Brave New World,...at the bank.

[russotto]

Originally Posted by Cyber Wolf

Perhaps, but I'm sure the inconvenience helps to deter some fraud. Years ago, my mom sent me to her bank to get some checks cashed and they gave me the hardest time. I was 17 at the time and I don't know if that had anything to do with it, but they eventually ended up calling the phone number on the account on the check, asking if she had a daughter and me providing ID to check with what my mom told them. Pain in the kiester at the time, but it showed her bank didn't play around when it came to people wanting cash off checks.

An endorsed check is supposed to be a negotiable bearer instrument. You're not supposed to have to prove who you are to cash one on the bank it's drawn on. As long as the endorsement matches the signature on record, the bank should honor the check.

[xoxoxoBruce]

If you have a valid check drawn on that bank made out to John Jones, and you have ID that proves you're John Jones, they should cash the check even though they don't know if you're THE John Jones the check was made out to.
And you should not pay any fee.