--- src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFDateUtil.java	(revision 707953)
+++ src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFDateUtil.java	(working copy)
@@ -211,6 +211,9 @@ 
         fs = fs.replaceAll("\\\\-","-");
         // And \, into ,
         fs = fs.replaceAll("\\\\,",",");
+        // And \. into .
+        fs = fs.replaceAll("\\\\.",".");
+
         // And '\ ' into ' '
         fs = fs.replaceAll("\\\\ "," ");