Small dollar cheque - can I give it to charity ?

[atalanta]

I have received a small cheque from an American company, and I am sure it would cost more in bank charges to cash it and turn it into sterling than it is worth.
Does anyone know of any charity which can accept this cheque and turn it into useful cash for themselves without having to pay heavy charges ?

[spudqueen]

My husband banks at Barclays and I know that he has been able to pay in dollar cheques of small amounts in the past at no cost to himself.

[atalanta]

The cheque is made out to three people jointly, two of the names are spelled wrongly, and all three people have accounts with different banks. The sum is so trivial that for one of the three people ( even if that person's bank would accept such a bizarre cheque) were to pay it in successfully, that person would then have to send on two more even more trivial cheques to the others.
I really want the name of a charity who could take the cheque off our hands.

[spudqueen]

I suggest that you contact charities directly then. Presumably it would have to be one of the larger charities whose bank may let them off any charges.

[atalanta]

That is exactly what I am trying to do, but there are many thousands of charities, and I want to know where to start. I put up this question in the hope that someone reading this will possibly work for one of them, or have heard of such an arrangement.

[EDDIE51]

How can a charity accept a cheque that is not made out to them, let alone one made out to 3 diffrent people ? i don't think even a bank account for one of the named people could accept it. I know there are cheque cashing services but even they need the cheque made out to one person or organisation and ID from the named person.

[EDDIE51]

If it CAN be payed into one account then just wait until it clears and then give the share out as cash. ( or donate the cash)
As guidance , I once had a cheque for $50 I paid it in to my bank and eventually got £30 for it.

[boxtops]

I agree with Eddie - in days past, you used to be able to endorse a cheque by signing it on the back so someone else could bank it. That hasn't been possible for many years now. I can only suggest you contact the company in the US and say you're not going to cash it, can they donate the value to a charity of their choice?

[EDDIE51]

You can still cash a cheque made out to you without paying it into the bank , places like 'Moneyshop' do it, but they take a £15 fee and 5% of the total. They have a special bank account that lets them do it, but they need you to register with them and produce ID and proof of address.

[dzug2]

Overseas cheques can normally be endorsed - the no endorsement rule is mainly for UK cheques

http://auctionchex.com/exchangedp-s.html may be useful - I understand their fee is minimal though the exchange rate not the best