I never expected to need a new cheque book
By Koalemos
@Asylum (47893)
Manchester, England
October 9, 2015 5:20am CST
Cheques are rapidly becoming a thing of the past for many of us. A long time ago I began gradually changing all my bill payments to either Direct Debit or Bank Transfer, thus eliminating the need for cheques. I have just looked at my old cheque book and the last cheque that I wrote out was July 2011.
Today I received a letter from a company that has recently taken over the collection of Ground Rent for my home, so future payments will be made to them. To my horror the only method of payment that they accept is by post to their London address.
The last cheque that I wrote completed the book that I was using at the time and I had no reason to order a new one, so I do not even have a cheque book at the moment. I have just telephoned my bank to order a new cheque book, which I never thought that I would be doing again.
I had a quick look at the calendar, but we do not seem to be going back in time.
10 people like this
11 responses
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
2 Nov 15
This is how I pay my rent too, but it is automatic. Set it up once and done.
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
9 Oct 15
I think cheques and cheque books are being phased out soon in the UK.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
9 Oct 15
I was under the impression that they virtually been eradicated, which it seems is not the case.
I still receive cheques from British Gas, despite the fact that I have been paying them by bank transfer for years. Now I find myself having to write out cheques as well.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
9 Oct 15
@arthurchappell It is so long since I used a postal order that I had totally forgotten about them.
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
9 Oct 15
@Asylum I still use a cheque book but less often all the time nowadays - I have even made payments by postal orders but that is expensive
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
9 Oct 15
Have you checked the clock? The hands aren't moving backwards are they? It seems more and more companies are switching to the electronic way of doing things. It is not just checks either, cash seems to be becoming an obsolete thing as well. More people pulling out their debit or credit cards in lieu of hard cash.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
9 Oct 15
@Asylum I pretty much use my debit card for almost everything too and rarely carry much cash
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
9 Oct 15
@Marilynda1225 I always ensure that I carry cash for small items and regular daily expenditure. It is easier to keep track of spending that way, rather than have a massive list of items on my Debit Card.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
9 Oct 15
I still use checks for some of my bills.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
9 Oct 15
I write fewer & fewer checks too but I still have a them on hand
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
9 Oct 15
@arthurchappell Very true and if I had thought about it I could have simply bought a postal order and forgotten about bordering a cheque book.
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
9 Oct 15
handy if you have no cheque book to hand
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
9 Oct 15
I have 2 checking accounts that I have not even ordered checks for.
My account offers Online Bill Pay, where you put in the information of the company you want to pay, and they'll mail out a check. It's usually a free service.
You can see if your bank offers this. Most here do.
I only use this to make payments on my debts, like old medical bills and such because I can't pay the full amount all at once.
Everything else I do pay online through bank transfer.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
10 Oct 15
I still have the need for cheque slips for payment here. Rather than give cash I give these small guys bearer cheques which they can encash immediately.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
10 Oct 15
@allknowing Yes, I would always offer to pay in cash for any work done in my home, but would not expect a request for a cheque.
@allknowing (153544)
• India
10 Oct 15
@Asylum Is there no situation where payment is made in cash - for example if some labour work is done at your place?
@Fleura (34927)
• United Kingdom
10 Oct 15
They talked about phasing out cheques but that idea has been quietly shelved, in fact I think the scheduled date has passed. I find I still use cheques quite a lot, to pay for things like tradesmen, school meals, or to send as gifts (you can't really send someone a birthday gift of money by bank transfer unless you happen to know all their bank details, which isn't likely).
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
1 Nov 15
I would hate that. I only have to write checks for my house cleaning service. I wish they allowed payment electronically, but they are old school.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
1 Nov 15
@ElizabethWallace Yes, it will most certainly outlive me.
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
1 Nov 15
@Asylum That is pretty funny. The booklet will last you forever, mine not quite so long.
