can I pay a dollar denominated cheque froma US bank into an ordinary uk account?

[hatwoman]

anyone?

yes - you'll get charged by your bank for it though

Yes, but you will play a handling fee and the cheque will be collected or negotiated.

If Negotiated, you will get immediate value but agree that if it is returned (frequently happens if not endorsed correctly etc) they can debit your account - up to 6-8 weeks later.

If collected, it is posted by snail mail to the US, and when funds sent back to UK (weeks later) it will then be credited to your account.

any idea how much?

Yes you can, but they will remove a large chunk of it - if it's for a sensible amount you may not mind, but we had a $10 cheque (20+ years ago ) which would have been worth c £7, and the bank took £5

Could they send you cash instead, in a casual sort of envelope so nobody will nick it?

Sorry, can't remember. There is a percentage with a minimum fee (£5?)

thanks. looks like I'll have to phone the bank, it's quite a wedge as it's payment for some work. if it was a flat fee that would be fine but a precentage sounds ominous. might have to ask to have it re-issued