How do cheques work?

Basically, a cheque is a written promise to pay the receiver the sum on the cheque. For example, if a workman has finished work on your property, you would write a cheque to allow the workman to put the cheque into his bank account, and the amount would be taken out of your account. It is important to ensure the amount on the cheque is in your account, otherwise the cheque would be returned (a bounced cheque).