Open cheque ?

tcbuk

I'd like to issue what I understand is an open cheque.

I have "normal" crossed cheques but believe if I write "please pay cash" across the cheque then it becomes an open cheque.

I have done this a few times but many years ago.

Does anyone know if this practice is still permitted ?

I am with HSBC.

Chadsman

I cashed a RBS cheque of my own recently at a branch of RBS by writing CASH as the payee when I lost my wallet. Is that what you mean?
...or why do you want to write an immediately cashable cheque presumably payable to someone other than yourself?

jonesMUFCforever

No is the short answer.
Your bank will only cash a personal cheque to YOU or a known agent.
If you give someone a cheque payable to cash they will not be able to to cash it (or pay it into their account)

pinkdalek

You give someone an open cheque, they lose it, meanwhile someone else finds it, writes their name on it and cashes it.

WhiteHorse

All cheques used to be 'open'. You had to draw the two bars across it and write 'AC payee' on it yourself if you wanted it restricted. Nowadays they are all printed like that. Open cheques could be presented for cash.

These days, 'open' usually means that the payees name is not written in. You write in the amount and sign it, but leave the rest.

A cheque made out to 'cash' will not be accepted unless the person holding it is either the account holder or known to be authorised. This is not an open cheque.