STRAIGHT TO THE POINT

I RECENTLY came across an old cheque for £109, dated 2003. It was for income on a Scottish Widows personal equity plan. Can I cash it? P. J., Hull, E. Yorks. BANKS typically only accept cheques for around six months after they are issued. Always ask for it to be reissued.

The good news is that Scottish Widows is going to send you a new cheque. MY MUM died in 2014, and I have her tax papers from 1980. For how many years do I have to keep them? B. A., Solihull, W. Mids. IF Your mother filled out self-assessment tax returns each year — for example, if she ran her own business — you must keep her records for five years dating from the last tax return that was due. people not filling in self-assessment tax forms only need to keep their records for 22 months. IF AN estate includes Premium Bonds, do you have to obtain probate to cash them in? And does this same rule apply to other National Savings & Investment (NS&I) accounts? P. B., Gloucester. YeS — if there is more than £5,000 in them, it applies to any NS&I account and the executor of the will must apply for probate to get the money. I HAVE a phone, TV and broadband deal with Virgin Media, but want to switch to a cheaper provider. I heard that if a firm puts up its prices during your contract, you can leave early without paying any exit fees. Is this correct? S. T., Pudsey, W. Yorks. WHeN a telecoms firm hikes its prices during your contract, you typically have 30 days from when it notifies you to move away free of charge.

Virgin says it wrote to you in November so, unfortunately, you have missed the boat and will owe £118 if you leave early.