Do you still use checks?

[Shel_B]

Until today, and for the past seven years, my use of checks to pay bills and make purchases was limited to one check per month to pay my apartment rent. Today that changed, and my rent is now automatically debited from my account. Even my housekeepers take some sort of automatic transfer. There's no longer a need to use those pesky slips of paper ... Halleluja!

Do you still use checks, and for what purpose? Just curious.

 

[bmod305]

i write two checks a year-vehice tabs one in March and one in October. They charge a 2.5% fee for using a debt card. Other than those two checks-everything else is auto pay or electronic check.

 

[dishdude]

i write two checks a year-vehice tabs one in March and one in October. They charge a 2.5% fee for using a debt card. Other than those two checks-everything else is auto pay or electronic check.

Same here, any check seems to be for state fees. Last one was when I did the income taxes and owed Arizona, they charge a fee for CC so I write a check...they still haven't cashed it.

 

[CKN]

Until today, and for the past seven years, my use of checks to pay bills and make purchases was limited to one check per month to pay my apartment rent. Today that changed, and my rent is now automatically debited from my account. Even my housekeepers take some sort of automatic transfer. There's no longer a need to use those pesky slips of paper ... Halleluja!

Do you still use checks, and for what purpose? Just curious.

It seems if there is a person in front of me in the supermarket checkout who is 80 years age or above they invariably write a check. I was in the market the other day and even the supervisor didn't know how to process it through the register-so I changed lines. I guess once you get over a certain age you cannot understand the words "Debit Card".

I use credit cards to pay all my bills (balances paid off every month) which net me well over $1,000.00 in rebates each and every year. It's free money....even if a fee is levied by the company I use a credit card for-I do the math - to see how much rebate I get for the purchase verses the fee charged. I usually end up with something.

I can even use a card at the Utah DMV website.

 

[TmanP]

I rarely write checks, but my next apartment doesn't seem to accept electronic payments so I'll have to order a box of checks before moving this summer. I'll use them for rent and at the odd place that doesn't accept credit cards or charges a card fee (maybe the DMV or that sort of thing). Otherwise, I appreciate the buyer protections that credit cards give, in addition to the cash back they offer, and will use them preferentially whenever given the option.

 

[blufeb95]

I bought 100 checks for a new account I opened like 8 years ago, I used 2 checks out of the books, I closed that account 5 years ago, From my new account I've written one whole check out of the 3 checks the bank gave me when I opened the account 5 years ago.

 

[fisher83]

I always tease my grandmother that one day she is going to hand someone a check and they won't even know what it is. She doesn't want to use a debit card because she worries about security. So instead she hands them a slip of paper with her name, address, phone number, account and routing numbers, and her signature.....

 

[blufeb95]

So instead she hands them a slip of paper with her name, address, phone number, account and routing numbers, and her signature.....

At my old job I called people past due on their student loans, so many people would only mail a check, as if sticking it in the mail is really that secure and if someone along the way opens it then they have enough info to easily make blank checks for your account, with as many disgruntled weirdos that work for the post office, I trust putting my account info into an online account or giving it to a representative from the company over the phone much more than I trust sending it through the mail. The collections/customer service reps from a financial institution have more than enough info to steal your identity without you giving them any info or even talking to you, if they were going to steal anything they'd steal your identity and open new accounts rather than stealing payment info that was given to them over a recorded line with multiple records tying them to it if fraud occurs shortly after them giving the info.

She's correct about debit cards, I don't trust them one bit, if I use plastic it's always credit, it's much easier to get your money back if someone skims your credit card number than it is if they take funds out of your bank account.

 

[Nick1994]

Never have used checks.

Except for a cashier's check for buying the Grand Cherokee from my grandpa to make it easier.

 

[DemoFly]

The only thing I've ever written on a check is void to set up direct deposit.

 

[Shel_B]

.

 

[Shel_B]

It seems if there is a person in front of me in the supermarket checkout who is 80 years age or above they invariably write a check. I was in the market the other day and even the supervisor didn't know how to process it through the register-so I changed lines. I guess once you get over a certain age you cannot understand the words "Debit Card".

You're still wasting time in supermarket checkout lines? That is so pre-pandemic! Everyone I know uses a personal shopper.

 

[Wolf359]

People borrow money from me once in a while so I write them a check. Sometimes vendors will demand a check on the spot like a plumber or roofer or handyman. I used to write a check to my accountant for my taxes every year too, but he's not in a big hurry so I just do online bill pay to him now and he gets the check a week later.

 

[MotorFan]

Yes, still use checks on occasion. I also have a fax machine, and a telephone land line. (have a cell phone and computer as well.)

 

[FT92]

yep, i still use checks fairly often, have never run into a cashier that didn't know what to do

 

[billt460]

I write checks occasionally. And while most all of my bills are paid by online banking, I give no one access to directly withdraw from my account automatically.

And while I have a cell phone, I despise talking on them, or taking calls from people who are using them. Cell phones cut out, and make it difficult to understand a typical conversation because of this. I have had this happen regardless of the carrier, phone, or location. A land line is by far much clearer to talk on.

I can tell instantly if the person calling me is on a cell because of this poor voice quality. As an example, I just had a new washer and dryer delivered yesterday. Lowe's delivery service called me, (on a cell phone), to tell me they were 5 minutes away.

I constantly had to ask him to repeat himself, to the point where they were across the street when the call ended. And the guy was American, and he had perfect english.

 

[K-Man]

Mainly for certain mailed bills, meaning utilities and government taxes. Even some utilities still want to charge the 2–3% fee to use a debit card.

By sending a check for the utilities, I can pay more than the amount due and have a credit balance for a while, so I'm not writing checks and spending money for stamps every month. Many such accounts, if they do accept debit cards, will not allow you to pay more than the amount due.

 

[hrv]

I write about three checks a month and carry a blank one in my wallet just in case....

 

[Lubener]

You're still wasting time in supermarket checkout lines? That is so pre-pandemic! Everyone I know uses a personal shopper.

Some of us are not so lazy and have the ambition to put down the phone, get off the sofa and do something.

 

[Shel_B]

Some of us are not so lazy and have the ambition to put down the phone, get off the sofa and do something.

That, my friend, was sarcasm ...