Community Chat

[Helen852]

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@Mz iMac wrote:

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@Plaid Pants2 wrote:

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Checks can get stolen in the mail, plus then the thief has your name and account numbers.

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True.  I guess I've been lucky from one century to the next.

When was the last time, someone's ID was stolen from a "check?"

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About 15 years ago several postal employees were stealing customers checks that were being mailed to their homes.  We happened to be one of them. I went to check my balance after the weekend and much to my surprise there was over $1,000 in checks written 'by me' at stores that I had never been in. After contacting the bank, we  had to file a fraud affadavit with the bank as well as the local police department. Luckily, we were not liable for any of the charges. The people even duplicated a driver's license in my name but not my face.  

After that, we only put our name on our checks.  

Haven't used checks in a while, 99.9% is paid online! 

[chickenbutt]

I also had a friend who had her ID stolen from a check.  She was paying at the grocery store (this was back before internet) and some guy got close enough to get all of her information.  It was scary!

I probably feel a little more worried when I use a check because my routing number and account number are right there, along with my name and address (I never put my phone# on checks - that's just wrong).

We all must do what makes us comfortable, though, and I totally get that.  

[Catty2]

I purchase stamps from the USPS website.  They charge $2 but it's worth it to me.  They have so many more designs than the P.O. and I order at least 2 books. 

[ptagirl]

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@NicksmomESQ wrote:

.   I use stamps almost everyday.I fill out checks & mail my paid bills.I personally will never ever pay bills or bank online. That's just what I do.Everyone has a different comfort level.I was a victim of id theft a few years back & was advised by my accountant & attorney to conduct my business the old fashioned way.

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ITA!  I, too, was a victim of id theft..not fun!  I still pay all my bills by mail and I'm comfortable with that.  I think they have only lost one in all the times I've mailed..so I also stick with the 'old fashioned way'...so, yes, I still use stamps on a regular basis...the extra expense is worth it to me..

[dooBdoo]

          I switched to buying the "Forever" stamps on the U.S.P.S. website long ago.    They have nice selections, whether we choose the "Forever" stamps or others.     I use stamps so seldom, so it's been quite a while since I needed to replenish the stock.

[Spurt]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

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@Spurt wrote:

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@Kachina624 wrote:

I've been banking online for almost 25 years and wouldn't do it any other way.  It's much safer than putting bills in the mailbox for the carrier.  I've never had a payment fail to reach its destination on time.   I've saved a fortune in postage costs.  I'd forgotten there was any other way. 

Ordering stamps online is expensive.  I'd never do that.  I use few stamps and don't give a hoot what's on them. 

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@Kachina624

I get 2 books and it's $1.25 to ship them....That was worth it to me to save my time and effort rather than waiting in a long line at a customer service window at the grocery store..........(people also cash checks, pay utilities, pay their car inspection sticker there, buy amsusment park tickets etc etc, or send western union)....................

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@Spurt  I remember how one could conduct all of one's business at the grocery store in Texas.  I was on my way to buy out car license renewals once with cash in my purse when my purse was snatched.  It was very rare for me to have that much cash. 

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@Kachina624

So sorry to hear about your purse snatching............(was it in everyone's not so favorite city, H town perhaps???),   yes the grocery stores do try to make it convenient, they dont want you to leave their store ever---LOL.  But the down side is carrying extra cash..............And a long time ago a grocery store that offered services to pay cable bills etc......well this grocery store chain, Handy Andy, was nearing bankruptcy and used the money to pay their creditors and it never got to the customer's company it was intended for.......But with super giant HEB rolling in the ca$h, there's no worry of that situation rearing its ugly head with them...................

[Kachina624]

@Spurt  Yes it was in Houston in the shopping center where my office was located at the corner of IH45 and Little York.  I went to a police lineup but couldn't recognize the perps as I didn't get a good look.   Children found the purse and its contents except for the money and a nice cigarette lighter. 

[Spurt]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

@Spurt  Yes it was in Houston in the shopping center where my office was located at the corner of IH45 and Little York.  I went to a police lineup but couldn't recognize the perps as I didn't get a good look.   Children found the purse and its contents except for the money and a nice cigarette lighter. 

@Kachina624

Not that my city is crime free, but sounds like something that would be prevelant there from what I heard from fellow travelers and a friend that has relatives that live there..........Well at least you got the purse back.....sorry about the money and cigarette lighter.......

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[insomniac2]

All stamps have been "Forever" for many years now.

(Thankfully!)

[Burnsite]

I'm just using up my Jimi Hendrix stamps.  I like to pay my bills twice a month, keeping track of them all.  So I pay those online I can easily access, but other bills, such as my town water bill and things like that, I pay by mail.

I don't like automatic deductions from my checking, so I never set up auto pays, though I do pay about half my bills on line now.  I want to be sure I record them, and the easiest way for me is by deduction from my checking account, whether online or by check.

I do hate the way checks are held forever these days, though.  I wrote a check to Costco months ago and they just now deposited it.  I guess it must have been lost for a while.

I also still do mail cards and letters.  Don't like e-cards, not that I scorn those that send them, but I like to mail them out.