So many issues being confused:
A "cash" cheque will be ONLY cashed at the branch of the drawer to confirm the signature / number of signatories. Any cheque with N/N printed cannot be cashed nor can it be a CASH cheque.
Even if you cross out the Not Negotiabld and initial. All mistakes and cross outs need to be initialled or it should be refused.
ID is needed to confirm your identity when you present a cheque made payable to Joe Smith - you then negotiate to have the cheque paid in cash unless the cheque is crossed "Not Negotiable" or simply N/N.
You can also cross out the words "or bearer". This means the cheque cannot be authorised on the back to be paid to the bearer of the cheque. That's what you'd havd to do if you take the cash from the loan sharks such as Blues or Kympressive and they get the check. You authorise on writing on the cheque that "Blues the bearer" is to get the payment. It also stops companies getting cheques paid into say the trustees account etc. However, most bank policies exclude that occurring BUT you can get special approval with prior arrangement with your bank (Think a series of trading name, trustee company, trust scenario).
The normal 3 day wait is simply bank bullshit for signature comparrison and inter bank crediting. What is really for is to collect 3 days worth of short term interest on every cheque transacted dollars. In the end, even if the money clears, it's often actually not cleared by the paying bank. I once had a "cleared" cheque amount be debited again after 5 days after the cheque bounced.
Finally, unless your in high volume banks or more affluent areas anything above $5000 will certainly need you to contact the branch and give notice. Any transaction over $10,000 is also required to be reported to the government.
Funnily enough, there is also a point where coins stop being legal tender. The numbers evade me but it stops you paying dollars with pennies in the past and $50 in gold coins I think. What it really means is the councils can refuse to accept a pile of 5c pieces for you $100 parking ticket.
Bastards
