I've sold my car to someone interstate for ~ $17K. They've deposited $500 into my bank account. They're flying up on Saturday to take the car and want to pay the balance with an ANZ bank cheque. A cursory search of the ANZ site finds this:
You can contact the ANZ Internet Banking team on 13 33 50 (International callers: +61 3 9683 8833) 24 hours a day, seven days a week to request an urgent stop payment on a lost or stolen bank cheque or to cancel a bank cheque you have purchased via ANZ Internet Banking.
This seems to fly in the face of "bank cheques are as good as (or better than) cash", which I've read in lots of places. I can't see any alternative to demanding cash or a bank transfer that's finalised before the weekend. Am I missing something? Is there an alternative?
EDIT: Though there a few who think it is unreasonable, there are quite a few more who think I shouldn't accept a bank cheque. There have been a few alternatives offered, pretty much none of which work easily and/or on the weekend. I've stuck to my guns and the buyers have agreed to bring cash.
Thanks for all the input.
…and is not that easy either. I'm amazed at the lack of awareness in this thread around banker's cheques.
Yes they can be cancelled, but cash can be seized as well.
There is always a degree of risk among both parties partaking in a transaction. What's to prevent OP from selling the buyers a lemon with a "not obvious fault". They do their due diligence by getting the car checked out by a mechanic etc. Similarly, they give OP a bank cheque, a lot more secure than a personal cheque or an EFT.