Help with travellers cheques?

[sharon-o]

Hi all don't mean to appear thick..but!

Purchased TC today mainly because people were saying its a safe option but how do you spend them?
I have never used TC before can i spend them in shops, restauraunts etc or do i need to cash them in and if so do they charge a percentage?
O h sooooooooooo confused please help!!!!! sharon

 

[SEVANS2208]

You can pretty much use them as cash & if you need change you're given cash! They can be used at restaurants, shops, supermarkets, parks - everywhere really.

Sometimes you do get asked for id but that's only usually for larger sums - I've only ever been asked once and that was in the Calvin Klein shop, just had to show them my passport.

 

[sharon-o]

oh thanks sarah, i was really starting to panick wishing i had got cash instead.
Do i have to make a separate note of all the serial numbers?

 

[Ware Bears]

Yes, make a separate note of them all and don't keep this with the T/C's. You will need these numbers if they do get lost/stolen. I make three lists, one I keep here at home, the other I keep in the hotel room safe and the third I keep with me and delete the T/C serial number as it is used. I know this may sound a little over the top but I used to work in a bank and it used to get very frustrating when a customer could advise us of the serial numbers they had been given but couldn't remember which ones they had spent!!!
And don't worry, T/C really are easy, it is much safer than walking around with wads of cash and makes it much easier to budget. For example, if your purchases or meal come to $66 you can give a T/C for $100 and you will be given cash in change, therefore always having enough cash to buy ice-creams, drinks etc and no, you won't be charged commission. We took T/C with us and the only time we were asked for ID was in the Disney Store at Downtown Disney.

 

[trevorsem]

Hi Sharon ,

Good question to ask especially if you have never used them before.

Make sure you have Dollar and not Sterling travellers cheque. The person using must sign them on the line stated. When you go to use them, you have to sign them again (same person) in the presence of the cashier. 99% of cashiers accept them as payment, 1% will ask for ID before accepting them.
Usually ID is required if your using a $50 dollar or $100 dollar cheque. Some refuse to take higher value cheques then $20.

Each cheque has a unique serial number. Write them down on a peice of paper and keep it in a seperate place to where your storing the cheques once in The States. We also write down the value of each cheque and tick the sheet when we use it. This also helps keep track of spending .

Cheques are accepted almost anywhere as though they are cash.

Hope this helps.

Trev

 

[sharon-o]

Thanks everyone i feel a lot easier now!

 

[tim june and sam]

Thanks everyone i feel a lot easier now!

Didn't the place who sold you the TC's explain? When I was a cashier at the Bank, it was a great chance to find out all about where a customer was going on holiday whilst you explained how they worked.

......then the women (man) behind in the queue would start tutting and rolling her eyes at how long it was taking to serve.....