Can a personal cheque from the uk be cashed in the USA?

Question

I live in the UK and i've just bought something on eBay but the seller is in america. He doesn't take paypal but he does take personal cheque, can i just send him a cheque for the given amount? Furthermore, is it OK to write the amount in pounds rather than dollars because I already have a pound sign printed on the cheque?

Answer 1

You should try to send him a money order in dollars thru your bank.

Answer 2

Yes, but you'll have to check with the buyer to see if he would consider taking a foreign cheque, as he will be charged a processing fee by his bank to have it cleared. It can also take a long while for the cheque to clear.

Answer 3

Yeah, but it takes ages.  Cheque has to be sent to seller, then back to your UK bank to clear.

Answer 4

Did you ask the seller if he will actually take an international check?  He may not realise the kinds of fees he is going to incur to try to collect on your check.  It may delay your transaction for quite some time if he's not going to ship until the check clears.  Your best bet is to go buy a money order in US dollars and send it to him.