Who still writes checks?

[Liberty Belle]

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!

You spend $75 on your nails every month?!

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I forgot to mention before that I also only last year stopped writing checks to my cleaning lady. She cannot take credit cards and told us when she started 14 years ago that checks were fine. Last year we were talking and she told me she didn't have a bank account and was paying a $5 fee to cash the check! I had no idea. Now I make sure to stop at the ATM a day or two before she comes and give her cash.

 

[tvguy]

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.

This is why I do write checks....because we have had a rash of "lost data" incidents and skimmers being put on gas pumps and even bank ATM's. So the bad guys only get 3 things, your account number and your pin, and then your money. And you don't find out until you get your bank statement.

Do you have your Driver's License number printed on your checks? It's been illegal here in California for about 15 years to require a driver's license number or credit card number when paying by check. Maybe it's different in your state. Although in most states, your driver's license number is public information anyone can get from the DMV.

 

[Disney Doll]

I write checks to pay some billls & other miscellaneous things. Mostly we pay online now. I don't like debit cards. Had one once, someone got a hold of my number and cleaned out my bank account. The bank did replace it after I filed a fraud complaint and such, but it was a pain in the neck.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Funny you should ask.... we still write them occasionally, but I don't know many of my kid's generation (early to mid twenties) who even HAVE a checkbook. DD just started Disney's college program and despite the fact that she had the appropriate routing info, they would not do direct deposit without a blank check. Come ON, Disney, really?!?!? You expect these college kids to have blank checks???

 

[mhsjax]

This is why I do write checks....because we have had a rash of "lost data" incidents and skimmers being put on gas pumps and even bank ATM's. So the bad guys only get 3 things, your account number and your pin, and then your money. And you don't find out until you get your bank statement.

Do you have your Driver's License number printed on your checks? It's been illegal here in California for about 15 years to require a driver's license number or credit card number when paying by check. Maybe it's different in your state. Although in most states, your driver's license number is public information anyone can get from the DMV.

Yep this is how they got me, to the tune of $4000.00. Right before vacation. Luckily, my bank was wonderful and we got it all replaced with a few days. With a check, this wouldn't have happened. Sure they could have gotten my address, but this was a ring that was doing the purchasing down in Miami they weren't interested in where I lived, only my money in my acct.

 

[mhsjax]

Funny you should ask.... we still write them occasionally, but I don't know many of my kid's generation (early to mid twenties) who even HAVE a checkbook. DD just started Disney's college program and despite the fact that she had the appropriate routing info, they would not do direct deposit without a blank check. Come ON, Disney, really?!?!? You expect these college kids to have blank checks???

Why wouldn't they. When you open an acct, you order checks to go with that acct. No brainer to me.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Why wouldn't they. When you open an acct, you order checks to go with that acct. No brainer to me.

I don't know... I wasn't with her when she opened the account, so I don't know if she declined the checks. I never even thought about it, since she deals with her own stuff, ya know? Had I know Disney would ask, I certainly would have insisted she GET checks!

 

[Northstar]

Why wouldn't they. When you open an acct, you order checks to go with that acct. No brainer to me.

Don't laugh, but there's a strong chance that the poor kids never really caught on to the idea that checking account = checks, so they never ordered them.

Their thinking was along the lines of " a check? what's a check? Oh yeah, I've heard of those, but never had to use one in my life. What do people use them for? I guess I won't need any, and I don't know how to use them anyway, so why bother? "

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Don't laugh, but there's a strong chance that the poor kids never really caught on to the idea that checking account = checks, so they never ordered them.

Their thinking was along the lines of " a check? what's a check? Oh yeah, I've heard of those, but never had to use one in my life. What do people use them for? I guess I won't need any, and I don't know how to use them anyway, so why bother? "

This is exactly what I was thinking, too!

 

[mhsjax]

Don't laugh, but there's a strong chance that the poor kids never really caught on to the idea that checking account = checks, so they never ordered them.

Their thinking was along the lines of " a check? what's a check? Oh yeah, I've heard of those, but never had to use one in my life. What do people use them for? I guess I won't need any, and I don't know how to use them anyway, so why bother? "

Made me think of when my kids were little and they asked for something, I told them that I didn't have any money, they would just tell me to go and get that card thingy, and put it the money machine. lol. I know, not the same thing, but it did remind me of that time.

 

[KikiFan]

Check is still the easiest way to pay the landlord!

 

[Northstar]

Made me think of when my kids were little and they asked for something, I told them that I didn't have any money, they would just tell me to go and get that card thingy, and put it the money machine. lol. I know, not the same thing, but it did remind me of that time.

Here's a version of not-quite-clear-on-the-concept from back when checks were part of adult life, famous in my family:
SIL's roommate in her first apartment, first time away from home in the adult world, got a letter from her bank soon after opening a checking account. She looked up bewildered and said, "But I can't be overdrawn! I still have checks left!"

 

[kmedina]

Made me think of when my kids were little and they asked for something, I told them that I didn't have any money, they would just tell me to go and get that card thingy, and put it the money machine. lol. I know, not the same thing, but it did remind me of that time.

Mine still does that now. Out of the mouths of babes. The world is so simple to them. When I tell him the machine will not give me anymore cash, he says, get Daddy's card then. Oh, to be 4 again.

 

[ilovemk76]

I only write checks for bills that I cannot pay online.

 

[TiggerTails57]

Usually the little old lady at the checkout in front of me!!

 

[Nolcrest]

I will write checks. I do use a debit card too and do online banking when I can but honestly, my debit/credit card has been compromised and my account never was when only writing checks.

Honestly, my kids who never write checks rarely know the balance in their accounts and I always know to the penny.

I'm not crazy about all the technology but I try to at least keep up w/the current century.

 

[Kirby]

My mom, who is 79, does not have a computer nor wants one. She writes checks to pay her bills and uses her credit card for store purchases.

I write checks to pay my bills from home and use my debit/credit card for store purchases. I rarely use my card for debit, always use it for credit unless I'm at Costco and I have to use my debit. I also have a separate credit card that I use for trips and large purchases. I pay for a lot of things with cash because I spend less that way. Something about physically seeing the cash leave my hands makes me more aware of what I am spending.

I stopped paying my bills online when my bank began charging me $10 a month for the convenience. I will not let do automatic draft because we are self employed and sometimes the money is not there on the day it is needed. I also do not like another company having the ability to draw money out of my account but that is my preference. If someone else wants to do it, that's fine by me.

I pay for my groceries with cash. And I also use recyclable bags.

Believe it or not, there are still businesses that will only accept cash or checks. Especially in rural areas.

My kids in college totally use debit. They write a check occasionally. They don't carry cash and have regretted it a time or two. I always tell them to carry $10 - $20 in their wallet for emergencies.

 

[mhsjax]

My mom, who is 79, does not have a computer nor wants one. She writes checks to pay her bills and uses her credit card for store purchases.

I write checks to pay my bills from home and use my debit/credit card for store purchases. I rarely use my card for debit, always use it for credit unless I'm at Costco and I have to use my debit. I also have a separate credit card that I use for trips and large purchases. I pay for a lot of things with cash because I spend less that way. Something about physically seeing the cash leave my hands makes me more aware of what I am spending.

I stopped paying my bills online when my bank began charging me $10 a month for the convenience. I will not let do automatic draft because we are self employed and sometimes the money is not there on the day it is needed. I also do not like another company having the ability to draw money out of my account but that is my preference. If someone else wants to do it, that's fine by me.

I pay for my groceries with cash. And I also use recyclable bags.

Believe it or not, there are still businesses that will only accept cash or checks. Especially in rural areas.

My kids in college use totally use debit. They write a check occasionally. They don't carry cash and have regretted it a time or two. I always tell them to carry $10 - $20 in there wallet for emergencies.

We get paid exactly when we are supposed to, alway have aways will but I agree with you, there is no way in hell I would give a company access to my checking acct, that just isn't going to happen no way no how. NEVER NEVER NEVER.