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OK to use cheque from France to pay for car

I am going to buy a second-hand car for abut 4,000. I'll borrow the money from a friend who runs a company in France and can provide a French cheque for the full amount.

I don't want the money to be paid into my current account and then paid to the car dealer because it would probably spark off unnecessary hassle from my better half.

(1) Is it likely a UK second hand car dealer would accept a French cheque as payment? Of course he could let it clear.

Generally speaking is this likely to be acceptable ~ as far as one can guess?

(2) Am I exposed while the cheque clears as I guess I would have no security from the car dealer for the money?

(3) Would there be any problem in the car dealer assigning ownership to me and not to the name of the cheque?

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One alternative avoiding the better half would be to get the money from the French guy in cash.

Would a cash payment cause problems for the dealer?

Would a receipt be far less good proof than a cheque in case there was any dispute about having paid?

Reply to
Andy
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Andy gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Very, very unlikely to accept it. I'm presuming the cheque is in Euros on a French bank? It'll cost the dealer time, effort and money to get it cashed. If he can be arsed.

I s'pose it depends on how badly he wants to sell you that car for that price...

It may, depending on the dealer. European money laundering regs require "large cash handlers" to be registered and to register any transactions. £4k doesn't come close to the trigger amount, but I'd expect some to be a bit wobbly. A back-street one-man-band is FAR more likely to accept the cash...

If you're paying cash, take the car away there and then if you're in ANY doubt about the ethics of the dealer...

Reply to
Adrian

Hmm, money laundering, eh?

Reply to
Steve Firth

1) I wouldn't for £4k. 2) Yes. 3) No.
Reply to
Conor

Could be a Stirling cheque. I sold a Capri MK2 grille to someone in Eire and they managed to get their bank to issue a cheque in sterling.

But, for £4k? Not a sodding chance.

Reply to
Conor

It would be better if your friend requested his company's bank in France to issue a bank draft in Sterling drawn on a UK bank.

The car dealer would probably be happier to accept that as there would be fewer complications involving currency conversion and cheque clearance.

Chris

Reply to
Chris Blunt

I can't think of any car dealers that I would trust at the moment. The simplest way to pay for this is with cash. Alternatively, use Switch. Either way, apart possibly from a small holding deposit, you pay the money and he hands over the car. If possible pay the holding deposit (for a sum over

100) with a credit card.
Reply to
GB

Divorce the suspicious bint.

Reply to
Matt Robertson

The dealer I bought a car from yesterday wasn't even interested in a UK cheque as payment, so you are probably SOL with a French one.

Reply to
Steve Pearce

Grow some balls, ffs.

Reply to
SteveH

I haven't heard of having a foreign bank in France issuing a bank draft in Sterling drawn on a UK bank. I found this explanation:

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It seems the draft would be made out to the car dealer.

That means that I would have to have chosen the car before the draft is arranged because I would not be able to take the draft and present it to whichever dealer I chose.

Is this correct?

Reply to
Andy

Correct, it will be made payable to whoever you specify when you request the draft to be issued.

I was assuming you had already decided a particular car/dealer.

Chris

Reply to
Chris Blunt

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