Sending Sterling traveler's checks to the UK

Guys,

Can you help me with this query; it's been so long since I used these things!

I want to send a couple hundred quid to my Dad in the UK (sterling American Express TChecks) and I am not sure how to sign them!

Top: Sign here immediately upon receipt
Middle: pay to the order of.....
Bottom: countersign in presence of person cashing...

Which bits do I sign (presume top and bottom and he signs middle) and can he "cash" them or can they go in his bank"

I have called the AmEx helpline and it cuts you off the first 3 times, dialled 0 and got through to some fairy who had no conviction in what he was saying at all - arghhhhhhhh!!

In theory, you are supposed to sign the cheques in front of the person selling them and then in front of the person you are signing it over to.

You guessed right, you sign in two spots and YOU can put his name in the middle. He doesn't need to sign them before... usually when he deposits them in the bank.

Just take care when sending them.

This seems like a VERY bad idea to me.  All it takes is a dodgy postman to intercept the envelope and put his name in the middle.

There must be a more secure way to send money over.

Vicky

It is secure - just make sure you put his name in the Pay to the order of line - just like a cheque - then no one can cash it except him.

It's about as secure as putting any check in the mail.  There's always the possibility someone will intercept it and try to impersonate who it's made out to, and then cash it.

Not putting the person's name in the middle before you send it is about as insecure as you can get - it's like sending cash in the mail.

Thanks for your responses - very much.  I signed both top and bottom, put his name in the middle and sent them express, signed for service and they arrived no problem.

The test will be his bank, but I've been assured they should be able to accept them.

Even with the cost of express mail ($30) it just worked out cheaper than a bank transfer as this particular twatwest bank charge to receive as well as the cost to send from this end -- I am just being awkward in not wanting them to have even the extra fee for processing an amount into my account and ultimately their coffers 

Grateful for the feedback though