As now, anyone paid by cheque will deposit it in their bank, to be sent on to various clearing houses, which route the cheque back to the issuer's bank for payment approval and the transfer of funds.

ECONOMIST: America's new law on cheques

The structure of the charges can vary depending on payment method (by direct debit, pre-payment meter, or credit transfer such as cheque), on whether it is an internet-only tariff, which part of the country the customer lives in, if the deal involves a fixed price, when the deal was launched, how long it lasts, and so on.

BBC: Ed Davey announces 'four core tariff' plan