Remster

I've just been presented with a Cheque marked "Counter Cheque" as payment for an Ebay item. Do I treat this as I would a personal cheque and wait until cleared before sending item? Once cleared, I take it there is no way he can stop or get payment refunded. Is this correct.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

MrShades

Nah, should be virtually as good as a bankers draft. Effectively it's a cheque issued by the bank/BS teller - often in exchange for cash, as the person asking for the counter cheque either doesn't have a cheque book themselves or even doesn't have a bank account.

...and you (or rather, he) can't stop them, no.

Frosty The Snowman

No it's not as good as cash, it can be forged like everything else. The only way to make sure is to phone the branch that issued it and then you can treat it as paid in full. I've just bought a car and the salesman said one of their other dealerships had been given two dodgy counter cheques recently, same goes for drafts.

Remster

Cheers.

I will be paying it in today and then waiting unitl cleared before sending the goods.

Frosty The Snowman

You're safe just as long as the bank can confirm it issued it and the right amount. It's far better than a cheque and can't bounce if it's real.

Sorry to sound far to paranoid but there are too many dodgy folks out there not to be careful.