How do I write a cheque for cash to a 3rd party?

MyRubyRed

I'm sure it seems like a daft question but I'm going to be working away for a while, short notice and going tomorrow. I need to leave my family a series of cheques that they can present at my bank for cash. I don't know how to write the cheque out. Branch closed and only getting through to offshore call centre worker who doesn't understand what I'm asking. Need help urgently!!

bristol_pilot

You write it out in their name as normal. The two parallel lines across the middle of the cheque (pre-printed on cheques these days) mean that the cheque is "crossed" so that it has to be paid into a bank account. To "uncross" the cheque so that the payee can cash it instead of paying it into a bank account you sign your full signature between the parallel lines (as well as in the usual place). BTW some banks will not allow this - check your terms and conditions.

Hazzanet

When I used to work for the NatWest (many years ago!) one local business wrote cheques for their foreign workers and marched them up to the bank to receive the cash.

The procedure we had was to have the businessman write the cheque out as usual, delete "A/C Payee" in the crossing and write "Please Pay Cash" and sign in the crossing also. We'd ask the workers for the passports to ID them and hand over the cash.

Generally, banks don't like doing this though, and some will refuse to pay cash on a cheque unless it's presented at the account holding branch.

NOWSE

Even if you were to "open" the crossed cheque, as previously mentioned, I doubt if anyone other than you will be allowed to cash your cheques(unless they get a particularly dopey cashier). If you weren't going in such a rush you could have visited you branch and made an arrangement for others to cash your cheques.
Why not leave a series of cheques, made payable to a particular family member, that they can pay into their own bank account and then draw the cash?

seven-day-weekend

In Spainm we can write it to El Portador (The Bearer).

Can't you still do that in the UK?

NOWSE

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

In Spainm we can write it to El Portador (The Bearer).

Can't you still do that in the UK?

You can write it, but you are unlikely to get it cashed.

digerati

MyRubyRed wrote: »

I'm sure it seems like a daft question but I'm going to be working away for a while, short notice and going tomorrow. I need to leave my family a series of cheques that they can present at my bank for cash.

Wouldn't it be easier and safer to just do an online bank transfer from your account to your family member's account. No need to visit a bank and present cheques (which might be declined). The money will be credited to their account quicker and they can withdraw or spend via ATM card. (Also a lot safer as it can't be stolen or lost before deposited.)