Who still writes checks?

[goofinoff]

Because it is a valid method of payment.

I don't hardly ever write checks--but if I need to, I will. Like one time, I left my phone at home and my debit account did not have enough money. We keep funds separate and I transfer in as needed. No phone and forgot to do that--checkbook worked just fine.


I kind of don't get why folks get upset with how folks pay for stuff by legal means.

Not upset, just curious. I really don't care how people that I wait on pay...as long as they keep buying!

Doesn't bother me! Keeps me employed!

 

[njmom47]

I write only a couple of checks every month. But I work for a company with stores in many towns in NJ and deal with deposits on a daily basis. I have noticed the more workingclass/bluecollar towns write more checks (and use more cash) than stores in wealthier or poorer areas.....as general rule. In the most wealthy area stores, almost 50% of customers use credit cards!

Our school system has an online way to pay for school lunches. Yes it has a fee, but to me, it's worth it for the mornings where there is no time to make lunch. Also our monthly maintenance fee can be autodeducted frrom my checking acct but it would be on the 1st of the month, and sometimes that does not coordinate with my payday so I send a check...which I have until the 10th of the month to pay.

 

[DisneyScraps]

I write 2 checks usually a month, one for my daughter tuition is't a small school so they don't do any e banking sadly. I also usually write one for my nails because I always forget to take out 60.00 to have them done. Before anyone goes nuts they are LCN nails....worth EVERY penny and I tip her 15.00!

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

While I still pay most of my bills by check, I never write one in a store. It takes too long, is a pain and the money comes out of my checking account either way, so why bother with paper checks and carrying a checkbook around? My mom (73) finally stopped writing checks about 2 years ago.

I know I'm in for a long wait in the grocery store when I get behind someone who uses reusable bags and writes a check. It's always 65+ yr old women too. Both take so much longer.

I don't think I've seen a man write a check in forever and most under 50 do everything on line or with debit/credit.

Humph! As a 65-year-old woman who uses reusable bags (as well as coupons!) at the grocery store, and who always pays with a check (don't own a debit card) I AM OFFENDED!

 

[StarLight StarBright]

I have had to use checks for about the last two weeks after my debit card number was compromised. I had to cancel my card and while waiting for my new one to come, I had to use checks....everywhere. I felt like I had to explain myself everytime I felt the cashier was giving me "the look".
"My debit card number was stolen, I haven't written a check in forever, sorry" My daughter asked me why I kept saying that to everyone....I don't know why, It made me feel like an old lady I was so happy to see my new debit card come in the mail!

 

[Pinkpony]

Only for those few places that I can't pay online or with a card. And they are businesses that we can't do without (i.e., worker's comp insurance, general liability insurance) while running a small business. Otherwise, I'd burn my checks and roast marshmallows over their charred remains.

 

[midge3426]

I prefer the ease of debit cards, but I cannot keep up with my spending so I use checks. In the coming months, a lot of banks are going to start charging their customers everytime they use their debit cards, except at the bank's ATM.

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

I write only a couple of checks every month. But I work for a company with stores in many towns in NJ and deal with deposits on a daily basis. I have noticed the more workingclass/bluecollar towns write more checks (and use more cash) than stores in wealthier or poorer areas.....as general rule. In the most wealthy area stores, almost 50% of customers use credit cards!

I have found this to be very true. My DW and I own a bunch of franchise restaurants as investments and they are in multiple cities spanning multiple socioeconomic classes ranging from very upper class to upper lower class. In our "wealthy town" stores, credit cards approach 80% of total sales. In our more blue-collar stores, cash or checks accounts for over 80% of total sales (so a complete reversal).

I also think it's interesting to note that of the handful of dishonored checks we have ever received, every single one came from the two stores in our "wealthiest" two cities. We have never had a check bounce in any of the middle class and blue collar stores.

Personally, I don't write checks or use a debit card. We use credit cards or cash for pretty much everything and use online banking for the rest. I have a debit card, but have never used it. I carry a few checks with me, in case of emergency, but likewise almost never use them (I think I've written 2 or 3 in the last five years). Since online banking sometimes needs to cut a check, however, I probably wrote more "checks" than debit card payments.

 

[kathie859]

I prefer the ease of debit cards, but I cannot keep up with my spending so I use checks. In the coming months, a lot of banks are going to start charging their customers everytime they use their debit cards, except at the bank's ATM.

Time to find a new bank!

 

[LuLuO]

I only write checks for my kids' tuition and the occasional school related fundraiser or for a wedding gift. It took me three years to go through my last order of checks and I expect that my current box will last at least four years if not longer.

 

[Aisling]

I only write checks for my kids' tuition and the occasional school related fundraiser or for a wedding gift. It took me three years to go through my last order of checks and I expect that my current box will last at least four years if not longer.

Same here.

 

[MenchieMan87]

Last time I ordered checks I sprung for the nice Disney ones. They have , , or , and the only people who see them are bill collectors!

 

[kmedina]

Was getting cash rewards every time I used my M/C debit card up until 09-01-11 when the bank cancelled the benefit. Now, I am going to use checks for everything. Just kidding! I do have a checkbook and once in a while I actually use it. Used it most recently to pay for my son's school lunches and just before that to order passports for my boys. The catering company (school lunches) actually cashed the check. Most places like the US State Department put in in as an ACH debit.

His school does an ACH deposit for his tuition and only takes checks with the applications for next year. When the uniform store is onsite, they will only take checks too.

 

[MrsDuck]

I rarely write a check. Typically it's just for miscellaneous bills that I don't have setup for automatic pay. Or doctor co-pays.

This. The majority of the time, though, we use our debit card.

 

[miralys]

I use checks to pay the mortgage because I like the paper trail. That's about the only thing I use checks for.

 

[cassandrap83]

When you write a check, all your info is out there.

Name, address, phone number, drivers license number, account number....

If a criminal got a hold of one of my checks, I'd be much more concerned.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I write checks mostly for school things for my kids. Actually, I think that's all I've written a check for lately (past year). I used to write checks for pizza delivery, but they've stopped accepting them (everyones, not just mine ).

Most of my bills are paid online and the ones (maybe two?) that aren't, I pay with debit card.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I guess we're luddites. We use checks to avoid using our credit card and store cards whenever possible. We'd use a debit card but nobody has come up with a good and convenient way to keep track of them that works as well as the ledger in a checkbook. As soon as that happens, we'll probably cut way back on check use.

We do love the electronic check handling though, where you get your check back on the spot.

Couldn't you use your debit card and then record it in your checkbook ledger?

 

[MichelleVW]

I use checks to pay the mortgage because I like the paper trail. That's about the only thing I use checks for.

I'm afraid it would get lost in the mail. I've had that happen, but I've never had the online paper trail fail me.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Some of us have the ability to bundle like things together, rather than having to take out the check register, write out a check, then record such check and hold up those behind us. Apparently you don't have the self control to know when you have spent all your money. I don't run my checking account so close to the line that one check to the grocery is going to send me into overdraft. I prefer to set aside time for banking when it is convenient and balance my checkbook then, rather than wasting the time of those behind me recording my check like a granny in 1942.

Debit credit cards are major advancement. Perhaps we should go back to 1942, where there are no ATMs, no online statements and no debit cards. What most people fail to realize is bank tellers are expensive to use and we as Americans have become accustomed to free checking and the "cost" of free checking is they expect customers to use cheaper ways of banking.

You're quite amazing.