What is it with people writing checks!

[snarlingcoyote]

I was in a LONG LONG line at an outlet center today. I had a dress I'd seen last winter at $120 that was now $20 and that I wanted badly, or I'd just have left. . .

And older lady had some placemats she was buying. And she argued with the clerk over the price and then had some sort of something that had to be done with the receipt and this and that. Finally, she got the placemats for .20 less EACH than what they were marked. I think she had 6 place mats so, 1.20 off.

And then this dear, older lady (in her 70's, I'd guess) pulls out an Amex BLACK card.

She has a BLACK card and she harrassed a poor sales clerk into getting a manager over $1.20??????

I and the 7 or so people in line with me were gaping and just. . .just. . .we ALL wanted to throttle her. I kept trying to remind myself that she might have survived really hard times in the Depression or something. . .but it didn't work. I asked myself if maybe she was getting a bit senile. I don't think she was. I think she was just cantankerous and didn't give a big whoop that most of us were on our lunch hour or WHO she bothered so long as SHE got what SHE wanted.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

LOL, tell those people what bungholes us check writers are, and they will love you!! We won't care.

LOL...oh, there's bungholes in every group!! Can't please everyone

 

[Aimeedyan]

When I worked retail, I cringed when someone started to pull that checkbook out. Talk about slowing down your line. Especially when they were the type to not even start the purse digging until after the amt was totaled and everything was bagged.

Thankfully, I don't see many check writers anymore.

 

[Nancy]

As an ex grocery store cashier checks weren't really all that much longer transaction wise then waiting for the wallets to get pulled out, waiting for the cards to be swiped the right way, waiting for the pin # to be punched in...every method of payment has a way of being slow if the customer isn't ready with card, cash or semi filled out check in hand.

I think the reason I am so prepared is because I know all the timing that goes on at the registers and I know that tender time plays into that.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I'm right there with you! And it doesn't matter if the person is writing a check, paying with credit card or cash, I will never, never understand why people wait until the cashier announces their total to look for whatever form of payment they are using. Absolutely.drives.me.nuts and THEN after they take their sweet time with that, they stand there, write in their check register and put everything back OR how about the ones who dig in the bottom of their purse or pockets to find the change. Total is $11.52 and instead of handing over their $20 dollar bill, they stand there digging around to find 52 cents.

I know it's really a small thing, but it is just a peeve of mine. I just think it's rude.

 

[Charade]

I hate check writers and people with those little pop open coin pouches where they just have to dig for the exact change.

It's almost as bad as people who don't have their tollbooth money ready when it's their turn to pay.

 

[ArelysAdriana]

this thread is hilarious.

This is somewhat related...I work in a bank and my pet peeve is when people wait until they get to my window to start digging for their stuff and then they start filling out their deposit slip or signing the back of all 18 checks they have to cash. All the while there is a huge line out the door. My favorite is when they complain about having to wait so long.

 

[DarthKTrava]

I was going to add this to my original post but I didn't want to seem curmudgeonly. I always seem to get behind this one woman who drives me insane. She'll pull up to the gate. Put the car in park. Roll down her window. Dig around on the floor for her purse. Dig around in her purse for her card. Finally find the card and swipe it. Then she carefully puts the card away. Puts the purse back on the floor. Rolls up her window. Then finally puts her car in drive and pulls into the parking lot.

This is a woman who is NOT a multi-tasker. Everything is done very deliberately and SLOWLY. I am so glad she doesn't work in my office because I'd have to bludgeon her with my telephone.

Sounds like people who do similar stuff in the drive thru window.... Slowly get out the money, find every last freakin' penny, then have to slowly put everything back in it's rightful place... take the wrapper off the straw, put straw into drink....

And then we get jumped on by management for slow drive thru times....

 

[oybolshoi]

this thread is hilarious.

This is somewhat related...I work in a bank and my pet peeve is when people wait until they get to my window to start digging for their stuff and then they start filling out their deposit slip or signing the back of all 18 checks they have to cash. All the while there is a huge line out the door. My favorite is when they complain about having to wait so long.

I hear ya ... I spent five years working in retail banking - bank teller, new accounts, customer service, loans ... the whole lovely customer-oriented experience and it scarred me for life!

Based on my experiences during my time there I try very hard to be extra nice to anyone working in a service position like that (and I'm an impatient person by nature ... I try not to be but then I lose patience with myself ... ). You guys think some people are rude at the grocery store ... try dealing with them when you're "holding their money." They think they own you.

 

[ArelysAdriana]

I hear ya ... I spent five years working in retail banking - bank teller, new accounts, customer service, loans ... the whole lovely customer-oriented experience and it scarred me for life!

Based on my experiences during my time there I try very hard to be extra nice to anyone working in a service position like that (and I'm an impatient person by nature ... I try not to be but then I lose patience with myself ... ). You guys think some people are rude at the grocery store ... try dealing with them when you're "holding their money." They think they own you.

I can relate!
We had a lovely customer who came through the drive-though with a whole bunch of transactions on a busy Friday and was asked to go into the lobby because there is a 3 transaction limit. She left her stuff in tube and proceed to tell us we were "keeping her money from her" when we of course couldn't find her stuff because the person after her accidentally took it. She ended up calling the police, because Lord knows they probably didn't have anything better to do, and causing the biggest scene ever.

 

[Kathi OD]

I'm sitting here shaking my head. Complaining about how long it takes someone to pay for their purchase? If you're in that big of a hurry that you can't wait a couple of extra minutes, then maybe you should have planned your trip to the store when you aren't so rushed.

Slow down and take time to smell the roses.

ETA: FWIW, I'm a cc user. No purse, just the cc in the pocket. Super fast. Swipe and sign. No checks & no debit (with or w/o money back).

 

[Terri2007]

Okay. I am not a check writer, and I do usually have my plastic out, but I watch the check register to make sure they don't charge me the wrong amount!! I know, crazy huh? Didn't any of you see that 60 minutes where some absurdly high amount of stores that were studied overcharged compared to the prices on the shelves?

 

[bumbershoot]

I've recently become a sometimes-check writer, b/c my cards are all floopy b/c of my adorable Sherpani purse with the excellently placed front pocket under the flap, with the russa frussa ding dang really really STRONG magnet *right there*.

My main card works in the specific credit union's ATMs, and at Trader Joe's swipe-through doohickey, but nowhere else. My other card is absolutely dead, but I've memorized the number and love the number, so that's turned into my online card. The other card is totally fine, but I have to move money over from the online-card's account and can't seem to remember to do that each time. (fyi I don't have 3 accounts just for the heck of it, there were reasons, LOL, old reasons, but reasons all the same)

In addition, the main card was just replaced last December, when I thought I lost it (in the house), and I haven't been able to bring myself to ask them for another card (I know, I know). But I'm going to, tomorrow.

So anyway, at the stores where I know it won't work, I either stop at the credit union on the way for cash, or I just write a check.

And usually I'm fast with the check, but I know the other day I was off in la la land and forgot until the last moment...thankfully there was no one else in line with me.

 

[smidgy]

I've recently become a sometimes-check writer, b/c my cards are all floopy b/c of my adorable Sherpani purse with the excellently placed front pocket under the flap, with the russa frussa ding dang really really STRONG magnet *right there*.

My main card works in the specific credit union's ATMs, and at Trader Joe's swipe-through doohickey, but nowhere else. My other card is absolutely dead, but I've memorized the number and love the number, so that's turned into my online card. The other card is totally fine, but I have to move money over from the online-card's account and can't seem to remember to do that each time. (fyi I don't have 3 accounts just for the heck of it, there were reasons, LOL, old reasons, but reasons all the same)

In addition, the main card was just replaced last December, when I thought I lost it (in the house), and I haven't been able to bring myself to ask them for another card (I know, I know). But I'm going to, tomorrow.

So anyway, at the stores where I know it won't work, I either stop at the credit union on the way for cash, or I just write a check.

And usually I'm fast with the check, but I know the other day I was off in la la land and forgot until the last moment...thankfully there was no one else in line with me.

um... HUH????

 

[zulemara]

I can't believe anyone writes down transactions. With online banking, what is the point? Most banks will show that the money has been authorized and held from your account and charges post within 2 business days. The entire concept of a "statement" and "balancing a checkbook" is completely pointless to me.

By checking my account daily and sometimes multiple times a day, I know that the minute anything unauthorized is charged, I'll be on the phone with my bank.

 

[kacaju]

I can't believe anyone writes down transactions. With online banking, what is the point? Most banks will show that the money has been authorized and held from your account and charges post within 2 business days. The entire concept of a "statement" and "balancing a checkbook" is completely pointless to me.

By checking my account daily and sometimes multiple times a day, I know that the minute anything unauthorized is charged, I'll be on the phone with my bank.

I check my account 2 twice a month. I find it *pointless* to check my account online multiple times a day
To each their own....

 

[rie'smom]

A percentage of my card purchases go to a children's charity but I have to choose the credit option rather than the debit option. Unless the purchase is $25 or less, the cashier has to see my card and my driver's license-both of which, I have ready. If that bothers someone, oh well. The children are more important to me than an impatient person who should have managed their time more efficiently.

 

[Kathi OD]

I can't believe anyone writes down transactions. With online banking, what is the point?

Could be for a couple of different reasons:
- they don't have 24/7 access to the internet
- that's they way they've done it for years
- maybe they choose NOT to do their banking online

Most banks will show that the money has been authorized and held from your account and charges post within 2 business days. The entire concept of a "statement" and "balancing a checkbook" is completely pointless to me.

Just because you think it's pointless doesn't mean it is. The only people I know who regularly overdraw their checking accounts are those who don't keep a register and balance their checkbook on some kind of regular basis. Banks have been known to make mistakes.

By checking my account daily and sometimes multiple times a day, I know that the minute anything unauthorized is charged, I'll be on the phone with my bank.

Nice that you have the time to check your account multiple times a day. I'd bet that most of us don't...what with working, the upkeep of our homes, caring for children, cooking, and interacting with the other members of our families. If you're checking your account multiple times during the day, you're wasting just as much time as the person who takes the time to record and settle their statement every month. You're just wasting it in a different way.

 

[Free4Life11]

i have never purchased anything at the grocery store with a check - or at any store for that matter. I don't even carry my checkbook with me - ever. I am debit card girlie all the way. I never have cash

Same. In fact I didn't know stores still accepted checks. I thought you only used them to pay bills.

Actually I love my Chase credit card with the "Blink." I just held it up to the machine at CVS and paid. Nothing to sign, no buttons to push, it was great! I wish more stores would get the machines.

 

[Cantw8]

I hate check writers and people with those little pop open coin pouches where they just have to dig for the exact change.

It's almost as bad as people who don't have their tollbooth money ready when it's their turn to pay.

don't be hatin'