I don't know about other places, but here there's no bank that will turn that slip of paper into real money. I've never even seen a cheque or chequebook in person, it's almost exclusively mentioned by Americans (In my experience)
But I don't think the chequebook I have can be used to sent money to someone outside of France. And I only have a chequebook because that's how I have to pay my electricity bill.
I suspect if you sent me one, my credit union would figure out how to get me the money eventually.