A fortnight later, even before the cheques had been dispatched, Glencore, in effect, had to ask for the money back via a £1.6bn placing.
The average American household with two children will get a cheque from Uncle Sam for up to $1,800 and will spend at least some of it.Unfortunately, most of the forces dragging down consumer spending are likely to persist long after the cheques have been banked.
Instead, the typical cheque has been for $79,000, a miscalculation of about a third.Federal officials have been quick to blame Louisiana for the cash shortage.
Only €187m of the EU's €3bn humanitarian aid cheque has been distributed.
It is understood the £50 cheque had been paid to cover Sir Philip's travel expenses after she issued him with a witness summons.
We were able to establish that the $25,000 cheque had been campaign money that had been given to Maurice H Stans, Nixon's chief fundraiser, on a Florida golf course.
The use of cheques has been declining for years.
It is simple enough to check whether or not your cheque had been cashed as you had the details, and the person who told you that redating wasn't necessary has been corrected.
In November First Utility told me a cheque had been "raised" to repay me, but the call centre could not tell me what had happened to it.
Announcing a cheque had been hidden he said: "I hope that the personal risk I have taken in doing this can stand as something positive in a town eager to establish itself as a cultural destination".
