Who still writes checks?

[apirateslifeforme]

Never in a store, but I've been writing lots of checks for wedding services lately! None of our vendors accept credit cards - I can see the minister, DJ, and photographer, who are self-employed, but the venue will only accept personal or cashier's checks for payment. I'm having my dress fitted next week, and that lady only accepts cash, personal/cashier's check or money order.

 

[mtemm]

I don't have a debit card, no interest in one. I either write checks or use my amex for pretty much everything (or pay online), although mostly use my amex if possible since I love my reward points.

 

[Mermaid02]

Just curious. I work retail and am amazed at how many people still write checks for purchases. Why not a debit card?

Because I am very bad at saving/finding my receipts. The duplicate check in my checkbook is right there and it's much easier to balance and keep track.

 

[Kimberly]

The only time I really write checks is to pay for things when I'm here. When I'm back in the US though, very few people will accept an international check, so I'll use my debit card or amex.

 

[furb & dez]

I only write checks for my Other Half, since we have separate accounts. I take checks all the time from gigs/my students, though.

I think this box of checks has lasted four years.

 

[Planogirl]

I only write checks for gifts and memberships and the one loan we have where the company doesn't accept credit cards or debit cards nor do they have online banking. This one is almost paid off so that'll be it!

As for keeping track, I check our balances and activity almost daily. DH thinks that I overdo it but I caught some fraudulent activity right as it was happening by doing this. I keep a handwritten ledger of sorts and hang onto receipts until I can update it. Then I call the automated lines to track the activity.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I only write checks for things like fees for the kids things and one-time payments that I can't do on-line or if they charge me extra like our property taxes.

I don't mind when people write checks in stores if they are ready. Its when they wait until their order is rung up to start to search in their purse for their checkbook, then they have to search for a pen, then ask what the date is, how much the order was and then write the check. Then they stand and do the math. If you already have your check written and just need to fill-in the amount, doing a check is no big deal. But that very rarely seems to be the case.

We pay most bills on-line, but every month there's some non-recurring fee or fundraiser or other that we write a check for.

Until recently I was still writing checks at Costco because they don't take Visa and our debit card will not work for retail transactions. I always had the check out and signed, then they'd run it through the register to print the payee and amount, so I didn't take forever with it! Finally got an AmEx card though, so I am now using that at Costco.

 

[Northstar]

Because I am very bad at saving/finding my receipts. The duplicate check in my checkbook is right there and it's much easier to balance and keep track.

Mermaid02 - do you mean you still have checks with carbon paper underneath, that make an automatic copy? Those haven't been available from my bank for years. Heck, my bank even charges extra to send me the cancelled cheques... they just scan them and make the images available online.

I can see that the banks really, really want to do away with paper cheques. They don't even check the signatures anymore... you could sign Mickey Mouse on your cheque and it would still go through.

 

[Mermaid02]

Mermaid02 - do you mean you still have checks with carbon paper underneath, that make an automatic copy? Those haven't been available from my bank for years. Heck, my bank even charges extra to send me the cancelled cheques... they just scan them and make the images available online.

I can see that the banks really, really want to do away with paper cheques. They don't even check the signatures anymore... you could sign Mickey Mouse on your cheque and it would still go through.

Yep- that's what I have... we are very backwoods here in Maine... The image of my check is available on my online banking- after the check has processed of course.

 

[kathie859]

I use my debit card often. The transaction shows immediately online. I have a good idea of my checking account balance and reconcile my transactions, if not every day, at least every 2-3 days. The online bill payment option is free and cheaper than spending money for stamps. Plus it's easy to see where your money is going and allows you to make budget adjustments if warranted.

The only checks I write are to the odd vendor or tradesman who prefers cash or check. Oh, and our county taxes are paid via check (once a year). I use a credit card for online transactions for security reasons but don't allow the balance to revolve so I pay no interest.

I find online banking infinitely more convenient (no running around for stamps, or managing payment due dates and the ease of seeing your spending patterns). I can't fathom going back to paper checks or statements

 

[HonnyDipp]

I use them every now and then mostly for my kids school's like picture day, field trips, lunches and class dues. Everything else I use my debit or credit card.

 

[prncess674]

We thought about using a manual check register, but that didn't really present any advantages over just using a check in the first place, other than about 30 seconds of time to write the check.

I'm impressed by the speed of your banks on-line account tracking though. On the occasions we've tracked one of the electronic check transactions, we've had up to a 48 hour lag between a transaction and it showing up on our account. I could set up a spread sheet at home (Lotus 1.2.3 monkey here!) and get results faster than our bank.

What we'd go for is something like a manual register, but on my Droid. (And Mrs. Tex doesn't have a smart phone, so she couldn't use it if she were by herself.) So far, I haven't seen anything that fills the bill. Still looking though, because I actually hate writing checks. (Any suggestions would be welcome, though!)
Sorry to get the thread off-track! I'll be good, now.

It does take longer when you present a paper check at the grocery. The cashier then needs to see your ID, they generally make notations on the check in pen. I don't understand why you can't switch to a debit card. Just put the DC inside your paper check register if you are so anal and need to write down every transaction as soon as it occurs. Another option is to go to a monthly envelope system. Put the beginning balance at the top then just subtract the DC transaction from the number and place the receipt inside the envelope. I guess I am more advanced and keep a receipt envelope in my purse then on the weekend I enter all the amounts in budget spreadsheet.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

The only time I use checks is to transfer money into an account of mine a few times a year. It might be possible to do it electronically but I have yet to figure out how to do it.

I use either a CC or online bill pay for everything else.

 

[Mermaid02]

It does take longer when you present a paper check at the grocery. The cashier then needs to see your ID, they generally make notations on the check in pen. I don't understand why you can't switch to a debit card. Just put the DC inside your paper check register if you are so anal and need to write down every transaction as soon as it occurs. Another option is to go to a monthly envelope system. Put the beginning balance at the top then just subtract the DC transaction from the number and place the receipt inside the envelope. I guess I am more advanced and keep a receipt envelope in my purse then on the weekend I enter all the amounts in budget spreadsheet.

Definitely- you are definitely more advanced than the rest of us.

 

[ShuisFan584]

I would never write a check at a store for a purchase...that would be kind of weird to me.

I only write checks at the doctors office and for bills basically.

 

[mickeysgal]

About the only checks we write these days are to the kids' school or for their various activities. All of our bills are either paid on line or automatically taken out of our checking account.

Same here. Last month I wrote exactly two checks...one for our trash collection (which just turned on automatic draft processing - yeah!) and one to my brother to reimburse him for something. I no longer even carry our checkbook in my purse. No need. I download all banking information to my budget software.

 

[Mermaid02]

If you have so little self control and run your balance so close to the overdraft line that you can only keep track by immediately needing to record a check in a paper register and hold up a line of people in the grocery you probably don't have very good math skills. I keep track of my finanaces online and before going out I check my balance in my electronic register at home and know about how much is there. I don't hold up a line of people while on a shopping trip by painfully writing a check and then writing in an ancient check register. Hold onto your debit receipts and subtract them when you get home rather than being selfish by holding up everyone else.

This is one of the most condescending- snooty- self righteous posts I have ever read on these boards... According to the poll- about 80% of folks on this board still write checks for some transactions- and you're more "advanced" than all of them- congratulations.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

not in stores.

mostly to send to school, but also for craft fairs and such where not everyone takes credit cards. Also, for magazine subscriptions for some reason. I guess so I have a paper trail to show what I paid for when - I am horrible at keeping track.

 

[prncess674]

This is one of the most condescending- snooty- self righteous posts I have ever read on these boards... According to the poll- about 80% of folks on this board still write checks for some transactions- and you're more "advanced" than all of them- congratulations.

Just because someone writes a check or two a month to organizations the don't accept debits doesn't mean everyone here holds up the line at the grocery so they can record a transaction in the grocery line. The OP that I quoted was saying that he couldn't stop writing checks because he couldn't figure out how to immediately record debit transactions.

If you are going to quote the poll, as of this post only THREE people admitted to only using checks and refusing to use debit. I would hardly call that 80%.

 

[canopynut66]

Just curious. I work retail and am amazed at how many people still write checks for purchases. Why not a debit card?

Dread the thought of having to write checks again for each retail purchase but I will once my bank starts charging monthly fee to use my debit card some banks already have started with the fee so figure is just a matter of time before all do