The banks point out that most billers remain wedded to delivering this bad news by post, and to being paid by cheque unlike other countries, where direct debits and standing orders from bank accounts are popular.

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If a bad storm struck, Mr Lento explains, he could collect an insurance cheque and leave the city.

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The explanation, it is said, is the lack of cheque-guarantee cards, the comparative novelty of bank accounts with cheques and bad memories.

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