Community Chat

[Stray]

Just estimated taxes, IRS, local real estate tax & my nail salon every 2 weeks.

Bills all auto pay or thru my back

[Tinkrbl44]

Rather than try to explain it myself, below is an article that does so very well.  No link, but easy to search it.

Go to betterreport dot com for full article.  

You Need to Stop Writing Checks — Here’s Why

Writing physical checks is clunky and inconvenient at best — and can be dangerous at worst. What used to be an easy way to pay bills and send birthday gifts is now a potential gold mine for scammers and thieves to steal information. Despite the steep decline in check usage, thousands of check fraud cases are reported annually. But there are several ways to protect yourself — and your bank account — from financial fraud. And the best way to start is to stop writing checks altogether. 

[Bookplate]

I have to pay two insurance companies by paper check, because I learned, the hard way, that their staff are too freaking stupid to understand how to appropriately credit electronic payments, even when the account numbers are provided.  

I pay the occasional health provider copay by check if I think its unlikely I will be doing business with them again.

And some charitable donations.

[wilma]

We write several checks monthly for bills, home and car repairs, church and charitable contributions, gifts to family, etc. If a business charges extra for using a credit card, we always write a check. We use gel pens to prevent check washing and take all our bills inside a post office for mailing. Nothing is 100% safe anymore. 

Have a Great Day! 

[cody2]

I was in our post office a while back and when I paid she looked at me and said...I think you and I are the only ones in this town that still use checks, lol. So yes. Still do and will until they pry that checkbook out of my cold, dead hands.

[HLP]

---

@Kachina624 wrote:

I hear Target will discontinue accepting checks and experts predict it won't be long until they entirely disappear.

I dont write many but sometimes its necessary.  For instance, last week I had a "yard man" and his crew come clean up my front yard.  The only way I could pay him was by check. 

I've used auto bill pay since the mid 90s when I got my first computer and bless it every month when I don't have to sit down and pay bills.  I've saved a bundle in postage with never a bobble.

I know there are many people who can't use computer devices so I think they should keep check writing capability. 

What do you think?

---

I write checks for everything, don't trust computers to pay anything. 

[shoekitty]

@Kachina624   Our water and sewer charges anyway I am set up with automatic payments.  I use my checking acct which is only a dollar. But idk I use a bank card, even atm it is 2 bucks.  Our water company is a local one. We pay water and sewer.   They just started this. Made me mad as our rates are high. My bill runs 197. To 259@ mo.  We do have lawns a pond and a very ouch yard. Most of the neighbors sport brown lawns in summer. New California trend. I hate it

[Shelbelle]

On the flip side of this, how about companies that still send checks to you, such as the online shopping rebate sites, I get checks all the time from Mr Rebates and Rakuten and Extrabux. Plus I work part time and still receive my pay in a check, that is my choice for various reasons. 

[shoekitty]

I love Mr rebates!!  I loved it more when Nordstrom was in the mr rebates program, I really mopped up. Biggest check I got was 1300,  average is 400 .   Over the years I have made over 7000 bux, and they have excellent customer service

[songbird]

I write one a month.  To the same place.  Where I get my hair done.  They won't take Visa there. So I have to write a check.  Otherwise I never would write any check!