l received a cheque through the post from a relative today, but he forgot to sign it. l could get him to send a new one, but l really need the money ASAP.

If l try to cash it unsigned, will it automatically be rejected? Or, if l faked the signature with his permission (probably badly) is it likely to be spotted?

Please note this is genuine, nothing dodgy!
Thanks folks!

Actually the amount is over the various 'small amount' limits a couple of people have mentioned, so l guess it would be more likely to be checked. Therefore l phoned him, and he is going to send another.

Incidentally, I am not all that sure that faking the signature would get me in trouble, because if the bank was suspicious surely they'd just check with the sender, and he'd say it is a valid cheque, right?

Anyway, I am not risking it. No morerequired, thanks!

You will probaly get away with it if the bank suspect they will probaly ring him to see if he wrote the cheque and if he says yes then l guess it will go through.Nobody would cash an unsigned cheque

No, if not signed it is unautherised

Unless you happen to be good in forgery (and please DON'T as it is a criminal offence), the bank will reject all unsigned cheques

it would be best if you have your relative send you the money electronically via bank transfer or via a financial platform like PayPal if you need the cash fast

it will have to be signed ,but you could put it in to the box they have for depositing cheques etc then they just put it in later im sure they would call you or your relative if there was a problem it worked for a friend of mine though as long as its signed.

The bank will reject the cheque without the signature.

Either immediately by the cashier (who should spot this) or when it goes for clearing. Without a signature, l can guarantee it will get rejected at some point.

l am unsure whether every single cheque, when cleared, have their signatures checked for authenticity (especially nowadays with ISV is - Image Signature Verifications)..

Either way, forging a signature on a cheque is fraud.

no my friend got one from my dad and it has to have the persons name on it

Once l paid my utility bill with a check l forgot to sign. Someone at the utility company signed my name to it (misspelling it) but the bank refused to accept it and l had to send a signed check.
The bank should NOT knowingly cash a check with a forged signature, but they might be willing to take it if the confirmed it with the person who sent it.

If you sign it you will be committing fraud so it is up to you mate however as long as there is a signature on it most of the time, depending on the banks they do not check signature for amounts less than £5000.

Depends on the value of the cheque.
If £500 or more, then it will get a more tougher examination.

If lower than £500, should be fine if the cashier does not spot it.

Do not try to sign the cheque yourself.

You can not cash it like that. Talk to your relative and have them overnight you a new check (make sure he/she signs it). l am sure that they wo not mind paying the overnight fee given your desperate need and it was their error. However, it was generous for them to loan you it in the first place.

Cant you phone the Relative and explain , you need the Cash quickly,,

~~ l think u may be from the UK so l do not know if the same thing applies to u as it would for US. Over here, unless the check is over $5,000.00 u can deposit anything into ur account through the ATM.
Everything is automated & no one looks at a check unless it is considered a ''large item.'' Therefore, it would go right through. Only someone being defrauded could bring it to the bank is attention.

Since this would not be the case, & if ur bank system is similar, then u would be perfectly safe in depositing it without the signature.~~

No

Ask your banker to accept that cheque because you have arranged with your relative to go to his bank to sign his cheque.