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28 March 2024

Landlords returning 'old' cheques

Picture only for illustrative purpose. The move aims to prevent fraudsters from using the colour photocopy of cheques to cheat unsuspecting people (GETTY IMAGES)

Published
By Parag Deulgaonkar

With the UAE banks enforcing rules by the Central Bank to turn down old cheques, some landlords have already started calling their tenants, seeking replacement of the cheques.

MD, who has rented an apartment in Discovery Gardens, told 'Emirates 24|7' his owner called him up to ask for a new cheque since the bank had not accept the old one.

“I got a call from my landlord early this week. He told me to give him new cheques since his bank refused to accept the old one. Unfortunately, I did not have the new cheque and had to pay him in cash,” he added.

It was reported on January 3 that UAE banks had started enforcing rules by the Central Bank to turn down old cheques and accept only those with high security standards within a drive to combat forgery and ensure monetary stability.

George Mathew, who has directly rented an apartment in Dubai Investment Park from the owner, said he has not yet been contacted for replacement. “I haven’t been asked anything… probably since my next payment is due in March. I will ensure I get the newcheque for replacement before I get his call.” 

Bankers said the country’s 23 national banks and 28 foreign institutions had stopped accepting old cheques from January 1 following instructions by the Central Bank last year.

Realtors said they still haven’t been inundated by requests from landlords on replacement of the cheques.

“The calls will certainly come in when the old cheques are rejected by the banks,” said a real estate agent.

In a circular to banks in late 2009, the UAE Central Bank asked banks to switch to the new money tools in a bid to prevent fraud and set a deadline at the end of 2010. It told the banks to ensure that the new cheques to be issued are thermo-chromic sensitive and chemical sensitive.

While being thermo-chromic sensitive will prevent fraudsters from using the colour photocopy of cheques to cheat unsuspecting people, the chemical sensitivity will render it impossible for anyone to tamper with the signature or remove or alter the content on the cheque leaf.

Earlier story: UAE banks enforce new cheque rules

UAE banks have started enforcing rules by the Central Bank to turn down old cheques and accept only those with high security standards within a drive to combat forgery and ensure monetary stability.

In a report on Monday, a newspaper quoted bankers as saying the country’s 23 national banks and 28 foreign institutions stopped accepted old cheques from yesterday following instructions by the central bank last year.

“As from yesterday, banks in the UAE stopped accepting cheques which do not conform to security standards set by the Central Bank,” the semi official daily Alitihad said, quoting Mohammed Berro, CEO of Alhial Bank.

It quoted another banker as saying all banks were able to meet the deadline set by the central bank to enforce the new cheque system.

“The Central Bank gave banks a sufficient deadline…there was no problem or confusion in enforcing the new rules,” said Mutaz Al Ghalayini, director of central operations at the government-controlled Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank.

But he noted that banks would accept old cheques which are postdated provided bearers sign a statement showing they received those cheques before March 31 last year, the deadline given for banks to stop issuing old cheques.

UAE banks, which control the largest asset base in the Arab region, have already stopped issuing old cheque books for clients and are replacing existing books with new ones that are compatible with those defined by the Central Bank.

In a circular to banks in late 2009, the Central Bank asked them to switch to the new money tools in a bid to prevent fraud and set a deadline at the end of 2010.

The circular also told the banks to ensure that the new cheques to be issued are Thermo-chromic Sensitive and Chemical Sensitive.

While being thermo chromic sensitive will prevent fraudsters from using the colour photocopy of cheques to cheat unsuspecting people, the chemical sensitivity will render it impossible for anyone to tamper with the signature or remove or alter the content on the cheque leaf.