Can we pay by US bank check in Europe? Are they accepted?

Almost surely not. Perhaps if you are buying something expensive (thousands of dollars), and you are a "prized" customer. It will cost at least $25 to get the check cashed by the recipient.<BR><BR>Would you have any different outlook about someone trying to pay you for goods or services with a check drawn on a bank based solely in Europe?<BR><BR>I realize that you are "just asking", but common sense says "no".<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

No. Your best bet is to use a major credit card to access cash at an ATM, where the exchange is better and everything is figured out on your monthly bill. You should also use a credit card to pay at restaurants and shops if you can. I have found that VISA is much more widely accepted than American Express contrary to their advertising.

I'll disagree with Janie's reply ... don't use a credit card to access cash from an ATM. Use an ATM card (or debit card). If you need to pay for it using a cc, then just charge it. If you use your credit card to get cash, you will be charged a fairly stiff cash advance fee, and interest will accrue from the first day, even if you don't carry a balance from one month to the next. <BR><BR>Anne

Whoops ... forgot one thing... if you are an AMEX card holder, they will cash a personal check for you at a local AMEX office. I'm not sure what the limit is. I am planning to bring a couple of checks for emergency situations (like my atm card getting de-magnetized or something). I think that is a better backup than traveler's checks.<BR><BR>Anne

Unlikely. To clear a US check, the recipient will have to pay into his bank account, and his bank will have to send it to the US bank that issued it (called collection) for clearance, and the proceeds sent back to Europe and coverted to the local currency, before being credited to his account. The whole process can take weeks, and because of various charges could almost wipe out the value of the check. The only use for a US check, as far as I can see, is if you are an Amex cardholder, you can cash it for local currency at Amex office. But the exchange rate isn't as good as what you get using ATM card. So stick to ATM card and credit cards (Visa and Mastercard especially).

Hi<BR><BR>You may be lucky and find an unknowing someone willing to take a US cheque.<BR><BR>But its a bit like accepting a cheque drawn on a Mexican bank in Detroit ?<BR><BR>I was the accountant for a group of companies selling tax free cars to US citizens. To clear a US cheque from Europe takes months.<BR><BR>Think of credit/debit cards<BR><BR>Peter<BR>http://tlp.netfirms.com<BR>