Where do you buy your checks?

[Poohforyou]

I didn't know people used checks anymore! Lol! Seriously though out of curiosity what does one use checks for now days? Everything is done electronically now that I know of.

Any bill you pay electronically can be paid via mail with a check.

 

[clh2]

my hair person only accepts checks or cash. I never have “that much” cash on hand, so I pay her with a check.

 

[dish rag]

Oh I believe you, it just doesn't make sense to me why this day in age a business would not except debit or credit. Seems like a poor business move on their part.

I receive checks every day in my business. Very very few cc's. When I do I add for it. I receive so few cc's I'm considering dropping my merchant service. In fact I'll only accept a cc for payments over $500. And then I'll charge 5%.

 

[CT Yankee]

Oh I believe you, it just doesn't make sense to me why this day in age a business would not except debit or credit. Seems like a poor business move on their part.

Credit card companies charge a processing fee (a percentage of the amount sale), so some of that money is already gone before the business owner even sees it. Some services like Square have pretty reasonable fees, but that's still part of the sale that has to go toward paying the processing fee. Many businesses will just factor that cost into the price of the item or service, but for some businesses, especially ones in markets that are very competitive, they can't really raise their prices to accommodate for that. As a small business owner myself, I can tell you that every penny counts and finding the right balance between what is profitable and what your customers are willing to pay for your product is probably one of the biggest challenges I have encountered so far. Of course, you want to offer the convenience of credit card payments to your customers, but for some businesses, it's just not worth it.

 

[tvguy]

I receive checks every day in my business. Very very few cc's. When I do I add for it. I receive so few cc's I'm considering dropping my merchant service. In fact I'll only accept a cc for payments over $500. And then I'll charge 5%.

Just back from dinner at a local Sushi place. Big hand written sign. "$1 fee on all credit card/debit card purchases under $20".

 

[dish rag]

Just back from dinner at a local Sushi place. Big hand written sign. "$1 fee on all credit card/debit card purchases under $20".

I don't blame them. They have to. It's probably not enough.

 

[Southernmiss]

I still write about 3 checks a month and balance my bank statement to the penny every month.

Checks are for church and kid activity fees. Or contractors for work at the house. All bills are electronic drafted.

We do offer electronic tithing at our church, but a percentage is taken out for processing fees. I'd rather all my $ go to the church than processing fees.

I buy my checks through Wal-Mart.

 

[Skippy918]

For us it's the daycare and the kids lunch accounts. I can use a credit card online, but I refuse to pay the 3% fee.

 

[Kaytie]

Just back from dinner at a local Sushi place. Big hand written sign. "$1 fee on all credit card/debit card purchases under $20".

Most likely, they are violating the Merchant Agreement by doing this. Merchants can offer a discount for paying by cash/check, but not charge more than the indicated price for credit card payments.

OP - over the years I have ordered checks directly through the bank; from Current (currentcatalog.com); Checks Unlimited and similar companies; VistaPrint.com; and most recently, Wal-Mart. Any of the companies should be less expensive than your bank, unless you qualify for free checks.

 

[ashley0139]

I didn't know people used checks anymore! Lol! Seriously though out of curiosity what does one use checks for now days? Everything is done electronically now that I know of.

I write exactly one check a month, for rent. It's a smaller management company so they don't take online payment. The only way to pay rent is through checks. I am still using checks that I got when I opened my account about 6 years ago 3000 miles away from where I live now (and they still have that address).

Just back from dinner at a local Sushi place. Big hand written sign. "$1 fee on all credit card/debit card purchases under $20".

Um, okay? They still take cards. This is a common (although not completely kosher) thing. At least you have the option. Either spend $20 or pay in cash. My guess is they're not looking for checks in that scenario.

 

[tvguy]

Most likely, they are violating the Merchant Agreement by doing this. Merchants can offer a discount for paying by cash/check, but not charge more than the indicated price for credit card payments..

I think a service charge if you don't make a minimum purchase for a credit card transaction is permitted.

 

[tvguy]

. My guess is they're not looking for checks in that scenario.

You know, I'm 60 and I can't recall any restaurant ever taking checks. Or course a lot didn't take credit cards when I was a young adult. And there were a lot that only took Diner's Club credit card. Not sure that card is even still around.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I still write about 3 checks a month and balance my bank statement to the penny every month.

I think the last time I balanced a cheque book was the mid 90s. It's been well over 20 years.

 

[Alicenwonderment]

Well I don't write many cheques but it seems that the state likes to take cheques and requires them for background checks and finger printing. (working in the schools) I also use cheques for car registration and teaching license. Perhaps my state is just slow to go digital. When I lived in apt I used a check for that. I usually have college loans, health insurance, car insurance, and dental taken out of my checking monthly.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I get them for free (because I work for a bank) but I like never use them. The last time I ordered checks (which was a long time ago), I got them from one of those newspaper inserts. It was like $6 for more than I would ever need.

 

[winterman]

I get my checks from Walmart.com. I use them to pay the guy who plows my driveway, the weekly church collection (which I could pay on-line but choose not to), the guy who pumped my septic last week, gifts, and the town government for car registration and property taxes. The latter I could put on a credit card for a fee.

 

[aprilgail]

I don't buy them. My bank (Wells Fargo) provides them for free. I switched banks back in 1975 when my then bank wanted to start charging for checks, plus a monthly fee, plus charge for a safe deposit box. I expect all those services to be free.
I write very few checks anymore. But I prefer small local businesses, and at least here, more are not taking credit or debit cards anymore. They were getting killed by the fees that were being charged to pay us all that rewards money. Somebody has to come up with that 3% you're getting back. But they still take checks.

Those are places I would never ever shop at- I do not carry cash at all. If I think I will need cash for something I will go to the ATM but I am not doing that simply because someone chooses not to take credit/debit

I have posted this before but I tried to pay my property taxes by credit card last year, and there is a service charge if you use a credit card. If you use an e-check there is a service charge too.
There is no charge for a paper check, so that is what they got. Their FAQs say paper checks are "far less expensive and more efficient".
http://www.finance.saccounty.net/Tax/Pages/FAQ.aspx#WhydoIhavetopay

I don't have enough in my checking account ever to pay property taxes so once a year I go to the other bank where tax money is and they give a cashiers check for the tax amount. I don't pay in the 2 payments a year you can simply because I don't want to have to go there and do that twice a year- taxes are over 10,000 a year so I never have that much in my checking account.

Had that happen to a coworker of mine also. I will *never* leave my checks in the mailbox now to await the postman. Always take them to a box to be mailed.

I will NEVER leave my mail in a mailbox on the street. They tend to disappear from in those things. The other day coming home from work there was someone right out on a main road trying to fish mail out of one of those- they are just not safe enough. If I have to mail something I will swing past the post office and bring it in there or else hand it directly to the mail carrier at my house or office.

The last checks I bought were in the 1990's and still have 2 books of those left- in fact I have to cross out the pre-printed "19" on my checks-they printed the date like " 19_ _ " so I need to cross out the 19 and write 2017 on them!

The schools stopped taking checks a few years ago and require a money order for things I would normally write a check for- AP tests, Drivers Ed, Fundraisers etc. and since my daughter is in college now no need to even write out a check for that-they do electronic transfers to pay tuition. Weddings I usually give cash for along with any other parties we go to but if I am mailing a gift I will write a check.

 

[tvguy]

.

Those are places I would never ever shop at- I do not carry cash at all. If I think I will need cash for something I will go to the ATM but I am not doing that simply because someone chooses not to take credit/debit

Like I posted earlier, ESPECIALLY with the bakery, the products are sooooo good, you WOULD make sure you had cash.


I don't have enough in my checking account ever to pay property taxes so once a year I go to the other bank where tax money is and they give a cashiers check for the tax amount. I don't pay in the 2 payments a year you can simply because I don't want to have to go there and do that twice a year- taxes are over 10,000 a year so I never have that much in my checking account.

I handle all transfers online or on the phone. My credit union only needs about 10 minutes to transfer money to my bank. My bank, of course, the money is moved instantly.



I will NEVER leave my mail in a mailbox on the street. They tend to disappear from in those things. The other day coming home from work there was someone right out on a main road trying to fish mail out of one of those- they are just not safe enough. If I have to mail something I will swing past the post office and bring it in there or else hand it directly to the mail carrier at my house or office.

The last checks I bought were in the 1990's and still have 2 books of those left- in fact I have to cross out the pre-printed "19" on my checks-they printed the date like " 19_ _ " so I need to cross out the 19 and write 2017 on them!

The schools stopped taking checks a few years ago and require a money order for things I would normally write a check for- AP tests, Drivers Ed, Fundraisers etc. and since my daughter is in college now no need to even write out a check for that-they do electronic transfers to pay tuition. Weddings I usually give cash for along with any other parties we go to but if I am mailing a gift I will write a check.

My daughter's college got in some dispute with banks over transfer fees, so they were check (personal/cashiers/money order) or cash only. But DD graduated 2 years ago, so that could have changed.

 

[Imzadi]

I didn't know people used checks anymore! Lol! Seriously though out of curiosity what does one use checks for now days? Everything is done electronically now that I know of.

I had to get a new credit card to rent a car. They won't take debit cards for reservations. I hadn't gotten around to setting up my online account for the credit card to pay that bill as I have to think up a new username & password. When the bill arrived in the mail I tore off the bottom stub and went into the bank to pay. They are so unused to receiving payments like this over the counter, instead of people doing it electronically over the Internet, that they kept asking me, "You're paying for your credit card?"

 

[lsyorke]

Most likely, they are violating the Merchant Agreement by doing this. Merchants can offer a discount for paying by cash/check, but not charge more than the indicated price for credit card payments.

Not fully accurate. Some states do not allow surcharges, others do. Just yesterday doing a down payment for a wedding in NJ there would have been a 3% surcharge for using a credit card....quite legal. The rules changed(in some states) back in 2013.
This isn't anything new here:
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/01/27/credit-card-checkout-fees-begin-in-new-jersey/
http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2013/02/credit_card.html