What is it with people writing checks!

[blissventure]

I always make out my check before I leave the car. Add the amount, and voila!
I don't know how many times I've shared annoyed looks with a cashier as a brainiac in front of me attempts to reenter their pin, accidentally cancels the transaction, and the utimate doozie, has their debit card declined....probably due to being clueless about the balance. (And in this situation, please, spare the line waiters in back your excuse. Leave the item, or pay another way. We really don't care.)
If I don't write a check, I have my cash or credit card in hand waiting. It's always plastic debit person holding me up.

Yes, I use credit cards. But, we also like having duplicate checks. In over 20 years, we've never once had an overdraft/bounce. Keeping track has it's advantages--excellent credit, and no fees.

 

[laurie31]

I can't believe people are complaining about the time it takes to write a check Must be a slow day today

It's not the actual check writing time, it's that the person stands there doing NOTHING all the while their groceries are being rung up and bagged, and then they start digging for their checkbook after they're told the total. As if they had no clue they were going to need to pay for the stuff.

The people who don't know their PINs are just as bad, though.

My own personal pet peeve is at my work parking deck. You have to swipe your badge to get in. People will drive up to the gate and then start rummaging around in their car for the thing. Come ON people! You knew where you were going when you left the house!! Have that thing in your hand when you get to the gate, or at least someplace quickly accessible!

 

[denisenh]

I write checks. sometimes i use coupons too. i am not slow but average i guess. if a minute to a minute and a half makes a lot of difference to the person behind me maybe that person should be managing their time better.

 

[dizluvah]

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

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

You are not alone OP. I don't mind check writers, I know that sometimes people are resistant to debit cards, or left it at home, whatever. But how hard is it to fill out the name of the place, the date and sign it while the cashier is ringing up your $200 in groceries. AND then when they stop and have to write it down in their check register. Again, you can fill everything out but the amount and it takes less than 10 seconds. I was a cashier in high school and debit cards didn't exist, but slow check writers did. It's real pleasant getting dirty looks from the customers who are standing in your ever growing line while people wait until their groceries are checked and bagged before they even dig out their checkbook. To those of you who think it's a minor irritant, I suppose it is, in the grand scheme of things. I have always felt that everyone should have to work for the public for a year. It changes your perspective on everything. I make a point of being very nice to cashiers, tellers, call center reps...just about everyone who has to deal with the public because there are some mean people out there. I was reduced to tears a few times because an item scanned wrong. Something I had no control over and promptly corrected as soon as it was verified, apologized and STILL would be cussed out. I guess people think that $7/hour cashiers have no job stress. Think again. Those who take their sweet time writing out a check just because it's your God given right, well I guess you will keep on doing it. It's just fun to inconvienence people, I suppose. Vent over.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

yep, if you are in that big of a hurry, stay home and order online. Same thing when I am digging for that change, get over your impatient self

Ever think of the cashier and bagger who will get the huffy customers next in line? Makes for a real pleasant work experience
I haven't worked in a grocery store since 1993, but I can still remember how mean people are. Why not do something to try and help someone out rather than trying to teach people in line behind you a lesson in time management?

 

[DrCavin]

I think cash is becoming the slowest method, many cashiers can't make change or takes them a long time to count it out. They see cash & think your from another country..

 

[denisenh]

Ever think of the cashier and bagger who will get the huffy customers next in line? Makes for a real pleasant work experience
I haven't worked in a grocery store since 1993, but I can still remember how mean people are. Why not do something to try and help someone out rather than trying to teach people in line behind you a lesson in time management?

I agree. try to help out people who write a check by being a good doobie and waiting your turn like everyone else. Huffy customers aren't nice but they have bigger problems than being behind anyone else.

We have all waited a few extra minutes for someone in front of us...and for lots of different reasons. Impatient people are impatient. Crabby people are crabby. Mean people are mean. It doesn't matter the reason or situation.
And I think that MOST people are nice, helpful and patient.

Any time that I have been feeling rushed and short on time it was my own fault and i don't blame others for it.

 

[kacaju]

Oh I hear you. Why don't they just get a debit card? It's the same.exact.thing.

I think there should be a rule that if you are a couponer, and that's FINE and I get that it saves you a bunch of money. But PLEASE have your coupons out, visible, so I can see them before I decide to get in that line. Just hold them in your hand or whatever. That way I know to AVOID that line. Because scanning coupons takes a lot of time (especially the beeps..and the "Did you buy two of this?" "Ok, show me.."" type scenarios). Ugh. I would rather be behind the check writer than a couponer.

My stores require I hand my coupons to the cashier before she/he starts scanning, so you would not know how many coupons I have until the end anyway.
As far as checks, I use them or cash.

Do you really want to know why I do not use a debit card??

I used to use them, then my Dad got really, really sick, in and out of hospitals and nursing home sick. He was sick for 15 months before he passed away.

In that 15 months, not only was I a wife and Mom to my 3 kids, I was also thrust into being my Dad's advocate. I couldn't handle doing everything and it was my bills that suffered the most. I was too proud to ask my dh to help and in the end our bank accounts really, really got messed up. When I finally broke down and told dh the financal mess we were in he took it over. Then he ended up in the hospital having heart surgery. He came home from the hospital, my dad died. DH went back into the hospital.

I sucked it up and really dove into our finances again and this time I cut up my debit card (and cc cards)

Started to follow Dave Ramsey.

The debit cards were a huge part of our mess, dh and I would withdraw too much from them and did not write it down or keep track.
I don't care how old fashioned my system is to anyone. I have found what works for me and until someone else wants to step up and take over my finances, I will continue to do what works for me.
I have not had a debit card in 4 years now and I don't miss it!!

 

[goofy!]

It's not the actual check writing time, it's that the person stands there doing NOTHING all the while their groceries are being rung up and bagged, and then they start digging for their checkbook after they're told the total. As if they had no clue they were going to need to pay for the stuff.

The people who don't know their PINs are just as bad, though.

There are just as many people who wait for their total to start digging through their purse to find their credit/debit card. Ummm...use your wallet? Finally, they find it, swipe it and throw it back in their purse even though it clearly says to keep it out to show the clerk. Then they have to be prompted through every step...
Clerk: Are you using Debit or Credit?[/COLOR]
Customer: Debit
Clerk: Please press the green button for Debit
Customer: It is asking me for my PIN.
Clerk: Yes, you need to enter your PIN if you are using your card as a Debit card
Customer: I meant I wanted credit
Clerk: Ok, let me cancel and we will start over, please swipe your card again
Customer: Let me find it, I threw it back in my purse
waiting....waiting....waiting.....
Customer: swipes card and throws it in her purse
Clerk: Please hit ok to confirm the transaction
Clerk: Yes it is ok that your signature looks nothing like your actual signature
Clerk: May I please see your card (signs are all over the place to keep card out to show clerk)
Customer: Oh wait, let me find it - as she digs through her purse again.

FINALLY - the transaction is completed.

Give me a check writer any day! Although, there are slow check writers, cc users and cash users. I don't think any group has a monopoly on the slowest.

 

[NMAmy]

My own personal pet peeve is at my work parking deck. You have to swipe your badge to get in. People will drive up to the gate and then start rummaging around in their car for the thing. Come ON people! You knew where you were going when you left the house!! Have that thing in your hand when you get to the gate, or at least someplace quickly accessible!

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.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I agree. try to help out people who write a check by being a good doobie and waiting your turn like everyone else. Huffy customers aren't nice but they have bigger problems than being behind anyone else.

We have all waited a few extra minutes for someone in front of us...and for lots of different reasons. Impatient people are impatient. Crabby people are crabby. Mean people are mean. It doesn't matter the reason or situation.
And I think that MOST people are nice, helpful and patient.

Any time that I have been feeling rushed and short on time it was my own fault and i don't blame others for it.

My empathy lies with the workers who have to endure those who are own their own time with no consideration for others. I do get irritated when people do it, but I had never considered that a lot of people just never really considered filling out the information they are able to prior to the end of the transaction. So I did consider them after I posted my previous post and I don't have a huge issue with this. I'm sure I've done inconsiderate things without realizing it. But to purposely wait to tick people off behind you, that's just mean. Deliberate inconsideration, I have a problem with. Boy that "random acts of kindness" fad faded quickly. And as far as teaching people a lesson, that doesn't work. You really think those that are irritated behind you (you in general) are going to change their perspective of slow check writers because you are doing it on purpose?
I agree, huffy people behind you probably do have bigger problems. But it's a domino effect. Remember that Liberty Mutual commercial that shows how one act of kindness effects people exponetially (sp)? Radom acts of rudness has the same effect. Me, I try to be nice. I'm not always successful, but I don't go out of my way to be unsuccessful.

 

[OK!]

Pretty much the only reason I even carry my checkbook with me all the time is so I can write down debit purchases in the register. In the past 6 months, I've written 7 checks--6 were for rent and 1 was to a bead store one day when I forgot my debit card in a jeans pocket at home. It'll take me YEARS to go through them all.

 

[Aristocath]

I can't believe people still write checks at stores simply because of the identity theft issue. Nearly nine years ago I got my identity stolen and had a horrible time clearing my name. I never had my purse, wallet, or checkbook stolen either!

 

[denisenh]

My empathy lies with the workers who have to endure those who are own their own time with no consideration for others. I do get irritated when people do it, but I had never considered that a lot of people just never really considered filling out the information they are able to prior to the end of the transaction. So I did consider them after I posted my previous post and I don't have a huge issue with this. I'm sure I've done inconsiderate things without realizing it. But to purposely wait to tick people off behind you, that's just mean. Deliberate inconsideration, I have a problem with. Boy that "random acts of kindness" fad faded quickly. And as far as teaching people a lesson, that doesn't work. You really think those that are irritated behind you (you in general) are going to change their perspective of slow check writers because you are doing it on purpose?
I agree, huffy people behind you probably do have bigger problems. But it's a domino effect. Remember that Liberty Mutual commercial that shows how one act of kindness effects people exponetially (sp)? Radom acts of rudness has the same effect. Me, I try to be nice. I'm not always successful, but I don't go out of my way to be unsuccessful.

i am not sure about people that are slow in order to be mean. that is dumb. but here is a hug for you because i think that you are nice.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I can't believe people are complaining about the time it takes to write a check Must be a slow day today

Oh...there's been plenty worse things complained about on here


Anyways..yeah, I work retail, and when people pull out their checkbook (finally), we just know it's a bit longer transaction than the cash or credit/debit would have been.
We need to see ID. We need to copy DL#. We need phone number. Is everything on the front correct? Now, slide it through the check reader. Wait for approval.... All that was AFTER she took 3 minutes to fill it out. (Did I mention the total was $11.34)
Yeah, checks are the slowest method, and it's generally the elderly who use them because they are afraid of plastic.... So..it's a bit slower

 

[Rebelmom67]

Oh...there's been plenty worse things complained about on here


Anyways..yeah, I work retail, and when people pull out their checkbook (finally), we just know it's a bit longer transaction than the cash or credit/debit would have been.
We need to see ID. We need to copy DL#. We need phone number. Is everything on the front correct? Now, slide it through the check reader. Wait for approval.... All that was AFTER she took 3 minutes to fill it out. (Did I mention the total was $11.34)
Yeah, checks are the slowest method, and it's generally the elderly who use them because they are afraid of plastic.... So..it's a bit slower

I'm not elderly and not afraid to use plastic. Why would check out cashiers even CARE how we pay. What else do they have to do, but check out people? It isn't like you are paid extra for those lovely cash, cc and debit people...lol.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I'm not elderly and not afraid to use plastic. Why would check out cashiers even CARE how we pay. What else do they have to do, but check out people? It isn't like you are paid extra for those lovely cash, cc and debit people...lol.

LOL....they don't care. It's listening to the customers behind you complain after you've left!

 

[Rebelmom67]

LOL....they don't care. It's listening to the customers behind you complain after you've left!

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

 

[*Fantasia*]

It's kind of like the people who in Dunkin Donuts have to use debit or credit cards - have it run through the machine, punch in code, wait to pop out receipt, sign receipt.

Cash in hand, buy coffee - much quicker. (completely opposite of commercial).

That would be me holding my debit card getting my 12dz donuts! Have you guys tried their hash brown? Sooo good!