cheque

A preprinted form on which instructions are given to an account holder (a bank or building society) to pay a stated sum to a named recipient. It is the most common form of payment of debts of all kinds (see also cheque account; current account). In a crossed cheque two parallel lines across the face of the cheque indicate that it must be paid into a bank account and not cashed over the counter (a general crossing). A special crossing may be used in order to further restrict the negotiability of the cheque, for example by adding the name of the payee's bank. An open cheque is an uncrossed cheque that can be cashed at the bank of origin. An order cheque is one made payable to a named recipient 'or order', enabling the payee to either deposit it in an account or endorse it to a third party, i. e. transfer the rights to the cheque by signing it on the reverse. In a blank cheque the amount is not stated; it is often used if the exact debt is not known and the payee is left to complete it. However, the drawer may impose a maximum by writing 'under £…' on the cheque. In the USA the word is spelled check. See also marked cheque; returned cheque; stale cheque