Who Still Uses Paper Checks and Why?

I only write checks for my household expenses otherwise it's the debit card. I hate it when you are stuck in lines with those people I was in one of those last weekend, express lane to boot. :twisted:

I do still write paper checks . One of my Doctors only takes cash or checks.

I do a combo of both. If its the day before payday,a check it is! If I am at the gas pump the wednesday before payday,debit card it is. (It takes 3 days to hit my account.) All depends on the situation.

Banks will actually "float" a debit for a few days and if your account drops below the "float" they will process it collecting overdraft fees. Checks on the otherhand are drawn when received.

except to pay my auto insurance,i don't have
a use for them.

Kash! Does your doctor still make house calls and carry a black bag?

I pay with debit at the pump but push credit if it is two days before payday. You have to know the right station though. Be careful of big holds at certain stations with a debit card.

Watch the debit card "float"!! There are some banks that are now processing "non signature credit" transactions as a debit transaction....

The way is looks to you and I the debit is still "pending" as with any other checkcard purchase but if it is a non signature item the freeze the funds the minute you do the transaction.

Here is what happened to me:

I had 4 "pending" checkcard purcahses on the 11th leaving a very small available balance. The night of the 11th I had to pay my power bill by 5 and I was getting paid on Tuesday. I called the power company and paid using my chckcard as a "credit card" knowing that the float would cause the item to hard post on Tuesday night and be covered by my pay deposit.

Monday I looked at my account and as I expected the pending items from Friday had cleared with no problem and my account was a negative 89.00 from the "pending" utility payment. On Tuesday the item was still pending but my account had 4 $35 overdraft charges from the 11th. Even though the pending items (totaling 21.00) had hard posted with no problem. When I called the bank I was told that the "non signature credit" transaction that I did on Friday evening was debited from my "hard" balance and becuase the bank posts largest to smallest items the power payment caused the 4 smaller "previously processed" debits to be insufficient.

I was told there would be no refund as this was not a bank error.

You must have Bank of America. I checked my account on Monday and had a positive balance. My direct deposit went in at midnight. When I checked my balance I had 2 NSF charges for debit card purchases dated the day before and posted ahead of the midnight deposit. Worst was I was only 4.00 overdrawn and it cost me 70.00. How could they not show on Monday but get in ahead of the midnight deposit. "Not the banks fault" I was told also.

Yep!

I had a transaction at CVS on Tuesday and I had to return one item that was $16. I used my checkcard and ran it as credit for the purchase but it didn't require a signature... so they refunded the $16 to the chckcard. Here we are 2 days later and I still don't have the credit!

I usually only write checks when I don't have my debit card with me, which is often, I misplace it a lot. I need to stop doing that. :?

I alao pay my rent with a paper check.

I try to never every write checks. They seem to get me into trouble.

I still use paperchecks...I live in a rural area, many of the places are mom and pop and they either do not want the hassle of the debit/credit card machine or they do not want to pay for it. There are even stores here that will let you run a tab until you get paid. Oh and Frog, our family physician makes house calls and he does carry a black bag and I am not joking or being sarcastic.

What's depressing is that I have only been using checks to take out payday loans and storefronts.

However, now that I am getting out of the PDL cycle, I have books of checks now that aren't getting used! LOL.

The only other times I have ever really used checks for are for paying some items through snail mail ( most my bills and creditors, I just pay online ), and there is one grocery outlet store in town that always takes almost 2 weeks to process checks ( they don't accept credit cards, anyway ) so I tend to "float" checks there when I desperately need groceries, and payday is still quite a few days to a week away.

I write checks very rarely. The only ones are for bills that I can't pay on line or over the phone with my debit card. Like my garbage bill, for example. You have to mail it in. Other than that, at stores I use my debit card and bills, I pay on line with my debit card. But, like roxy stated, there are some rural areas that don't "do" debit/credit. They take cash or checks. So, some people are stuck writing checks.

If I need to write a check I will just go get a money order.

many people are OLD SCHOol and still write checks in the same way that they still refuse to let a computer handle all of their finances..many people also object to the .50-$1.00 fee that many stores charge for using a debit card--many others know they can write a check being same as cash for a purchase if transaction clears before receipt of merchandise and get a much better deal than if paying on a debit card or credit card which banks always charge merchant fees for merchant accepting ..I myself normally only use money orders when people Don't accept checks...if the money order is lost or stolen..it is a huge hassle ! and takes a big amount of time for "investigation into matter"--getting a refund from company and it costs $10-$15 to dispute ..checks are much easier to trace than a money order..you write it...company either receives it and cashes it or doesn't..money order--you actually provide cold hard cash to purchase --and it is a big hassle if you have to dispute this being lost or stolen(on the other hand I just sent out a $1,000 money order and a $900 money order to my home loan to pay 5 times amount of minimum payment I owe..I want this all paid before I retire! when I have some extra cash..I always buy money orders and use it to pay off home loan that is almost paid..but I trust these people and have dealt with them for years!..checks are much easier to trace in my experience and I would never chose a money order over a check if this option is available....

I do have to admit it's a lot quicker to trace a check; you can check your bank statements or your account online to see if and when a check cleared.

The problem with Money Orders is I at one time had to send a $200 money order for a purchase from an online collectables dealer. After I sent it, some time passed, and the dealer told me payment had never been received. So I filed with the USPS the lost money order paperwork, and in the meantime, had to fire off another $200 to the dealer, which they received and then sent me my item. It took almost 45 days to get photocopies in the mail showing that the first money order had indeed, been endorsed and cashed. I scanned the sheets and emailed them as evidence to the dealer, who was then embarassed and said he must have completely forgotten that he had received and cashed my money order for our particular transaction, as he has thousands of customers sending him money orders daily. He promptly sent a refund. So that whole situation was kinda sucky- as I paid for an item twice, and I had to wait more than a month to find out what had happened to the first $200 I had sent. Even though I still got my money back, it was really incovenient. At least with a personal check, I can easily check my bank account to see if and when it cleared.

I only use check to pay utilities.....mostly it's debit card for me...I totally agree with everyone though...they really do slow down lines especially when u are in a hurry...

I do both, mostly debit card at stores, but maybe if you had trouble with someone getting your information on your card, you too would result to paper checks, they are safer.

I disagree that paper checks are safer - They have your routing number and account number, name and address all printed on the front. Anyone could write it down and go on a shopping spree online with that info . . . . . As the check goes through different hands on it's way to being processed there is always the chance of an unscrupulous employee.

I never write checks any more nor do I own any checks. I guess its good for me not to even own checks, at least I can't be temped to get in the problem I had last year. It????????s either my debit card or money order. I know checks are easier to track but I hate when a company takes a week to process your check. Then I forget about it and overdraw my account. My place of employment is old school and we will not accept debt or credit. I'm use to people writing checks everyday and its soooo slow. When I did use checks at the grocery store, I would make sure I went to a regular checkout and not an express. I hate the people who write checks in the express lane. It's called express and yet I have to wait on you to fill it out. You could of had everything filled out and leave the dollar blank before you reach the line. But, its 2008 and people haven't figured that out yet.

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Thats why I do not write checks. I know its not the companies fault, its my own. I should balance a check book but its something I just don't do. I keep a running total in my head and check my balance everyday online. I've had my checking account for a year and a half now and only had one item bounce.

I've never said anyone was a moron for writing a check. I think its a selfish thing to go to a express line at a checkout and write a check. If you must write a check, feel free to do it, just not in a express lane please.

I DO NOT USE PAPER CHECKS FOR MANY YEARS NOW AND THE
LAST CHECK I USE I DIDNT REMEMBER IT.
IF I PAY A BILL I USE A MONEY ORDER THAT IS MORE SIMPLE AND DID NOT MAKE OVERDRAFTS.
portfolio recovery associates SEND ME LETTER HERE TELLING MY LAST CHECK WAS IN 2005 FOR AN ACCOUNT
OF 1991 FROM NATWEST. :?: :?: :?

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ammaranth is right i think
also the statement maid
I disagree that paper checks are safer - They have your routing number and account number, name and address all printed on the front. Anyone could write it down and go on a shopping spree online with that info
As the check goes through different hands on it's way to being processed there is always the chance of an unscrupulous employee.
I think it would be much easier to dispute a fraudulent transaction with your bank than trying to trace a m.o. if it is lost or company claims it has not received it
I grew up in sin city las vegas and remember when people were stealing money orders out of mail and washing them with some sort of chemical and making them out to other people it was a huge scam going on I dont know if this can still happen now all i know is i have had a bank account for many years and if someone made fake checks or made fraudulent transactions i was always reimbursed because i deal with banks that are federally regulated
money orders are great if you have cash that you dont want to be tracked easily and cash that you cant deposit fearing that someone else will confiscate
my post office is now looking into money laundering by criminals purchasing massive amounts of money orders from drug money sales what will they think of next?
_________________ :D :D :D :D :D
i still think most people who are fans of money orders dont have bank accounts because they will get money in there held or confiscated for other debt or cant get a checking account at all because of all bad checks they have written
your bank will cover any acts an unscrupulous employee might attempt and reimburse you for all fees incrued you can stop payment if someone says they didnt recieve your payment money orders are a lot more work in most everday situation i think

I don't write checks anymore, but doesn't bother me if someone else does if in line. Actually, if you were to write a check in an express line or any line at that in NJ, oh boy watch out. I am always the one that is stuck behind the person that is getting impatient with the person at the checkout and the one that this person feels they can air to me and everyone else can hear in the entire store. Its quite humerous, just last night I was at the checkout and same thing but this person wasn't using a check their credit cards kept coming up declined, the person in front of me turns around and says geez my goodness come on will she. Then when the lady finally asks could you please just swipe this again I know there can't be anything wrong with it and it finally works. The lady in front of me is loud about this time bouncing back and forth from one leg to the next with hands on the hips, saying to anyone in ear shot its about damn time. I was Hysterical by this time (the lady making a seen looked like a smacked @$$, we had not even been in line more than a few minutes.

My checkbook is currently smelling my socks! I rarely ever write checks since a credit or debit card is accepted on most of my transactions.

well,knock me over with a blade of grass.
long time cajun.how's things with you?

:lol: Been doing ok.Spending enough time on my drilling rig to qualify as fixed inventory. :shock:

HELLO FANTASTIC CAJUN.
IT IS VERY NICE TO SEE YOU HERE AGAIN.GOD BLESSES YOU DEAREST CAJUN.
I FORGET TO TELL THAT portfolio recovery associates NEVER RECEIVED ANY CHECK FROM ME IN 2005 BECAUSE I DID NOT WRITE ANY CHECK FOR YEARS.I'M IN MIAMI 12 YEARS AND MY ACCOUNT IN WASHINGTON MUTUAL HAVE 12 YEARS EITHER.
PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES TOOK ILLEGALLY 7 CHECKS OF 150,00 FROM MY HUSBAND BLIND AND MENTALLY ILL THAT IS NOT A DEBTOR EITHER.I HAVE NOT ANY ACCOUNT WITH HIM.
PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES BELIEVE THAT MY HUSBAND IS TANIA ALVAREZ AND IF HE IS NOT A DEBTOR IS NOT A PROBLEM FOR THESE BAD COLLECTION AGENCY.
HE IS NOT ME!!!
THEY SEND ME A LETTERS HERE FROM CITIBANK TELLING WAS MY CHECK!!!THE NAME IN THE CHECK IS JOHN AND IS FROM CITIBANK EITHER.
I HAVE ALL CHECKS OF MY HUSBAND HERE AND HIS NAME IS
JOHN A.
I WANT TO SEE IF MY BANK WASHINGTON MUTUAL MAKE A RESEARCH (MICROFILM A CHECK ?)TO FIND A CHECK I GAVE TO PORTFOLIO RECOVERY IN 2005 OR IF I GAVE ANY CHECK TO ANYONE IN 12 YEARS I'M WITH WASHINGTON MUTUAL.
*PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES THE CLIENT WANTED TO COLLECT A NATWEST FLEET CREDIT CARD FROM 1991 ALREADY PAID AND THESE ACCOUNT IS FROM 1991 NYC!!!
THE SOL IS EATING THESE ACCOUNT ALIVE FROM NATWEST 1991.

DEAR FROG I LOVE YOUR POST.
FROG DO YOU BELIEVE THAT MY HUSBAND HAVE A CITIBANK ACCOUNT AND I HAVE A WASHINGTON MUTUAL ACCOUNT?
I CANNOT BELIEVE portfolio recovery associates HARASSED MY HUSBAND BLIND AND MENTALLY ILL HERE TO TAKE CHECKS FROM HIM THAT IS NOT A DEBTOR EITHER.
I HATE CHECKS.
I NEED A MICROFILM FROM WASHINGTON MUTUAL TO FIND
A CHECK IN MY CHECKING ACCOUNT IN 12 YEARS I'M WITH WASHINGTON MUTUAL.I DO NOT GIVE ELECTRONIC PAYMENT CHECKS EITHER.
I FORGOT TO SAY THAT MY HUSBAND DID NOT WRITE A CHECK EITHER BECAUSE HE BECAME BLIND AND HE GAVE
A ELECTRONIC CHECK PAYMENT(CHECKS FROM RESERVE BANK
CITIBANK).I HAVE ALL CHECKS HERE ONLY IN MY HUSBAND'S NAME TO PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES AND LTD 77074.
I HOPE ALL GREAT MEMBERS UNDERSTAND MY BAD ENGLISH.

YES CAJUN I SO AGREE WITH YOU!!!! AND WELCOM BACK ALTHOUGH IM NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANSBUT WTH ----- ANYWAYS THE THINGS I SAW ABOVE WERE ABOUT PEOPLE SAYING SENDING MONEY ORDERS THAT WERE BETTER THAN CHECKS DO YOU AGREE? THAT WAS THE POSTS ABOVE ( OF COURSE A CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD IS THE BEST WAY TO GO )PEOPLE HERE THAT I SAW WERE SYAING SENDING MONEY ORDERS WAS BETTER THAN CHECKS HOPE YOUR SOCKS DONT SMELL THAT BAD :D WHAT DOES THAT MEAN YOU ARE STINKY PERSON?

:lol: @ guest. My sock drawer is where checkbook and cards from card issuers go when they either getr me steamed or they are no longer needed. This drawer is clean,but the poor high interest cards do get mighty dusty. :lol:

SO I AM STIL ASKING DO YOU AGREE THAT SENDING MONEY ORDERS ARE BETTER THAN PAYING BY CHECK OR DEBIT OR CREDIT CARD?

A money order for any abnormal creditor(collections). I prefer a debit card online payment for my normal bills.

I AGREE CAJIN
MY PANTIE DRAWER IS WHERE I KEEP ALL CARD I HAVE PAID OFF BUT ARE STILL HELPING MY CREDIT SCORE THANK GOODNES GOV IS NOW TRYING TO PASS LAWS AGAINST THESE CREIDT CARD BUSINEZS WHO HAVE CONDUCTED BUSINESS SO BADLY

I prefer to use my debit card for all of my transactions unless the company doesn't accept debit cards then I will take out the checkbook.

As far as being safe as stated a lil earlier, I work for a bank and checks are not safe and neither is debit...if you swipe your debit card through the machine at checkout and you enter your PIN theres always a chance that machine or store is hacked and now the hackers have your card number and pin number, I have even seen it where they will actually make a perfect copy of your card with their name on it. So my advise to you all is if you have a debit card and it has a Visa or Mastercard logo on it ALWAYS use it as a credit and sign for the purchase. Its not 100% safe but its much safer than the other 2 options.

I think its all about how careful you are. Everyone should just protect thier personal info.

I got one in front of me again at the check out. He had two items and drew his check book as fast as a gunslinger. Unfortunately it went much slower from there. It is a Florida senior thing I think!

hevnly_chick - I was going to say something about debit not being any safer, as well, but was too busy recently with a second job that I haven't had much of a chance to log in or read posts and make replies ^_^

Yes about making perfect copies of cards! Recently there was an ordeal in my city where 2 Arco Gas Station employees, both working together yet at seperate Arco locations, were stealing the information from every debit card that got swept over a period of a few months, and magnetizing the information to empty gift cards at the store. They were then caught at our ca_sino using the gift cards with the magnetized info to withdraw thousands and thousands of dollars in cash from the stolen accounts from one of our many ATMs on the ca_sino floor.

We recently had another case where they arrested a woman at our ca_sino who was caught collecting the player's membership cards. Sometimes the players forget and walk away from a slot machine and leave their player's card in it. She would then collect all the forgotten ones she could find, and would leave with them and would remagnetize them with stolen account information, and then would use them to withdraw cash from ATMs.

So anytime you swipe your debit card anywhere, you are always running a risk. I think one of the safest methods these days are cash.

And believe me, I've seen plenty of counterfeit bills in my line of work ^_~

I write paper checks for 2 reasons, to either pay my rent or pay my attorney (they charge a fee to use credit/debit). Everything else I use my debit card

GREAT POST DEAREST FROG.
GREAT IDEAS EITHER.
PAPER CHECKS ARE NOT FOR ME EITHER.

Well, I write paper checks when I want to "float" like the other members, but I can see why people get frustrated on the "Express Lane". Here in Florida the Express Lanes is used for 10 items or less and not checks, but there are still some people that obviously do not read the signs and take their good time getting their checkbooks out, looking for their pens, and then writing the checks. They drive me crazy!!! Its not like they didn't know that they were going to write the check... get ready, have it out of your pocketbook and sign it!!!!

frogpatch,

As I was reading your post, all I could think about was that commerical where the person who pays with cash or check totally stops the entire cafeteria. LOL

Now, I write checks because I do not have a debit card, don't always have cash and refuse to use my credit card. Most times, it does not take any longer than using a debit card.

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Oh, I know. I learned the hard way... It has cost me some $$$. Now I use paper checks on local stores that take 1-2 days to deposit.

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