[MONEY] Still Paying Bills With Paper Checks?

I am also way over 55. I prefer to do paper checks for several reasons..1)I do not trust computer info 2) I prefer to pay when I KNOW I have money instead of hoping the bank does not decide I don't have the money and charge me an overdraft fee 3) I can keep the checks with the receipt and Know what I paid and when. I do online buying with credit card, but only for small purchases if possible at stores.

Bob,
A question for you and others that use their smartphones to do a mobile deposit of a check. What limits does your bank put on it? My bank, Citibank, says I can do no more than $3,000 in a month and no more than $1,000 on any given check. I think the $1,000 is also a daily limit. There's no technological reason for it, but they seem to think they are protecting me. From what, I don't know. The money appears to be available, but if I was to try and 'cash' it, I think they might not let me do so if I was to exceed either my savings balance or any overdraft protection I might have.

Some solutions for some folks:
1. Try to have your piano tuner and landlord and others accept a check written from your bank's bill payment service. That way the bank pays the postage and you don't have to worry about a check book supply.

2. Some government agencies will be happy to do an ACH withdrawal from your account if you don't want to write them a check and then mail it to them. The IRS is one such agency as is NY State.

I still have my checks and I find myself writing maybe 1 or 2 a year. If you are going to continue using checks, don't buy them from your bank, go online to get them. A number of years ago, when I was writing checks more frequently I actually splurged and got Harley Davidson checks and the check book carrier. I have enough now I don't see my needing anymore.

I still write a paper check to my church each week rather than have an automatic withdrawal taken from my checking account. It's kind of a nice reminder for me of my gratitude to God and my church. Everything else is either bill pay from a bank or by credit card. I don't use debit cards. Some of the yard workers in our area want only cash or checks which makes my checking account handy. I prefer paper billing-never know when my trusty computer might have a glitch. I was 76 years old and when I was about 12 my mother taught me to write a check properly. Sure enjoy your hints and the blog, Bob. Thank you!

Because I moved to Indonesia I have had untold difficulties with my UK Mastercard either with PayPal or trying to send payments to the UK bank - in this case Lloyds. What I have learned is that it is impossible to sign up for a Mastercard over the age of 55 in S/E Asia or to transfer Mastercard UK to Mastercard Indonesia. As I cannot purchase anything of quality in Indo especially medical supplies I now do not know where to turn to next. Maybe American Express allow any age but I am not a rich man. Indo does not allow their bank cards whether VISA or with Mastercard logo on it to use online - ATM's are used for exchange of cash.

The direct connection with this article's subject may not immediately be understood but is does because it shows there are many problems still encountered today trying to pay one's bills with one's own cash.

I haven't written a check in over 12 years! I have plenty of checks left on my checking account, but, the address, city and phone number are ALL wrong. Tee hee hee.

As any of you know, you can't use a check that is not printed up correctly, to match your Driver's License information. Heavens, even the information on my Driver's License is not fully correct. My license has the wrong address and city, the worst part my birthdate not right, either! I guess, I am really in a mess, aren't I? LOL

I use Bill Pay through my bank, my Debit Card, computer online pay, over the phone payments and Snap Deposit using my Smartphone, when I do get a check. As for my income - Direct Deposit, wouldn't have it any other way. I have been using Direct Deposit for 19 years for Social Security income and no issues. I first started using Direct Deposit back in the early 1980's. I can only say, it definitely saved me time and energy.

Bob, you are obviously among the connected and well on the way to the future. The same can't be said for a not inconsiderable number of folks who live in less to unconnected environs. Its easy to pay by card at the store, maybe, but if you are not connected at home (out in the boonies) you can't pay online. And until all us old fogies
die off, we may still need checks, banks and their
attitudes be damned. I suspect some of the less connected would echo this, if they were connected.

I prefer paper checks for almost everything. First of all, I control when the bill is paid (cash flow) and with charitable gifts, I have a record in my checkbook that is far more informative than an entry on a bank statement. I use a ledger checkbook and write a lot more than the amount about the bill being paid. And the check does not have to match your drivers license. My name on my license has been wrong for 61 years because I don't use my first name. No problem. Direct deposit for income is fine.

We're over 70 and pay all monthly bills by paper check. For what it's worth, it's not technophobe, it's frrom too much knowledge and experience. I started programming in 1969, got my first pc in 1979 and never looked back.

We purchase online with credit cards. However when it comes to my money, I want to control it. No electronic billing/statements. If you think tech support is bad, try resolving a problem with a financial customer representive online or on the telephone.

There's a reason everyone wants you to sign up for automatic renewals and it's not for your convience. BTW, google "ghost accounts"

Wow, I guess you hit my hot button.

I occasionally use checks, but do pay with my computer mostly. What inflames me most is when I'm in line at a store and somebody in front of me starts fumbling for a checkbook and takes 10 minutes to complete it. Then the cashier has to do a TSA inspection to verify the person is legit. I usually pay for smaller purchases, like in the store, with cash. Cash is still king. The gov't may destroy it eventually, but I'd rather have a pile of cash than a pile of 1's and 0's on somebody's hard drive.

I still make out a check to bring my tithe "into the storehouse". I also pay the local snowplow guy by check when I receive his monthly paper invoice. It is more convenient than driving 8 miles to pay for that service as he has no website or credit card option. I like having all options available to me and am set up to take care of any kind of payment with envelopes and stamps at my desk where my desktop computer still sits. I pay online automatically when safe and available but roll with whatever option best suits the situation. I know that technology tends to shape what we think is how it should be done today, however age, tradition and area also shape the norm for each of us. Not everything is "one size fits all" and that's OK with me!

Since I'm in the senior category it must explain my use of paper checks. I just like seeing what my bills are every month. I hate automatic payments such as Siriusxm. The price keeps increasing and you don't really notice until one day you realize the service just isn't worth it.

I'm 64 years old.I write one check a month to my Luddite landlord.Have been paying all other bills online for at least 15 years.I agree with your friend,my next landlord will take Paypal or Square Cash “and like it.”

Upcharges, convenient fees,... are reasons we pay with checks. We do not have a debit card to pay: Real Estate, Fed and State taxes, auction bill, paying neighbors, farm stores, gifts, WI vehicle plates,purchasing a new car and where large amt of cash are not feasible...The list can be quite large, so do not sing the doom of writing checks just yet. We pay all that we can electronically BUT....

Like some other Seniors, I use very few checks. Local painters and workmen want a check written on a local bank. Can't say as I blame them because they are ripped off sometimes. My donation to my church is paid by my bank each month. Guess my halo is slipping. Everything else is paid by direct debit or I authorize payment online. Have been doing this for years and have not had the first problem. I know it can happen but so far so good. Love some of the folks' comments about why checks are still an important part of their lives. I completely understand but can't imagine having to write checks again and buy stamps and envelopes.

Newsletter is such fun...

As a former small business owner I always wanted to take checks so as to not loose a percentage of our sale. I try to use paper checks or cash to other small businesses for the same reason. Oh and I am very connected, have been with computers since the DOS days, have a smart phone etc. No I do not use a lot of checks, but and glad I still have this option available.

If a person owes the government any tax payments, they would be better off mailing in a check than using a credit card based means of payment. Unlike retailers, the government does not pay the 2% or 3% charge made by the banks for credit card payments. So for tax payments the bank charges the fee to your bank account instead. If your required tax payment is large, this additional charge to your bank account could be significant.

I pay most things electronically, but due to their backward attitude, I pay my city land taxes (and a few others) by check. You see, some places like this will LET you pay electronically but will charge you a huge fee to do so. Why should I pay $25 to pay my tax bill of $825? They should pay ME for keying in the data! Since they will not wake up, I'll send them a check and let them key it in. SMH!!!

We are over 80 and have been using plastic or telephone paying for many years and lately on line. In some cases we select automatic deduction but not when dealing with organized crime (ie. telecoms) As most Americans know pens only work up here in Canada in July and August so cheques are out most of the year.

Not only are checks not even legal in Denmark anymore,
the banks will no longer send you (dead tree) bank statements
by mail. Nor will most government agencies send you paper letters,
as all is now handled through an electronic (mail box) —
http://www.e-boks.com/ — which sounds great at first,
but is hardly appreciated by seniors (some of whom
have asked for exemptions) or by… freedom lovers,
who remain skeptical of the system's safety and
of government spying
…

There are many reasons personal bank checks need to survive the eBanking revolution.

1) Checks don't have daily/monthly limits on purchase amounts.

2) Checks can be processed by people who don't/can't take credit cards or PayPal/Dwolla/Venmo/etc.

and finally

3) Checks provide the ability in many states to convey restrictive or conditional endorsements on the back of the check, which are legally binding agreements in many states through the Uniform Commercial Code. These endorsements are very powerful tools used to enforce debt negotiation settlements and credit repair activities binding creditors to accept the check as payment in full, including requiring the creditor to fix credit reports and stop any further collection activities. See http://carreonandassociates.com/restrictive-endorsement/ for more information.