Have you ever received a cheque? Well, until I came here, I have never imagined that I would receive something like this, but here in the UK, funny things happen all the time, and I have got one the other day!

It was from Barclays, the bank that made me so much angry with their attitude when I wanted to set an account with them. I filed a complaint, and after maybe three months, I got an apologetic letter telling me how sorry they were that I have been treated badly, and how sorry they were for the delays in dealing with my complaint. They sent me compensation... which took a form of an enclosed cheque. Saying that I was surprised would be a huge underestimation of my feelings.

Anyway. Cheques are here to be turned into money asap (everyone who's ever watched a gangster film knows this), so I wanted to do that this weekend. The bad thing is that it was my first cheque ever, and I had no idea how to do it. (Obviously, compared to the UK, the Czech Republic is a modern, progressive country, which just does not engage in archaic activities like exchanging cheques. We rather pay contactless.)

So I went to Barclays, with the intent to ask there. Because that is the bank which issued it, and I expected them to be able to tell me. There was an old lady behind the counter, who misunderstood me completely, and insisted that I couldn't possibly set an account in their bank because I had no proof of address. (I have heard this stuff before!)

I misunderstood as well, and thought it was obligatory to have a proof of address just to get my money. So I started thinking - first, what is this country where you obviously cannot do nothing without six difficult-to-get papers, and second, what is this bank which knows by now that I have no proof of address (I've mentioned this in my complaint) and still sends me cheque which cannot be cashed without it?

Luckily I asked again, and then the situation clarified. I could have my money without proof of address, but not in cash, it must be paid into a bank account. (Well, what is the point of cheques, I ask myself. Why not just send the money into a bank account, without processing a funny coloured piece of paper?)

However, I was sent to my bank instead of the bank which issued the cheque, so that my bank can put my money into my account. Cool. Fortunately HSBC has a branch just across the street, and so I went there. An assistant told me what to do.

First, you have to fill in a white paper slip, where you write your name, account number, and the total amount of money for all the cheques you are submitting. Then, you input this paper and all cheques you want to cash (= 1 in my case) into a machine. The machine asks you to either insert your debit card, or to input your name and account number. (Why did I have to fill in the white slip when I have to input the same info again?) Then the machine issues you a bill, which looks like a normal Tesco bill but there is a tiny (illegible) photocopy of your cheque and the white slip on it. And that's it, finished. Your money will arrive in approx. 4 days.

Wait, what! In four days?! Like, seriously?