to worry about!

What is a Post Dated Cheque? 

A post-dated cheque is a type of check that is drawn with a future date placed on it. Simply explained, a post-dated cheque has a date that is later than the day on which it was written.

Let's have a look at an example.

Assume it's January 27th, and you're writing a check. When writing a check, you usually write the current date of the check, such as January 27th. However, when you write a date that is later than the current date, such as 3rd February on a cheque, it becomes a post-dated cheque.

The drawer will only issue a post-dated cheque to the recipient (the person or business who will receive the payment, also known as the payee) if the drawer wishes the recipient to wait before depositing the cheque. It is vital to remember that the bank will accept the check on the date printed on the check or after that date. Writing a post-dated check is the same as writing a regular or regular cheque. The only difference in writing a post-dated cheque is that you will put a future date instead of the present date. The rest is the same as before.

If you are a cheque drawer and you have issued a post-dated cheque to the recipient, it means that you have sent the receiver a written notification asking him to wait from the date the cheque is physically issued until the date stated on the face of the cheque.

If you are the recipient of the cheque in the example above, you can deposit it on the 3rd of February or later, even though the cheque was physically written and delivered to you on the 27th of January. The wait time here is between the 27th of January and the 3rd of February.

While we understand why businesses send a post-dated cheque, we must also understand the circumstances in which the post-dated cheque is issued.

  • Insufficient funds: You do not have enough funds on the day you write the check, but you are confident that funds will be available on a later date or the date specified on the check.
  • Writing a check in advance: A cheque is written to pay for something in advance, such as before payment is due or service is finished.

In India, a post-dated cheque is valid for three months from the date on the cheque. Similarly, each country has its own set of standards for the issuance and validity of post-dated checks.

Main Difference between Stale Cheque and Post Dated Cheque in Points

  • Stale cheques are checks that have been presented to the bank after the due date has passed. Post-dated cheques are those that are dated in such a way that they can only be cashed in the future.
  • Cheques become stale three months after they are issued. A post-dated cheque might be dated for any period in the future, months or years after it was issued.
  • The holder of the check is the only person who is responsible if the cheque becomes stale. Only the issuer of the post-dated cheque can be held liable in the case of a post-dated cheque.
  • Stale cheques are issued as regular cheques for any type of service payment. Because the issuer may not have adequate funds in their bank account at the time, post-dated cheques are issued.
  • Stale cheques are not required to be honored by banks, however, post-dated cheques must be accepted by the bank.

Conclusion

Stale and post-dated cheques are two of the most misunderstood types of cheques that can be issued and drawn. They are frequently confused with one another since they have a fixed date printed on them. Stale cheques are those that have been issued to the bank after the payment date has passed. Post-dated cheques, on the other hand, are dated in such a way that they can only be cashed in the future. Cheques grow stale after three months from the date of issuance. Post-dated cheques may be dated months or years from the date of issue.

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"Difference Between Stale Cheque and Post Dated Cheque." Diffzy.com, 2024. Thu. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.diffzy.com/article/difference-between-stale-cheque-and-post-dated-856>.



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