I did a survey last night and got a check made out to "cash". I deposited it via ATM into my bank. Are you allowed to do that? Was I supposed to go to the survey company's bank and get cash from them? Nobody's ever written me a check to cash.
In my experience it's done in shaddy situations. A purse party that I went to (I didn't buy anything I swear-ick!) the lady wanted us to make checks out to cash. I'm assuming it's since purse parties are illegal. But I may be totally wrong about this....
i *think* cash means anyone can endorse it so you should be fine. i've never been the recipient of one but i have written quite a few, usually to the ladies at my nail salon (i think that way they don't have to report it for income tax purposes).
I work at a bank. It is fine. Just endorse it with your name on back. We prefer to have them made out to your name but no problems with "cash". A lot of the older people do this all of the time and we cannot break them of it.