Credit Card Cheques

For nearly a year now I have had a credit card with Abbey.

Before that I had used an HSBC credit card for 12 years but eventually gave up on them due to chronicly poor service.

What I do not understand about the Abbey credit card is why they are always sending me credit card cheques (something HSBC never did) and encouraging me to use them for paying people and companies who won't accept a credit card. I have never asked for a credit card cheque.

Moreover in the same letter they have encouraged me to use a credit card cheque to put some extra money into my bank account.

I can't think of anything more non-sensical than taking money out on your credit card to put into your current account.

Presumably there are a significant number of customers who struggle with the small print and do not understand how unhelpful this all is, and who offer a nice return to Abbey in interest charges and transaction charges.

Is this really how major high street banks should be behaving?

Robin