In Reply to: Warning Amex Cheques posted by Oxford on Monday, 15. January 2007 at 12:17 Bali Time:
Hello, I have some of these, just in case i get robbed going to and from work every day in a taxi in Jakarta, (the amex cheques are always at home for emergencies) When living in Jakarta, you have to always remind yourself to keep doors locked and know who's around you etc... anyway.... thats going off the subject...
I have cashed some of these cheques from time to time in banks, BCA, HSBC and even the American Express bank here in Jakarta, and they ALL call a certain number to verify the cheques...even tho i have my passport, and the reciept from the bank i purchased them with back in Australia (Commonwealth bank way back in 2004)
Everytime I cash in some cheques.. they ALWAYS take a commission, however on the little booklet you get when you purchase the cheques it says that "particular" banks etc... will not take a commission. So if i changed 1000 USD i'll only get back 980... even at the American Express bank here, they'll still take a commission... its annoying.. !!!
And i've had waiting times also, from 15 mins to nearly an hour the same as you ... just to check a few numbers, when I have everything they already need right in front of them !!
christine