How can I pay in a US dollar cheque in the UK?

[Trickychequer]

I went on a us roadtrip 6 years ago, went through a toll road I didn't know existed, got a fine on returning home. Turns out there was a class action against said toll road and I've been sent a cheque for $50.

Took it to my bank who don't accept cheques in dollars. I also bank with Halifax who don't take foreign currency cheques.

I don't really want to have to open a new bank account to cash it, and I don't have any contact details for the people who sent me it.

Do the oh so wise mumsnetters have any suggestions?

www.comparethemarket.com/current-accounts/content/foreign-currency-cheques/?amp

@NrlySp I've had a look at that and a few other comparison sites but apart from 'open a new bank account' they're not that helpful

@NrlySp that only tells you what to do if you have a bank that will accept USD cheques - OP says she doesn’t.

@Trickychequer I have a NatWest account and they will take them. Takes about 10 days to clear it, and they take a chunk in admin fees. As there is no charge to open an account, for $50 I would do that. Watch that there’s no minimum value cheque - not sure if NatWest have, but I regularly pay in $40.

I’m fairly sure it’s the only way.

@Testina that's really helpful thank you

Did you go into a Halifax branch? They should be able to post it away & process it for you 🙂

@backawayfatty1 I’m not sure that they will. Some banks have an international processing office, but not all. I’d expect them to give that option on their website if they did.

The cheque is still written In English, it's the currency that's different. I worked for bank of Scotland who are part of Lloyds banking group, as is Halifax, & previously processed cheques which were in another currency. That being said, it was around one year ago so maybe processed have changed.

I bank with Lloyds and they take dollar cheques - you have to fill in a form and then it gets put into your account. I did it regularly for years, most recently in mid May this year, due to having married a US national who then died and having to process life insurance/pension/survivor benefits for the DDs.

My mum had some us cheques. Nationwide wouldn’t accept them so she opened a hsbc account which did.

Nobody said it wasn’t written in English? I don’t understand your point?

Halifax’s website actually refers customer to Lloyds for international banking, as it doesn’t offer this. But, that then lists things like making international payments electronically - nothing about paying cheques in.

HSBC will cash US checks.

Barclays will also process usd cheques if you hold an account with them. You may need to open an account with hsbc/barclays just to process the cheque - you could always close it again afterwards?

Thanks everyone, looks like I've got to open a new account

Could you open something like monzo or starling which is really quick to do and then you can use that card abroad without charges (so has a benefit others don’t?). We cashed a French cheque with starling.