GBP amounts in words: examples
A tradesperson’s invoice
GBP 245.99
Two Hundred Forty Five Pounds And Ninety Nine Pence Only
Open this amount in the converter →A deposit on a rental
GBP 1,050.00
One Thousand Fifty Pounds Only
Open this amount in the converter →A small payment with pence
GBP 12.50
Twelve Pounds And Fifty Pence Only
Open this amount in the converter →In the UK you will often see pence written in figures after the words, e.g. “Two hundred and forty-five pounds 99p”. British English also usually puts “and” after hundreds. The converter writes “Two Hundred Forty Five Pounds And Ninety Nine Pence Only”; all three describe the same amount.
Step by step: a UK cheque
- Date: day/month/year. Banks may not accept a cheque dated in the future until that date.
- Pay: the payee’s name. For a company, use its full name; for HMRC and others, use the payee wording they publish.
- Amount in words: start at the far left, end with “only”, and draw a line to the end.
- £ box: pounds and pence, e.g. 245.99, written tight to the £ sign.
- Signature: bottom right, as your bank holds it.
- Stub: fill in the counterfoil so you know what you paid and to whom.
“A/C payee” and why it matters
Almost all UK cheques are printed with two vertical lines and “A/C payee” across the middle. Under section 81A of the Bills of Exchange Act 1882, added by the Cheques Act 1992, a cheque crossed this way is not transferable: it can only be paid into the named payee’s account. That is why someone else cannot sign the back and pay your cheque into their own account.
Clearing and stopping a cheque
Under the Image Clearing System, a cheque paid in before the bank’s cut-off on a working day is cleared by 23:59 on the next working day. If it has not cleared by then, it has been returned unpaid. Paying in by phone app uses the same system.
For the payer, the debit can arrive the next day too, so if you need to stop a cheque, call your bank straight away. Foreign-currency cheques are outside this scheme and take much longer.
If the words and figures differ
Section 9(2) of the Bills of Exchange Act 1882 says that where the amount in words and in figures differ, the sum in words is the amount payable. In practice a bank may simply return the cheque, so it is better to make sure they match.
There is no fixed legal expiry date for a UK cheque, but most banks will not accept one more than six months old.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a cheque take to clear in the UK?
If you pay it in before your bank’s cut-off on a working day, it clears by 23:59 on the next working day under the Image Clearing System.
How do I write pence on a cheque?
Write the pounds in words, then the pence either in words (“and ninety-nine pence”) or figures (“99p”), and finish with “only”. Put £245.99 in the box.
How long is a UK cheque valid for?
There is no statutory limit, but most UK banks will not accept a cheque that is more than six months old.
Can someone else pay my cheque into their account?
Not if it is crossed “A/C payee”, which almost all UK cheques are. The Cheques Act 1992 makes such a cheque non-transferable.
Sources
Rules change, and banks can apply stricter practices than the law requires. Check with your bank before relying on a detail for a large or time-sensitive payment. This guide is general information, not legal advice.