Cashing a blank cheque...

[wizard]

If someone was to write me out a cheque for �200 but leave the "pay" field blank, could I write the word cash in the pay field and cash it immediately at the bank in question?

[Oneeyedvic]

Pretty sure that the answer is no. They will only give you the cash if you are the person who is named on the cheque.

This ould be a fraud prevention measure.

[stevie21]

In a word, naw.

[Ethel]

No.

[SC00BY]

I actually thought you could, the fraud is prevented by the fact they have signed it?

[Sammy Snake]

No you definately can't unless a) you are the acount holder or b) it is a company cheque and the company has an arrangement with the bank for wages cheques to be cashed.

[spudqueen]

You could do only if it is an uncrossed cheque. Nowadays the vast majority of cheques (if not all) are crossed (two little lines running vertically through the middle of the cheque) which means that the cheque has to be paid into a bank account. The only person who could claim cash on the account would be the account holder.

[compman]

Just to deviate from the question slightly, anyone writing a cheque to a bank or building society will have to enter the 'pay' field in a different way in the new year.

For further information go to this site:

http://www.bsa.org.uk/consumer/factsheets/1010 67.htm

Sorry to intrude wizard.