Why do americans still use checks?

[rh71]

I always use cash in stores instead of a CC or debit card. For one, it is the fastest way to pay... can't stand old people that take 5 minutes reading everything on a CC pad, but even people that do it quickly; it's still slower than handing someone cash.

You still have to go to the ATM more often than people who only use credit cards. So really it's not fastest nor most convenient. I use cash even less frequently as I use checks. CCs are where it's at.

I knew a guy back in the day whos gf wrote a check for some bill and didnt tell her bf about it. The bf took a few dollars out of the account with the check card leaving the account a few dollars short.

Overdraft protection that takes from another account. Also email notifications when your balance is low. Also we're allowed 1 overdraft per year without penalty.

my bank's billpay takes care of the regular monthly stuff that other people use checks for (seriously, rent? billpay.)

What about the non-monthlys? Does your kids' school let your bank billpay them? When teachers send a note home asking for a $10 check (no cash) for an event do you request their billpay info? Or a contractor you hire to do work on your house? Or if you need to pay the town for a permit, etc.? Since the beginning of 2014, I've had to write 11 checks. It's not like I purposely seek out new ways to do it nor do I like having to get stamps to send them.

 

[WHAMPOM]

I just dont understand that - why use check if I can either pay with debit/credit card or send money via wire transfer. Neither option cost me any money and its faster.

'cause in the USA banks charge lots for the convenience of electronic money transfer and still use easily stolen info on magnetic strip cards. Plus computer security sucks in retail stores making checks more trustworthy.

 

[xanis]

I currently use checks for rent. The company that manages my building doesn't have an online payment gateway so I write checks. I could use my bank's billpay, but there's something I like about writing it and mailing it myself.

Everything else is electronic or cash/credit.

 

[Broheim]

letting banks charge for wire transfers just seem silly to me, you're literally lending them money at extremely low interest and then have to pay them for privilege to spend your own money... that's fucking retarded.

 

[TROLLERCAUST]

I have never seen a cheque in my life. All my bills come to the online bank giving me an SMS when they arrive. 2-3 clicks and I've payed the bills. Could of course make it fully automatic for everything except rent but I like to see the bills beforehand I pay them.

 

[TwiceOver]

My son's Pre-School doesn't take CC. So I can walk in with a bunch of cash or I can write her a check. His daycare now allows me to do bank transfer since we use the same bank. So, my one check a month...

 

[Platypus]

Old people use them still in my experience, and as others said, some places will only accept them for certain services.

That said, I don't have personal checks, I just issue them when needed through my bank's website which then sends them on my behalf. It's still technically a check, but I don't carry or use them in the traditional sense.

 

[waggy]

Do you have kids? Or a house?

I do mostly everything online (credit card) and direct debit but the things I cannot:
- school trips
- camp & deposit
- water bill
- contractor payments
- kids sports
- gifts for people
- home alarm renewal & permit
- daycare tuition
- accountant
- kid photos through school
- appliance fixes / boiler replacement
- town parking permit

Someone else mentioned property taxes... that would be us too 4x a year if not for escrow (optional but we do it for the +$80/yr interest).

Basically comes down to people who don't take online payments like contractors, your town, or your school. Can anyone dispute this?
School lunch and the water company do online payments now but they both charge a surcharge.

"Old people" do use checks more often I guess you could say. If old means 30+.

and this.

90%of my kids things are by check. they don't take cash or CC. Every school event and every sport.

also my mortgage place wants checks. though i hear they are going to electric payments.

 

[Remobz]

I write many checks and also carry cash on me at all times. I rarely use CC or debit cards.

 

[pete6032]

I will do a check if there is a fee to use a credit card.

This usually applies to: DMV, Rent, small doctor's offices, charity donations. I also occasionally write a check to friends to pay people back, it is very difficult to set up a wire transfer from my bank to another party for just one time, I would have to call the bank during business hours and verify a bunch of things, much easier to write a check.

 

[DesiPower]

My son's Pre-School doesn't take CC. So I can walk in with a bunch of cash or I can write her a check. His daycare now allows me to do bank transfer since we use the same bank. So, my one check a month...

You can use e-billpay, just add the daycare on the payee list and make a payment, bank will send them a paper check. I have been doing it for 5 years now for my kids daycare, I used to do it for the apartment too till 2006.

 

[KeithP]

Why do americans still use checks?

I am curious why you are not interested in the reason(s) that people in other countries still use checks?

-KeithP

 

[DesiPower]

letting banks charge for wire transfers just seem silly to me, you're literally lending them money at extremely low interest and then have to pay them for privilege to spend your own money... that's fucking retarded.

Wire transfer is instant, bank don't get to sit on your money

 

[Larnz]

I'm 34 and have never used a cheque. NZ has always been at the forfront of electronic payments though I geuss EFTPOS was launched here in 1985.

It's odd to hear that the main reason people use cheques in the US is the extra fee's other methods incur when here most electrong payment methods are free where as a cheque would cost .25c or so iirc, banking transaction services here are nearly all free unless they involve an actual person to do stuff ie. a cheque etc, makes no sense to charge for services that dont actually involve creating any work for people.

I pay every bill in my life through either automatic payments or direct debit from my accoutn to who ever im payings account. I havent come across a service or tradesman or anything that hasnt provided bank account info on their invoice or turned up with a mobile eftpos/cc pinpad etc in 7+ years here.

 

[MotionMan]

I pay for most everything either by credit card or online through my bank (who sometimes sends a physical check).

We write very few checks, but our minimum is 4 a month for the cleaning lady - she only takes checks.

Other reasons for writing checks have been mentioned, including the plumber and other trades people.

Having kids results in many checks to various organizations and causes as well.

MotionMan

 

[Rebel44]

I will do a check if there is a fee to use a credit card.

This usually applies to: DMV, Rent, small doctor's offices, charity donations. I also occasionally write a check to friends to pay people back, it is very difficult to set up a wire transfer from my bank to another party for just one time, I would have to call the bank during business hours and verify a bunch of things, much easier to write a check.

Why is it hard to send money to another account? Are US banks that incompettent?

I simply login into my account, click "new payment" type in bank account number (and bank code number) where it will go and confirm that order (code is sent by the bank to my cell phone). If i want to I can enter more things there like payment ID number or massage, but I dont have to.

Overall its simple and fast. It also dont cost me any money.

 

[Svnla]

Because I don't want to pay a fee (2 to 3%) to pay my rent. I would love to earn from 1 to 5% cash back from my rent (my largest monthly expense) if I could use my CC.

/thread.

 

[MotionMan]

I simply login into my account, click "new payment" type in bank account number (and bank code number) where it will go and confirm that order (code is sent by the bank to my cell phone).

People give you their bank account numbers?

That does not happen in the U.S.

MotionMan

 

[Rebel44]

I am curious why you are not interested in the reason(s) that people in other countries still use checks?

-KeithP

My coworker recently got check from USA and he spent quite a bit of his time getting that money - most banks told him they dont work with checks and when he finally found one bank that accepted it, he had to pay 5€ fee and wait for 3 weeks for money to arrive to his account.

 

[Rebel44]

People give you their bank account numbers?

That does not happen in the U.S.

MotionMan

Why not? Bank account number dont allow you anything, except send money to that account. Its not even part of login into internet banking.

 

[alkemyst]

For many people using checks is a way to kite money...

I rarely use checks. My attorney requires them, my water company, and a couple other yearly bills.

If possible I always set up auto-pay and let computers worry about the bills.

What I really don't get are those that are going to use a check and are standing at the check-out for 5+ minutes while their items are being rung up, then finally go and hunt down their checkbook, then argue why they need to show an ID, then try and find the ID, and then ask several times how to spell "Publix" or whatever.

Another peeve is those that don't just scan their debit/credit card at the start of the process and/or don't even have it ready at the end.

 

[Blintok]

For rent and old people.

how do you define old people? 80+ 100+ ?

My pay is direct deposited. My rent is direct debited.
all my bills are paid online. all bills are received paperless.
almost all transactions are debit only and i rarely carry cash.
Transactions that need credit card i use a Visa reloadable debit card.

(i am 56)

 

[MotionMan]

Why not? Bank account number dont allow you anything, except send money to that account. Its not even part of login into internet banking.

People in the US do not like to give out any personal information; mobile phone number, home phone number, residence address.

Giving out one's bank account number is very high on the list of things one just does not do.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

For many people using checks is a way to kite money.

Sorry. I'm calling B.S.

We are going to need a little backup for this assertion.

MotionMan

 

[spidey07]

People in the US do not like to give out any personal information; mobile phone number, home phone number, residence address.

Giving out one's bank account number is very high on the list of things one just does not do.

MotionMan

Your account number is printed clearly on the check.

Checks are good in that they are a legally binding payment. I use them for large purchases and paying individuals for work. My online banking bill pay simply prints out checks and mails them.