Who the hell still writes checks anymore?
 

I'm floored by people who insist on writing checks for everything and anything. They're the least secure method of payment next to "I'll come back with cash if you let me leave with this product now".

I know plenty of people who still use the pocket registers to keep track of their purchases, and still balance the "check book", but use the card to make the transaction. I've not heard of a bank or credit union, no matter how small, that doesn't have a "check card" that associates to your checking account so you can use it electronically rather than writing a check.

There's no reason to use a check anymore- they waste a ton of time, and paper, and resources, and only create problems because of the risk of fraud and bounced checks.

That, and most retailers now have the technology that verifies a check for authenticity and that the account is in good standing (not that the money is even there, just that the account is open and isn't suspended due to negative balance already) which is much more expensive than debit/credit transaction fees to the retailer, and does the same job as using the "check card" attached to the same bank account.

The economic impact is huge. You've got the resources at the banks to go through all these unnecessary paper checks, likewise at retailers (especially the bigger ones who can end up with a few hundered checks in a day) where a person has to go through every point of sale and hand-verify each check is there, and the amount is correct, etc. Then, they still have to track these useless pieces of paper like they're cash, hoping they actually work out to be worth money (they don't bounce).

Checks should only be used for private transfers (as in, not "business") of monies from one person to another, or when sending a check someplace that will clear the check before you receive the product/service, and for making payments (which is the same thing... you're sending it off and they clear the check before anything concrete happens).

So how many of you still use checks for those day-to-day purchases... (option 1) the grocery store, pharmacy, walmart and their ilk, etc., and how many just use the check whenever you absolutely have to... (option 2) like sending a check off to pay a bill that doesn't take billing online, or giving someone you know some money by writing them a check, or giving a check to the girlscout down the street to stake claim on an oder of Thin Mints?

And perhaps even more importantly, if you do still use them for everything.... WHY???? :)

If my bank was still charging me fees for using the electronic checking portion of the service spectrum such as $.30 for each transaction then I would be writing checks still. I never balanced my checkbook register once in my life. I couldn't be bothered with the minutae detail of pennies.

I hate the fact that banks are profit centers now and do not encourage savings of any sort by nickel and diming one into oblivion.

Hell yes. Friends and I even buy checks in bulk so we can play poker with them.

Ante up! ... I'll raise you a quarter. Wait a minute while I fill this in...

But seriously, I do use them for business. The accounting is stupid-simple, no mystery charges or shenanigans, and the float covers a significant portion of my inventory churn. I prefer to look at the large numbers over a long term vs. the many small charges. At the end of a year it adds up. Checks still provide a financial benefit when used carefully.

I wouldn't cry if checks vanished tomorrow, for everyone, but so long as other people use them for float off my goods and services, I'll keep working it from my end.

Edit: I do have a friend who fits the bad side of choice #1. He buys everything with checks. Dinner, gasoline, $2 drinks. It freaks me out.

I do. I pay all my bills with checks as I like a paper trail. Far too many businesses have tried the "Oh, we never recieved your payment" bullshit with me only to find that the check was cashed weeks before.

Then there is the simple fact that I have little faith in online banking. Since the banking online boom, I've gotten atleast 5 notices from my bank stating that somebody got into their system.

People are more at risk for being ripped off due to indentity theft than with a paper check. Most places cash checks electronically, so if people are writing bad checks, they are going to deal with overwithdrawl fees and everything else.

It's no worse than people that like to overdraw on their debit cards.

In terms of ecomonics, paper checks are the least of the problems.

I cannot find the article I read a few weeks ago, but banks like Country Wide are over 40 billion dollars in debt because people cannot make the minimum payment on their interest only mortages. Washington Mutual isn't far behind. Wall Street likes to play it's number games by absorbing these figures to make the housing market look better than what it really is.

So compared to that, for the 2 minutes it takes for a human to scan my check, it's really not a big deal.

I have used them for business only.

I still use money orders. Not for myself but my dad. All my payments are made electronically and purchases are made with a Visa check card.

However in the last year, my dad has got to the point that I have to make his payments for him. He is 80 years old and has never had a checking account. He has always used money orders and will not change. So while all my payments are point and click, I still have the chore of going to the bank and buying money orders, addressing envelopes, buying stamps and mailing bills.

Grancey writes checks every month to pay bills, but that's about it.

At one time, we were considering having our gas utility bill automatically deducted from our account - seemed simple enough. Then, we got a monthly bill for over $3,000 (it's normally about $80). It turns out that they had swapped out the old gas meter for a new one and there was a HUGE discrepancy between the last reading on the old meter and the new reading on the new one. It took WEEKS for them to straighten out their own mistake. All we could think of was THANK GOD we hadn't switched to automatic bill pay, because the $3,000 would have been sucked right out of the account and we wouldn't have known anything was wrong until the overdraft fees started piling up by the hundreds. WHEW!

We write checks for the monthly bills, but day-to-day purchases we use the check card. Some places don't take the check card, like my daughter's dance center.

I still write checks for most household bills, electricity, gas, insurance, etc... and use credit card and cash for most retail purchases. It only takes a few hours each month and the on-line banking site is still too flaky especially with my ISP service out here in the country.

I used to use the automatic deduction payment method for some bills but found out that is is easy to get them to start deducting and not so easy sometimes to get them to stop.

I rarely use them. The only regular cheque I know that gets written at home is the one we give my daughter's daycare and the only one I write here is for rent.

Other than that, I only see them when I get paid (no direct deposit).

I write checks so rarely that when I must do it, I am usually delayed in getting it done. Otherwise, I use direct debit as much as possible for monthly bills, direct deposit for income, and debit card for purchases. I didn't even have a credit card until last month when I got one just for the hell of it but I will hardly, if ever, use it. There are still a couple of bills I can't pay any way other than check ...e.g. township sewer bill/tax, traffic violation I got last week.

Pretty much only use checks for bill payment. The paper trail is with checks until recently was better than any other form of payment.

However, checks are frequently being turned into electronic transactions by the company receiving them and the paper item is 'killed' at that time. The electronic transaction is then sent through the Federal Reserve ACH system, eventually posting against your account. You may see it with the term ARC appearing on your statement. Stands for Account Receivable check conversion. The item is cleared as an ACH item and your bank handles it a little differently. There are different regulations that banks must follow regarding your rights in disputing payments that are paper vs. electronic. You're protected in either case, the method are different, though. Also it takes less time for an ACH item to be presented to you bank than the equivalent paper item. Less float.

Float? Forget about it. Within three years, if not sooner, nearly every check in the US will no longer physically be presented to your bank for posting. Instead an image of the check will be transmitted to your bank for posting. What once took three days to post will now take one. This is an outgrowth of Check 21 from 2 years ago. Most banks are image enabled today, most are moving towards image exchange. Check 21 is an outgrowth of 9-11 (a whole diffrent story for a different time).

Electronic bill payment - many banks offer this as a service with their internet banking. Most don't charge. But it is pretty expensive for the bank to offer and so far the volume of transactions have been disappointing. Ironically, up until a few years ago, most of these payments were eventually paid by check! The reason: this is a pay anybody system. You can send $50 to your nephew for graduating from high school. Unless you know his bank's routing number and his checking account number (assuming he has one) there is no other way to deliver the payment than by check. Also many companies could not integrate these payments when posted to their checking account with their accounts receivable system after the fact. Usually the payment is posted to account receivables then deposited to their checking account. The other issue with bill pay is the float days that banks impose. That the number of days in advance of the payment date that the funds are withdrawn from your account. In some cases an excessive amount of time is used (gotta pay for this service somehow) and that is detrimental to its acceptance.

I use them primarily for paying my daughter's daycare, and also at one particular shop we go to where they don't have debit or credit cards, but it is about the last place around here where you can still go in, pick up merchandise, and come back later with the cash (or pay by cheque).

I write one check every month for rent.

That's about it. Everything else we pay direct from a bank account or with the debit card, bills-wise.

Even my parents don't send me checks anymore--they call for my account number and just deposit it at their local branch of my bank.

I write them for anything that you cannot pay online. I would rather send a check then waste gas driving aorund town to use my credit card. But everthing i can use my cc for i will use it.

I go through the same process as onesnowyowl. Although, I revised your statement. :)

Actually, that reminds me that we kind of do both. Those of you who know us won't be surprised to know that we find romance in unusual ways, and we've always found it to be romantic to physically drive around town and pay bills in person. We've always done it for as long as we've been together.

Some bills have to be mailed, but there are about 6 of them that are right there in town. So rather than waste stamps, we waste gas. We drive place to place - talking, listening to music, laughing at other drivers, dreaming our future, getting snacks - and I drop the checks into the night deposit drop. It's always daytime, but it would ruin our "flow" for me to go inside and have to deal with another human, so I just drop it off and away we go.

That single act of paying bills in person is the symbolic "closing of the books" for us each month, and we consider ourselves "done" with bills for another month. I think we actually look forward to it.

If the banks did away with checks, we'd be sad.

My wife writes checks for all the bills. I hate it. Just set it up so the card is drafted when it needs to be. It's not like you can't go online and see what's going on.

Now in the business we still use checks for some things. We're about 50/50 at checks/electronic medium but that's because the big boss is old school ..

Being European, I can vaguely remember seeing a check book 15 years ago. I'm 29 and I've never owned a check book. With regard to banking services, I think USA is the most backward western country I've ever visited.

I still write checks, although the number is dwindling.

1. Because, as someone said earlier, some companies aren't careful about the amount they automatically withdraw. Some are slow to cancel an account. (AOL, anyone?)

2. I write checks to the IRS and the state. They're sent return receipt requested, but I don't print the bar code on the envelope. I always hope the US Postal service will, in its own unique way, take their time about delivering them.

3. Countrywide is a pain in the ass. I have a rental property financed through them (but not by choice--the #$%^ original company sold my mortgage to them). So whenever the tenant is late with the rent, a not unusual event, I can't get their check cleared fast enough for Countrywide. They start charging for electronic payments after the 6th. I don't know of another mortgage company that does that. They even called me once to bitch about the fact that they usually get paid by me around the fifth, but they want it by the first (penalty date is the 15th). Times must be tough at Countrywide.

When I can't get the rent check cleared by the sixth, I mail the bastards a check, because I'm not going to pay $5 for the privilege of paying electronically.

4. Workmen who repair your house tend to want a check upon completion of the work.

Other than that, I have a folder in my web browser, with subfolders labeled "First" and "Fifteenth." That makes it pretty easy to click off payments on time, without forgetting any.

This is a personal pet peeve of mine, for some reason I find it to borderline on offensive that someone would waste my time because they're tied to an outdated and archaic mode of payment.

I wouldn't mind so much, but invariably when I get stuck in line at the store behind these people they wait until AFTER everything has been wrung up and the cashier gives them the total BEFORE they put so much as the date on the damn check! Then after they spend an ungodly amount of time scratching out all those little lines they make everybody stand there longer while they fill the entire thing into the check register! And like previous posters mentioned, most of these retailers simply convert the check to an EFT and hand you the paper back! What the hell was the freaking point of that entire rigamarole?! [/rant]

To borrow a phrase from Dane Cook "No, no. . . you know what?! @$#% CHECKS!" :D

I still use my checkbook because *gasp* there are people that dont take credit/debit cards or they charge to pay with a credit/debit card and Im not paying for that when I can write a check for free

I write checks very rarely. I'm pissed that of all my household bills, the stupid waterworks is the only one that doesn't accept on-line payments. There should be a law....

Otherwise, my nephew's schooling and some assorted and sundry services are about the only other times I rely on a paper check. I wish I didn't have to do even those, as I still feel obligated to carry a checkbook around with me.

I write checks to pay my bills and that all. I don't have a paper register anymore, I did upgrade to Quicken. I was horrible at balancing a checkbook on my own.

I have been thinking about on-line bill paying, but I like to see my amounts on paper and make sure I have the money in the account as I mail it out.

One of these days, I'll get with the program, but for right now I pay my bills with a check. I guess I'm untrusting with numbers floating in cyberspace still.

I pay utility bills/rents online, via credit card, or via pre-approved debit.

For day to day purchases, I use a mix of credit card, cash and debit.

Debit, for those from the states, is a system whereby you swipe a card, enter a PIN number, and the money is instantly moved from your account to the account of the store.

I have used a cheque, relatively recently, to...
Pay rent
Buy a car
...
can't remember any other use of my chequebooks recently. :)

Only if there isn't an easier way. Also, if they are known to take a while to cash the check, I'll switch to using a money order or cashier's check. I don't mind paying an extra 50 cents to have the money taken out immedietly.

Regarding debit/credit card fees, I've mostly stopped shopping at any place that charges a fee for a debit transaction.

Another thing, I hate the term 'check card'. It's a marketting term banks invented to make their debit card sound different.

Another thing, how is there not a paper trail when you pay bills online? There is always a confirmation page, print it out.

I write checks for rent because they don't take cash or bank cards... that's about it. I think we've gone through maybe a book of checks a year lately?

When I have to. Not any other time. I can't stand them.

I was lucky with our rent...our landlord uses the same bank I just transfer the money straight into his account on payday....it allows him to have his rent 3 days before its actually due lol he likes that and it doesnt cost me a dime to do it

I only write them to pay for daycare--once a week.

Bills are all automatic payment (sent from my account to them, I don't let anyone just take money out of my account).

Purchases are almost all by debit/credit card. The rest are by cash.

Hate to say it but banks have always been in business to make money. There's just a greater awareness among the general public these days to that fact brought about, in part, by news reports. Banks, like any business, are in business to develop as many revenue streams as possible.

That said, I haven't given a bank money in years, other than to have direct deposit and maintain a little bit of a balance that does draw a paltry amount of interest.

As for debit cards, why have funds debited from your account in real time? I mean, you still have that checkbook balancing thing. Keep a card that you pay off every month (in fact, it's downright silly to borrow money with a credit card when there are so many other ways) and just charge everything. You can always dispute a charge. And on the statement due date just go on line and pay the bill with your checking acount - or even by phone! No interest and only one hit to your checking account for a month's worth of purchases!

I don't even own a cheque book. Everything is with debit or credit, all my pills are payed automatically online. I don't have to do anything...

Well I can't speak for the Great White North, but I can speak for the history of banking in the United States, in the 1980's President Reagan deregulated the Banking Industry. While they were to make modest profits, they were not nickel and diming their customers. A child could open a savings account without fear that monthly service charges would wipe that out in short order. Open a bank account in a bank and you'll find that your $100 will evaporate in just a few months vis a vie fees.

I use checks to pay for rent, utilities, and such things.
My other daily expenses (cuo of joe at the Milk mart, small items, books) usually are taken care of with my ATM card. I don't like carrying cash on me anymore, because I hate having tons of singles and small coins filling up my pockets.

I work in a bank and still write checks for my bills and or doctors office/vet visits.

Why?

Direct debit is the DEVIL!!!! More than half of all the fraud cases I deal with are direct debit. It is a service that while convenient can have adverse effects like warrrreagl pointed out in his post. Direct debit is murder to try to stop.

If they dont take check or debit card I dont need the product/service that bad.

My solution to the problems mentioned..

I don't use auto-withdrawal, because I don't trust them taking out the right amount... but I still process the transaction over the web with the credit/debit card.

The "paper trail" is the same for an electronic transaction... you get a confirmation number that the credit company uses to track the transaction, and you get a receipt that you can print out, or just save on your computer. This, in fact, is better than a check- because if you mail a check, you have nothing to prove you actually sent it to them other than your word. If you pay online and something happens, you have your confirmation number.

If a place actually charges me to use the debit or credit, I will not do business with that place. I know it costs them money to do it, but very few places still charge, that i've ever seen around here anyway.

I wrote a rent check yesterday. Thats probably it though.

I enjoy writing checks.

Taking the time to write and mail out a check gets me into good practice of paying bills on time, and going through the process, instead of just doing it instantly, or automatically, online.

i definitely don't prefer to pay in check, since it is a hassle these days, but if a store takes only cash and checks, and I don't have any cash on me... what other option do I have? I go for the check. But i'm starting to see a trend of places no longer accepting checks. I have never once had someone try to pay with a check at Starbucks. I'm not entirely sure that I'd be able to ring up the order without the assistance of a manager. Most places here in Berkeley don't accept anything other than cash, a harsh reality that I'm learning slowly. Always seems like such a pain to carry a wad of bills.

How can fraud with direct debit be so widespread? A company that use direct debit will surely loose its privileges if they try to scam people. Erroneous chargers is another thing, but hardly much of a problem either. I have direct debit on most recurring bills and different limits on each of them. I'm also able to stop the bills manually, since they're visible online 15-20 days before they take effect.

I don't have a chequebook (yeah, it's spelt cheque :) ) and doubt I'll ever get one. Like gal, I use direct debit for all the regular bills and payments and have never experienced any problems, other than bank charges. Apparently South African banks are some of the most expensive worldwide in this regard. Still, it beats paying for things in cash, as it costs just as much in charges to get your friggin money from the ATM.

I still use checks. Debit cards are LESS secure than checks.
If I allow a company to electronically debit my account and they take too much, there is no legal requirement that the bank reverse the transaction, and the taking is not automatically criminal. Example: I have my car detailed, and intend to pay $40. The shop deducts $70, with a reasonable explanation. It’s up to me to straighten this out with the shop, not the bank.
With a paper check there are laws that require that I be kept harmless, and it is criminal fraud if the amount differs from the amount on the check even if the recipient disagrees about what SHOULD have been on the check.
If I present a check and they convert it to an electronic transaction, it still legally counts as a check.
I agree this is a fault in the banking laws, but nonetheless is sufficient reason to avoid debit cards.

Don’t even get me started on automatic withdrawals. I don’t have a problem with electronic transfer, where it’s an active sending from your account to theirs, as distinct from them pulling it out.

Credit cards are better than debit cards, maybe even checks, as there are legal barriers to protect you in case of fraud. There is $50 exposure, but on the other hand you get to dispute payment for unsatisfactory goods and services, which you can’t do with a check.

A debit card is easy, but offers no benefits over a credit card and is the most risky of all the ways to pay, save carrying huge amounts of cash. Checks are a pain but fairly safe. (IE: can be stolen, but you have no risk even then.) Credit cards are easy, low risk, and significant benefits.

Gal: "How can fraud with direct debit be so widespread? A company that use direct debit will surely loose its privileges if they try to scam people."
Two words: America Online.
How many times did they direct debit accouts after being told to stop? I know it was millions.
"I'm also able to stop the [direct debit] bills manually, since they're visible online 15-20 days before they take effect."
No, not true. You can see when they are scheduled to take effect. There is nothing other than honesty in preventing the person or company authorized to withdraw from you account from cleaning you out without a moments notice. You can go after them in court via civil suit, but it is not criminal since you gave them permission to deduct... what you will dispute is how much they deducted.

I still use checks. Debit cards are LESS secure than checks.
If I allow a company to electronically debit my account and they take too much, there is no legal requirement that the bank reverse the transaction, and the taking is not automatically criminal. Example: I have my car detailed, and intend to pay $40. The shop deducts $70, with a reasonable explanation. It’s up to me to straighten this out with the shop, not the bank.
With a paper check there are laws that require that I be kept harmless, and it is criminal fraud if the amount differs from the amount on the check even if the recipient disagrees about what SHOULD have been on the check.
If I present a check and they convert it to an electronic transaction, it still legally counts as a check.
I agree this is a fault in the banking laws, but nonetheless is sufficient reason to avoid debit cards.

Don’t even get me started on automatic withdrawals. I don’t have a problem with electronic transfer, where it’s an active sending from your account to theirs, as distinct from them pulling it out.

Credit cards are better than debit cards, maybe even checks, as there are legal barriers to protect you in case of fraud. There is $50 exposure, but on the other hand you get to dispute payment for unsatisfactory goods and services, which you can’t do with a check.

A debit card is easy, but offers no benefits over a credit card and is the most risky of all the ways to pay, save carrying huge amounts of cash. Checks are a pain but fairly safe. (IE: can be stolen, but you have no risk even then.) Credit cards are easy, low risk, and significant benefits.

gal: “How can fraud with direct debit be so widespread? A company that use direct debit will surely loose its privileges if they try to scam people.”
Two words: America Online.
They did it millions of times over many years.

gal: "Erroneous chargers is another thing, but ... I'm also able to stop the bills manually, since they're visible online 15-20 days before they take effect."
Again, not so if this is automatic debit where the recipients have permission to initiate the transaction. The only thing stopping them from cleaning out your account is their honesty. But the most common problem they deduct an amount you think is too high but they say is correct. The bank says “Hey, you gave them permission to deduct. It’s between you two.” And it’s away to small claims court with the dispute… if you choose to. Don’t expect to win unless you have proof.

Amen. I've recieved one or two salaries as cheques because I hadn't given them my account number yet. Other than that? Never used any.

Less secure? If you lose your debit/credit card you can at least block it very quickly. Also, any good bank will cover fraud if you report it straight away.

This has never happened in any of my estimated 10'000+ card payments. But if they charge your debit/credit card more than what you signed for, the bank will cover you and go after the shop. This is at least the case for my US bank, Wells Fargo.

Yes, true. By clicking a thrash can icon next to the claim. This is in my Norwegian bank though. A direct deposit is treated as a giro with a certain due date. It is simply visible online about 2 weeks before that.

Dealing with businesses as if they were AOL is just paranoid. My phone, electricity, and credit card bills are paid by direct deposit. These companies are allowed to charge my account and I can control their access online. I've set up my rent to be transferred to my landlord's account the 1st every month. For other random stuff, such as magazine subscriptions, donations or whatever, I get a giro where I have to approve the transaction online. Any other day to day shopping I use credit or debit card.

Yeah, you can cancel credit cards, debit cards, AND checks,. But in the meantime…

If your credit card is fraudulently used, you are legally liable for up to $50 in charges made before you report it lost, but nothing thereafter.
With a debit card, if you report the loss within two business days you are similarly liable for up to $50 for unauthorized use. However, if you don't report the loss within two business days, liability is up to $500.
If someone writes a fraudulent check, you are not legally liable at all. There is no requirement to report the missing check (though of course, you would be smart to do so.)

Additionally, if someone authorized to debit your account does so for an unauthorized amount, you may sue them to recover, but it is not the banks problem. (Example: You order a cake, authorizing the baker to debit $50 but he debits $550. You have a civil dispute with the baker you can take to small claims court, but the bank is in the clear. If you had paid with a credit card you would dispute the charge and get the credit card company would eventually refund your money. If it were with a check, the baker would have received only the amount the check was written for. (Assuming he did not forge a check, which is a jail-time offense.)

Yes, I’d say the check is the most secure, followed by the credit card, with the debit card least secure.

Ah. Everything I said is specific to US banking laws.
A bank MAY do this. My point is that they are not legally required to do this (in the US). They may have terms and conditions (contract) with you in which they say they will do this, but they probably also have a clause that allow them to change the T&C at will, upon notice.

some of what you state as amounts persons are liable for are determined by the state the bank is located.

also stopping payments on checks or cancelling checks as far as I know requires a fee. Has this changed?

It requires a fee over here.

I only write cheques when paying friends/family/college expenses, other than that i use my debit card or cash. I don't want a credit card because of the hassle of fees and the temptation to buy myself a fish tank or three...

I only write checks when I'm not allowed to pay with cash, debit card or credit card.

Few checks, more balances!
 

Personally, the only check I write is for rent. Unless I am paying a private party a large sum of money for furniture or some other large purchase, its all Debit card.

Being a waiter at a nice hotel restaurant, I personally hate people who pay for meals with cash. We have to make the change ourselves; there is no cash register to get small bills from. The people who whip out a hundred dollar bill to pay for a $14.78 meal need to be slapped until they come back to reality. (where do all these hundreds come from, the ATM only gives 20's in my experience)

I very rarely use checks. When everyone accepts my debit card and I can pay my bills online, why bother with the paper?

We don't use auto-payment on anything, because I don't trust any company enough to let them remove what they feel is the appropriate amount of money from my account.

My wife and I had a similar experiance to one described above when we made a purchase onine. We tend to use a credit card online because ours offers better protection against fraud. In this partiular transaction, thier website goofed and registered an order for 9 of the product, which they shipped, and charged us $380 dollars for; rather than the 1 we ordered. Fortunately, they were a good company and took responsibility for fixing the mess. For our part, we were glad we'd used a credit card instead of a debit. Had that been debit, our account would have taken a big unexpected hit and caused all sorts of cash flow problems. But, back on the subject of checks...


We use checks for three utility payments, and the odd "other" purchase. Though it defies belief, our water utility, electric and gas utility, and condo association actually CHARGE money for online payments (regardless of how you pay: debit or credit). The assholes at the condo association feel online payment is good for an additional $3/per payment. So, they get a check and a stamped envelope. The power and gas companies also charge a fee for online payment; I think it's $1.50 per payment. Incomprehensively, both convert our checks to electronic payments. I don't get that.

We'll send checks with birthday cards, weddings, etc. from time to time. I remember writing a rather large down payment check the last time we bought a car. We'll use checks to pay our twice-a-year auto insurance bills; also an annual life insurance policy. Both those bills offer auto-payment; but, not online per billing. We're not comfortable with the insurance company pulling large chunks of money on thier own, so checks it is. Though, I *think* we could go to our agent's office and pay with a debit card if we wanted to.

We'll pull cash out when we're going to a venue where, though debit may be accepted, cash is faster. After all, when you're buying 2 beers and hot dogs at the game, who the hell wants to wait for a debit card to process and then sign the reciept? I love signature-less purchases on small-amount total transactions.

One of the biggest bothers for me today is visiting the rare idiot who doesn't take plastic of any form.

I walked into a very convienantly close doughnut shop for the first and last time a few weeks ago. It's an older place, and it looked like a good bakery. I looked for the familiar "VISA / MASTERCARD" stickers on the door, and didn't see them. Starting to get a bad feeling, I walked in and greeted the couterperson. I asked if they took plastic, to which she replied "No, we don't." Being the asshole I am, and using my freedom of expression to show that, I replied "Well then, no doughnuts for me, and no sale for you," and turned around to find a business that has joined the 21st century.

Yes, I understand that processing plastic transactions costs more. I also understand that an overwhelmingly huge number of customers has made the choice to accept those charges in the form of slightly higher retail prices. Bottom line: I'll pay 50 cents more for that dozen doughnuts versus going to the ATM, getting cash, and then buying the them. I have nothing for disdain for businesses that refuse to get on board.

I hope thier business decision is well supported by enough other backwards people they stay in business; or, they'd better be the goddamn best in thier entire business catagory so that people are willing to get cash just for that purchase.

Generally speaking: The customer is right, and don't f'ing argue when he's trying to buy somthing from you.

Same up here, there are children's accounts at all the bank branches. They do not have the same service fee schedule as "adult' bank accounts do. But they are also limited in the amount that can be withdrawn per day. My son can only take out a max of $20 per day from his Royal Bank Leo account on his debit card. (this has been a blessing as he is addicted to graphic novels - why? I don't know- which cost upwards of $30)

But for adult accounts there is a charge per transaction for debits which can be rolled into a monthy package (eg for $11 per month, I get 50 debit transactions, but the 51st costs me an extra 5 cents). Cheques have an additional cost added to that.

I am looking at my cheque book, and see that I write cheques for:

- property tax (post dated, 6 times a year)
- monthly math tutor lessons for the kids (Kumon)
- public school expenses (field trips, music equipment etc)
- post dated monthly ortho bills
- Hockey school registration
- Swim registration

A lot of these things cannot, or will not use the credit system as they pay a fee for their use as well. I also do not wish to get locked into a credit card pre-approved withdrawal agreement, as I had one in the past with a health club which was very difficult to cancel.

A debit card transaction in Canada consists of:

The retailer keys in an amount.

The card is swiped.

You look at your hand-held display. It says how much. You say "OK" or "Cancel".

You enter your PIN (security number).

You pick which account you are paying from.

The Debit machine connects to the bank, checks that your account has the money and the PIN is correct, then moves the money from your account to the business's account.

...

While someone could engage in fraud, they can't debit you for more than you OK them for without engaging in fraud.

I write checks, more since I found out that the bank is charging a service fee for debit transactions. I also prefer getting my pay as a paycheck, which annoys payroll, but makes me feel better. I like seeing that little piece of paper with the money I earned that month on it--it makes me feel like I've actually earned the money a lot more than checking the balance using an ATM to see if the transfer was made.

I didn't vote because I didn't understand what the choices meant.

Gilda

I write checks for bills that I have to snail mail. We have a few companies that we pay regularly that do not have web payment service and who charge a fee to pay by phone. Thus we write checks for those. Often we'll take the checkbook with us on trips. We learned this the hard way. Our bank made an error in transmission to the ATM company and we were minus over $300 for a whole weekend. The $300 we were PLANNING to have because we were out of town. We went without a supper meal because nothing would take our debit card. If we'd had our checkbook with us we could have possible used it in some location. We do not have a credit card currently because we aren't restrained enough to avoid using it at all and it would be necessary that we carry only a $0 balance from month to month or we'd get ourselves in trouble again. Been there done that.

Occasionally I will take the checkbook with me to the store and may or may not use it. Mostly because when we deposit at the bank it takes sometimes up to 3 hours before the ATM is updated and our debit card will show the money we've deposited. The checkbook can be used whether the money is shown to be there or not. Though some places are using the instant checking thing now so I don't know how that would work if the ATM hasn't been updated. Haven't had that experience yet.

We have had the same box of checks for 2 years so you can see we don't use them much.

A debit card and a check card are different, it's not just a marketing term. A debit card doesn't have a credit card logo, and therefore cannot be used as a credit card. A check card can be used as either a credit card or a debit card. There are places that take credit cards, but don't take debit cards.

I only write checks for rent. The only reason I do that (and not online banking) is because I want the money taken out as late as possible, not five days before it's due. Otherwise, I'd use online banking for that too. I pay all of my bills with online banking, except for my car insurance (direct withdrawal saves a fee every month), and am glad that I switched from writing checks for that as well. I decide when the money comes out of my account... I don't have to deal with the variables of mail delivery and when the payee decides to cash it. It makes things a lot easier to budget. I've never used my checkbook register... I have carbon checks, and everything gets put into an Excel spreadsheet instead of a checkbook register.

My partners clients pay by cheque all of the time, its surprises me how many people still use cheques. We mainly deal in cash to keep bank fees down.

Just thought I'd let ya know, we've had Debit in 'the states' for years also....

I can't believe so many of your banks have the nards to charge a transaction fee if you use the card as a debit. I've never heard of it. Maybe there are things from state to state in the US (I can't at all account for anything outside the US) that make it more expensive for the debit card, making it necessary to charge... but damn.

That's to say nothing of what I'm gathering is some people pay a fee for writing checks, too? Now if you're paying a fee because you have an automatic bill payment thing set up, that's a bit different- you're paying for a service. But a fee because you wrote a check yourself or used your card as a debit? Bizarre!

Absolutely. Cheques cost 50 cents to write. Debits, the same. I use credit whenever possible, as there is no transaction fee.

Of course, if I opt for a monthly flat rate banking package , I can perform n number of debits/cheques etc within that package. If i do it on the phone, I can batch them all into one transaction.

this is one of the reasons that I can't wait until Canada opens up its banking to international outfits. Once that happens, we will stop being charges like this.

Wow...

With my checking account, the only fee I ever get charged is when I pull money out of another bank's ATM and get charged that fee. No fees for checks, no fees for debit. No fee to talk to a teller. Free online banking and billpay.

I have a good bank :)

All those bank fees are making me reconsider my desire to move to Canada :P

haha. service charges at a bank a reason not to move somewhere??? sure I guess it's an annoyance.

Here is a link to my fee scheduler, which is just one of the many options that can be had:

http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/RBC:RS-x...ture-plus.html


below:

Monthly fee Free
Free debits One free debit per automated payroll deposit in same monthly cycle

Assisted Transactions
Cheques / In-branch bill payments/transfers/withdrawals / RBC ATM bill payments with stub $1.00 each

Electronic/Self-serve Transactions
RBC ATM withdrawals/transfers/bill payments/ Online & Telephone Banking transfers/payments/PAPs/IDP purchases $0.50 each
Interac* and PLUS* System ATM network access fees3 Interac: $1.50

PLUS System: $3.00
(within Canada and USA)

PLUS System: $5.00
(outside Canada and USA)
Recordkeeping Options:
eStatement with Cheque Images free* Free
Monthly Paper Statement (consolidated/combined**) Free
Cheque Images returned with paper statement $2.00
Bankbook $2.00
Access to RBC Online and Telephone Banking4 Free
Overdraft protection5 $3 per month or interest (whichever is greater)

I just pay rent with a check, and I hate even doing that! I just use my debit or credit card for most stuff. It's pretty rare that I even keep cash on hand. It really is so much easier to just deal with a piece of plastic.

I wish the banking industry would design a better transaction system. The current system is horribly insecure (no matter how you conduct business), and I'm surprised there isn't more fraud. I think it should be easier to do person-to-person transactions too. Shouldn't have to write a check or pay cash for those, or use a take-a-piece-of-the-pie service like paypal. There should be something like ACH, but secure, and can be used by anyone to conduct transactions to anyone else (following regulations etc. obviously).

Most of my bills are auto-charged to my CC. I don't know why people are so in favor of debit cards over CCs. If you're not dumb, there's no difference between them, except with a CC your "credit" improves and (in many cases) you get rewards for using them. I do have my energy bills automatically deducted from my checking account, but that has a cap on the amount they can deduct to prevent errors like that $3,000 bill somebody else mentioned here.

My biggest pet peeve is businesses that won't take my Discover card. Seriously. It's a major card and yet many places that take credit cards won't take that one. My second biggest pet peeve is businesses that won't take credit/debit cards at all. Seriously. Get with the times. These places are the only reason I still carry cash. From what I hear, they're exceedingly rare in Europe.

I use EFTPOS, which is essentially:

Many many places in New Zealand won't accept cheques anymore, and 99% of stores have EFTPOS.

I pay rent, daycare and miscellaneous expenses at my kids' schools with paper checks and everything else with my debit card. Very rarely do I have cash.

I certainly do not write checks.
 

I watched as friend after friend (including myself) wrote check after check, failed to successfully balance their checkbook (no time or bad math, who knows) and ended up with bounced checks, accounts overdrawn, overdraft fees, and even their bank accounts getting closed.

It is an OK idea to keep a personal Check Register (keep track of your spending with your debit card) in case of ID Theft, etc. but no reason to kill a tree or two, I agree.

I would promote more banks having several choices on what design you'd like to have on your debit card - something like what you can choose for checks but plastic - and semi-permanent, you know?

However, I agree that checks take up time, earthly resources and right up there with C.O.D. (Cash On Delivery).