Bye, Bye Paper checks
By amyann16
@amyann16 (414)
United States
June 12, 2007 8:56pm CST
I don't think it will be very long before we no longer see checks being written. Most employers already have direct deposits for their payroll and I am starting to see many businesses either making it very limited on who they accepts checks from (ie: you must live within a 1/2 mile radius, be from a certain town, etc), or completely stop accepting checks at all. I've started to use online bill paying for all my bills--I rarely have to go to the post office anymore for stamps and my last two books of checks lasted me a full year. There was a time where I would go through 6-8 boxes easily in a year. I think the biggest obstacle to rid checks once and for all is the personal payments from one person to another for whatever items. I know some people already use online systems like Paypal for these payments, but not everyone understands or uses Paypal or similar system. Once this is figured out, it will be interesting to see how fast everything turns electronic.
what will be the downsides to this? Are you things about personal checks that you will miss, already miss?
4 responses
@scarywhitegirl (2766)
• United States
21 Jun 07
The only checks that I write any more are for my rent and for my insurance--though in the latter case, my fiance asked why I was actually writing the checks, rather than setting it up to pay online. Mostly, the reason was by the point that he asked me, I had already written one of the two checks that I needed to send.
One of my sisters refuses to get PayPal. I'm not really sure why that is, but she would rather mail me a check than just send me money online. She is a little odd, though. :)
@Melissa528 (744)
• United States
21 Jun 07
I'm sure checks will be obsolete one day along with stamps and envelopes. I also have direct deposit and a debit card. I pay about 90% of my bills online or over the phone. I don't remember the last time I ordered checks because I barely use them. It's definately been over 5 years since the last time I ordered checks and it will be AWHILE before I have to order them again.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
13 Jun 07
I have online banking and usually pay by credit or debit card. I usually have the money in my bank so after the purchase I either go to the bank if it is near or go on the computer and transfer the money to my credit card. I do use checks for my tithes at Church because it is easier than going to the bank with a $20 bill and ask them to change it into two 10s a five and some change all the time. The downside will be that it will be hard for small stores where they do not have atm machines.
@us2owls (1681)
• United States
13 Jun 07
I have not written a check for ages. Since I spend part f my time in another country internet banking is a blessing for me. I pay bills at home on-line. I love it. My bank posts everything I need on the internet so keeping track is no problem. I too think that paper checks are fast becoming a thing of the past. I also have a PayPal account.
