Community Chat

[Tinkrbl44]

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@gidgetgh wrote:

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@Sage04 wrote:

Didn't believe that people still paid by check. I once had a storage unit that charged $4.50 to pay by Card. I went to my Bank and bought 6 checks and used them for the Storage. I dropped a check each month through the slot in their office. Left them after that.

All my bills are deducted automatically every month. Couldn't be easier.

Some people don't trust Zelle but I do. Never had a problem. My entire family is happy with Zelle and that's the way we transfer money to each other.

Yes we have Paypal, Cashapp and everything else but our go to is Zelle.

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@Sage04 -

you don't believe that people still pay by check?  Well, I do, so you can believe it.  And I can't believe I am the only person in the entire country who still has checks and uses them.  It's not some big superior thing to NOT pay by check. It's a choice.

And I choose not to use Zelle.  I have read not so good things about Zelle, too risky, but, of course, if you feel comfortable with it, that's your choice.  

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@gidgetgh   @Sage04 

Uh ....   No one is saying you aren't allowed to pay by check these days. 

However, after reading all these thread comments you should realize that paying by check is a LOT less safe than it used to be. 

If you are okay with the increased risk in doing so, go for it.   But don't say you weren't warned about the problems you can encounter.

[Ladygray]

If I send a check in the mail, I only mail it inside the post office.   I would never use a box that sits on a corner somewhere.   I'm surprised with all the cameras at post offices that the boxes at the post office outside were tampered with, that's quite brazen.

[Ladygray]

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@proudlyfromNJ wrote:

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@Spurt wrote:

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@Isobel Archer wrote:

We sent a birthday card containing a check  - deposited in a mail box outside the post office - on Sun Apr 3.  On Monday Apr 4, the check was altered (different payee and with a significant increase in amount) and cashed.

We reported this to the bank, the Postal Investigative Service and to the local police.

I read an article where theft from mail boxes is increasing at an alarming rate.  Apparently, it is safer to mail inside the post office.

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@Isobel Archer 

And this is an issue that doesn't just happen at mailboxes outside the Post Office....back in the good ole days people had invidiual mailboxes in front of their homes, but then they started these banks of COMMUNITY MAILBOXES in subdivisions, condos, and apartments and they are always being broken into....The Police Department includes a notice in our Neighborhood Newsletter advising everyone to pick up their mail in a timely manner when there's been an incident of mail theft in the area.....and it seems to happen more and more frequently.....

Ours was broken into last year and we had to pick up our mail at the Post Office until the Community Mailbox was repaired and when I went to get my mail there was a long line of people from other subdivisions that had also experienced a break in.....its become a major problem...😫

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@Spurt  Around here everyone has individual mailboxes at the bottom of their driveway. Mailman drives his truck and delivers the mail. If the flag is up he takes the mail with him back to the PO. I don't think I'll let my husband do that anymore though.

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There are few of those home mail boxes around my neighborhood where the mail is just left in them.  That is so dangerous.  Anyone can take your mail.  I can't believe the post office who brings mail to those boxes hasn't changed that system and made the HOA's add locked boxes.   We're not living in the 50's anymore.  

[Gorgf]

These reports are interesting. @Isobel Archer thank you.  I am fortunate to have a Supermarket with a inside Postal Station at their courtesy counter. Our USPS office. has a lot of steps and parking can be a problem. It is a great service.  I go there only if have a large box as don't want the store to have to deal with it.They really like the pre paid labels. There is an inside the store regulation mailbox. The store locks up at 10 p.m

There is an outside  P.O. mail box at Wal-Mart that probably not be as safe. The S.A. kettle chain was cut and stolen a few years ago.

I had a check stolen in a C.C. payment 25 yrs. ago as put mail out the night before in my rural box.  Taught me a lesson. This was before on line payments. That was kids looking for cash but now it has become rampant from what I have read here! Unfortunately like a lot of crime these days, hard to track down and prosecute?

[PatriciaG]

@Linda0215 @Isobel Archer  - The person who did it is long gone.  They do not commit fraud and then sit around waiting for the bank to deduct the funds to send back to your account.  The check could also have been cashed at a checkcashing store.

[PatriciaG]

@Tinkrbl44 - the fraudsters alter the checks to a fraudulent name by washing the checks.  They would have fake identification in the fraudulent name. They would not be using their real name.

[chrystaltree]

That check thing has been well known for at least 20 years.  They been telling people that if absolutely must mail a check, don't drop it in a mailbox.  Take it into the post office.  Also don't tuck a check into a greeting card.  That's like announcing "check inside".  

[PatriciaG]

@deepwaterdotter - much safer and more efficient to use the providers website.  Anything going in the mail is subject to getting stolen or lost. I don't think that its just outside mailboxes as I'm sure not all post office employees are honest.

[PatriciaG]

@Ladygray  - Do you believe that everyone working at the post office is honest.  Also, anyone   who touches your check has your account number, your name and address, and your signature.  (including the person who opens the mail where you are sending the check to)  Quite easy for someone to go online and buy checks with your account info.

[Sage04]

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@Ladygray wrote:

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@proudlyfromNJ wrote:

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@Spurt wrote:

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@Isobel Archer wrote:

We sent a birthday card containing a check  - deposited in a mail box outside the post office - on Sun Apr 3.  On Monday Apr 4, the check was altered (different payee and with a significant increase in amount) and cashed.

We reported this to the bank, the Postal Investigative Service and to the local police.

I read an article where theft from mail boxes is increasing at an alarming rate.  Apparently, it is safer to mail inside the post office.

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@Isobel Archer 

And this is an issue that doesn't just happen at mailboxes outside the Post Office....back in the good ole days people had invidiual mailboxes in front of their homes, but then they started these banks of COMMUNITY MAILBOXES in subdivisions, condos, and apartments and they are always being broken into....The Police Department includes a notice in our Neighborhood Newsletter advising everyone to pick up their mail in a timely manner when there's been an incident of mail theft in the area.....and it seems to happen more and more frequently.....

Ours was broken into last year and we had to pick up our mail at the Post Office until the Community Mailbox was repaired and when I went to get my mail there was a long line of people from other subdivisions that had also experienced a break in.....its become a major problem...😫

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@Spurt  Around here everyone has individual mailboxes at the bottom of their driveway. Mailman drives his truck and delivers the mail. If the flag is up he takes the mail with him back to the PO. I don't think I'll let my husband do that anymore though.

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There are few of those home mail boxes around my neighborhood where the mail is just left in them.  That is so dangerous.  Anyone can take your mail.  I can't believe the post office who brings mail to those boxes hasn't changed that system and made the HOA's add locked boxes.   We're not living in the 50's anymore.  

@Ladygray  not every subdivision has an HOA. Some don't.  Some houses also have the mailbox on the wall out side the front door.

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