Certified checks - worth the paper they're printed on?

[Caustic Saint]

I got a FedEx package from my parents today, and inside were two certified checks (one for my b'day and one for Xmas). Can I even do anything with these in Japan?

When I was in Korea they sent me American Express Gift Cheques one time, and those get treated the same as traveller's checks - so no problem. But is there any bank here that will accept a check that just says "OFFICIAL CHECK" at the top? They're normal US certified checks, issued by Wachovia Bank, but I get the feeling they'll just be laughed at by any J-bank.

Anyone have an idea what to do with these things?

(Suggestions of blowing my nose or wiping my butt with them aren't needed, as I've already thought up those smart-assed answers on my own.)

[Steve Bildermann]

Probably, but not certainly Western Union or Citibank (what remains of it operation) can either help you or direct you to where to get them changed (and of course expect nosebleed rated commission costs)

[Caustic Saint]

I thought Citibank might be an option, but figured I'd ask just to see where else might be good to try. I know where the one in Shinjuku is, and I'm headed there today as it is, so I'll give them a shot.

Thanks for the tip, Steve.

[Steve Bildermann]

I just PM'ed you with another idea

[Watcher]

The fees charged for cashing and converting do not make them worth very much... unless they're quite large. Last I remember UFJ was charging around 3000Yen to cash them.

[FG Lurker]

The fees charged for cashing and converting do not make them worth very much... unless they're quite large. Last I remember UFJ was charging around 3000Yen to cash them.

My parents sent me a money order issued by a major bank in Canada once (my bday in 1993 I think). Went all over trying to get it cashed... What a mess. I had a Sanwa account at that time, and they wouldn't do it. Some other banks said they could, but they wouldn't because I didn't have an account. In the end the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi took pity on me and did it, but I think they took about 30% as a service charge.

Hopefully things have improved even a bit since 1993... I wouldn't hold my breath though!

[Caustic Saint]

Well, it turns out they're pretty much worthless here. Citibank will only deposit them, but I don't have an account with them, so that's not even an option. There's also the fact that one of them is dated over 6 months ago, which means no bank will touch it anyways.

I've emailed my dad and asked him if he wants me to just send them back. I also told him in the future he can just deposit money directly to my US account if he wants to give a cash gift. (My ATM/debit card works fine here and I also use that account for shopping online.)

Oh well....

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

Well, it turns out they're pretty much worthless here. Citibank will only deposit them, but I don't have an account with them, so that's not even an option. There's also the fact that one of them is dated over 6 months ago, which means no bank will touch it anyways.

I've emailed my dad and asked him if he wants me to just send them back. I also told him in the future he can just deposit money directly to my US account if he wants to give a cash gift. (My ATM/debit card works fine here and I also use that account for shopping online.)

Oh well....

Whats your full name, DOB and account number I might be able to help.

[yakinoumiso]

In grad school, I was doing research in Los Alamos for 4-6 months at a time, but didn't have a bank account there because of my dismal financial situation. My university and the lab just started direct deposit, so it wasn't such a problem unless someone sent me a check.

In that case, my bank advised me against sending an endorsed check by post, since it's essentialy cash at that point. What they suggested, and I usually did, was to send the unendorsed check, a deposit slip and a letter with my signature (that they could match) saying that the check is for deposit only. The other suggestion that they made, but I never tried was to endorse the check but on the endorsement line add something like, 'for deposit only into XX-Bank, Account #yyy.'

It was a long time ago, so maybe it's not possible to do either of those anymore. But, if so, it may be a way to get those checks deposited into your overseas account.

[Kuang_Grade]