[MONEY] Still Paying Bills With Paper Checks? - Comments Page 1

I prefer online bill paying, mainly because I don't have to buy postage stamps. However, I dislike automatic payments for utility and phone bills because, if the provider sneaks in a charge for something you didn't make, it's nearly impossible to get it straightened out. It's also difficult to terminate those automatic payments, sometimes having to produce a death certificate.

I wish I could be rid of checks, but I still have a few bills that must be paid that way. The local garbage man is a two truck operation and will probably never make a website. I have been hounding an insurance company I deal with to accept online payments for years.The gas company as well. So, on I go writing two to four checks per month. (and sending them snail mail!)

My boss writes in excess of 100 checks a month. He prefers to personally hand each of his employees their paycheck every week. I really can see his point. It works for me! The majority of our vendors seem to like it, too! When you live in a town that just celebrated it's 150th year of incorporation in a State that's only 100 years old, I guess being quaint and old-fashioned is rather in vogue! Thanks, Bob, for putting the handwriting (or graffiti in some cases) on the wall! Really appreciate you!!

The sad thing here is that if I don't pay my utilities by direct deposit or in person, there's a stupid fee (usually $3-$4) added onto my payment as a 'courtesy fee' for having the privilege of paying it online.
No thanks. That adds up to an extra $100 or so over the course of the year if I count each payment individually. Money that just goes up in smoke.

Lou is correct. There are still situations where you either must use cash (you know, those pieces of paper with pictures of dead presidents)or a check. Not everyone has a credit/debit card or accepts them.

Yes. My wife and I still use paper checks, though not many. We are not Luddites, but we use cash wherever possible for the dual benefits of budget management and reducing identity theft. We rarely use credit or debit cards in our retail transactions, but do more frequently for online purchases. There are a handful of remaining activities where we want a record of the transaction, but know a receipt won't be provided. An example is pretty much any activity related with the children's school activities. We send our children to school with a check. Unfortunately, the track record for administrative accuracy is poor at these institutions and we've used the cancelled check as evidence of payment on several occasions. I believe we will reduce or eliminate checks when our children are completely out of school.

I still write a check for my gardener and to my handyman when I need him; occasionally for a donation (like the Boy Scouts). And that's it. My home cleaning service requires a check, but I have my brokerage account create the check for me. All other bills are paid by plastic or by automatic withdrawal from my checking account. I receive copies of my utility bills at least 10 days before they are withdrawn from my account so I have a chance to find any "slamming" that might have occurred.

I still use paper checks occasionally. Mostly for paying things like fundraisers for local schools, paying for my son's club tshirts etc. Many of the clubs don't set up electronic payment paths...cash/checks is just as easy. That being said I am not sure I write even 1 check a month...but some months I have been known to write 4 or 5. It fluctuates.

I'm 70 years of age. I've been computer literate since the '80's when my employer dragged me kicking and screaming into the the computer age. I've been paying my bills electronically since the early to mid '90's. The only time I write a check is if there is no other way to pay the bill. I still keep a check register to keep track of EFW's from my checking account. Conducting financial transactions electronically has its own set of risks, but what method doesn't. I've found paying electronically to be quick, efficient and easy to manage. It still allows me to save a pdf of the transaction in case I ever need a paper copy.

Paying my rent is the only check that I consistently write on a monthly basis. Paying any other way incurs a charge. I totally agree with JP about the automatic payment, altho I do use it for several bills.

Debit cards are too risky. Not everyone has a "smart phone". Unscrupulous companies (like AT&T) can add 3rd party charges without advising you. Checks are easier to keep up with your bookkeeping. There are some situations (such as tipping newspaperboy at Xmas) where a check is the best way.

EDITOR'S NOTE: What is a newspaper? :-)

Yup, I'm WAY past 55, and I changed my "check-writing" habits about twenty years ago when a friend suggested I use electronic bill-pay software (was that CheckFree?). After a few years the software moved me to Quicken Bill Pay, and I wouldn't change that for anything. Yes, I use Quicken and have a check register on my computer because I like to keep careful track of what I spend and who I pay. I have to balance this "checkbook" regularly, but Quicken makes it easy. I agree with Bob that actually taking a pen and using my hand to write a check is a pain, and -- like Bob -- my landlord is about the only account I manage with paper. (Commodore 64 got me away from handwriting!)

I am 76 and use a blend. Our very small business receives payment by check and we pay sales taxes, contract labor, etc. by check mainly because I don't know how to set up Quickbooks. We only write 4-5 checks monthly. Our personal bills are a blend and we pay bills online but get hardcopy bills. Over a year ago our bank sold to a larger bank and our electric bill was missed. I hate having to explain why we missed a payment the first time in 10 or more years.

I'm 76 and I've been paying bills online since Windows 98 with a company called PayTrust. I don't know if they are still in business but all of my bills went to them and then they'd send out the checks. I stopped using them when I could just pay everything online, EFT and/or through my bank's check service which is free. I use CheckFree and PayPal plus websites for my bills. I rarely write a paper check unless the company doesn't accept debit or credit cards or direct pay methods. Believe me, there are still some of those around. I love the fact that my statements ares archived on the sites. Just one last piece of paper to set around or have to file. I love technology.

It has been a long time since I last ordered checks and had to drop by the bank to get a check register only.

I've been auto paying most of my bills for years. It's so convenient and I never have to worry about being late. The few checks I write each year are for magazine subscriptions that still don't accept any other kind of payment. I am, however, someone who is not convinced of the safety and privacy of smart phone payments. As someone who has been in the computer business for a long, long time, I see too much and learn even more from your emails.

Checks are still required for payments to individuals. I cannot pay spousal support electronically. Have you calculated what it costs to pay your taxes via credit card? I do not see an end to checks any time soon.

I only write a few checks a month and could probably get by with fewer if I used cash for some of those, but there are some things that checks are necessary for, like property taxes, unless you want to pay the exorbitant "service charge" for using a credit card, and in my community, that's not even an option. I love the convenience of auto pay and bill pay through my checking account and wish I could do everything that way.

Well, I will be sharing this with our pastor. I've been engaging him in this aspect of our stewardship. Currently our church has about 1/2 the members being over age 50, but we have the other half being Gen-X or Millennials. We have no way for individuals to give other than by check or cash in the offering plate (or by ---postal mail!)

My daughter and son in law use checks and have gradually gone paperless -- but still keep them and use them on a regular basis for certain transactions. My son and daughter in law do not have a checkbook or any checks, only use debit cards. I know that my son's church had several avenues other than the Sunday offering for individuals to give, including kiosks in the lobby to accept credit/debit cards, a smartphone app to donate and online donations through the church website.

Our church needs to catch up with this so we can make it easier for those who want to give to do so!

I haven't had a cheque book(yes I'm British)in the past 10 years and I'm now over 65. But I prefer paper bills even though I pay them all by direct debit or direct transfer from a bank account. The paper bill let me keep records easily and are still accessible in a power cut.