Never with a personal check!
Aug 25, 2022 10:06:34 #
Indi wrote:
Quite right. I order from Amazon a lot. Lately they’ve been sending via USPS. In the last 2 or 3 months orders have been delayed, lost, sent all over the US before they get to me, or returned to Amazon and reshipped.
It is entertaining though.
USPS is intent on letting you know what a bad job they are doing.
e-mail notification...
1.) Your order is on it's way!
2.) Expect your order tomorrow!
3.) Expect your delivery today!...Three hours later...Expect shipment tomorrow!
Rinse...repeat at least twice...and once three times.
Aug 25, 2022 11:18:30 #
Aug 25, 2022 11:22:12 #
Aug 25, 2022 11:40:40 #
Schoee
Loc: Europe
elliott937 wrote:
I'll bet many of you knew this already, but until ... (show quote)
Sorry to hear your troubles. After about 1000 years it is now time to stop using cheques.
Aug 25, 2022 12:13:25 #
My CU sends me an email alert whenever there is a withdrawal of over $25.
Aug 25, 2022 12:16:42 #
elliott937 wrote:
I'll bet many of you knew this already, but until ... (show quote)
I had a similar situation but mine was for $50,000. I don't keep that much money in my checking account but I had check guarantee and they withdrew the money from my savings accunt. Since that incident, I have stopped using check guarantee,
Aug 25, 2022 12:21:34 #
As registrar for a local adult education organization, checks sent through the mail are the bane of my existence.
We try to encourage registrants to pay online through credit card or PayPal by confirming enrollment in those classes immediately so long as the online registration page indicates there are still seats available in the class. If you send in a check, your enrollment isn't assured until the physical check arrives, and in the interim a class can fill with paid registrations and you are put on the waiting list when your check arrives.
Processing the credit card/PayPal instant registrations is a quick job for me and makes being sure the number of seats remaining in a class remains accurate on the registration form a breeze. Processing the ones that come in by check involves several steps to update information on the registration spreadsheet and, depending on what has to be done to accomplish that, then check the online registration form to make sure the spreadsheet changes haven't affected the accuracy of the counter and reconciling the accurate number of openings with the number shown on the online registration form if the changes have thrown it off. Big time PIA.
Since you can submit a PayPal payment by credit card even if you don't have a personal PayPal account, I can't figure out why people wouldn't take advantage of the instant confirmation of enrollment rather than taking a chance that there will still be a seat open when we receive their check. I know that most of the people we receive checks from do have credit cards. Ar-r-r-g-g-g-gh!
We try to encourage registrants to pay online through credit card or PayPal by confirming enrollment in those classes immediately so long as the online registration page indicates there are still seats available in the class. If you send in a check, your enrollment isn't assured until the physical check arrives, and in the interim a class can fill with paid registrations and you are put on the waiting list when your check arrives.
Processing the credit card/PayPal instant registrations is a quick job for me and makes being sure the number of seats remaining in a class remains accurate on the registration form a breeze. Processing the ones that come in by check involves several steps to update information on the registration spreadsheet and, depending on what has to be done to accomplish that, then check the online registration form to make sure the spreadsheet changes haven't affected the accuracy of the counter and reconciling the accurate number of openings with the number shown on the online registration form if the changes have thrown it off. Big time PIA.
Since you can submit a PayPal payment by credit card even if you don't have a personal PayPal account, I can't figure out why people wouldn't take advantage of the instant confirmation of enrollment rather than taking a chance that there will still be a seat open when we receive their check. I know that most of the people we receive checks from do have credit cards. Ar-r-r-g-g-g-gh!
Aug 25, 2022 12:53:05 #
Indi wrote:
I don’t think I write 5 checks a year if that much. Almost all of my bills are listed as payees in my bank accounts. When I have to pay a bill(s) I tick off the payees in my list, enter the amount and pay date, and then let my bank worry about it. Some of my payees are “recurring” so I never have a late charge.
Just my 2¢.
Just my 2¢.
I write two checks for taxes, one for the "dump" permit, and a couple for the dump punch-card. My bank doesn't even sell checks anymore.
Aug 25, 2022 13:18:31 #
Ollieboy wrote:
I send personal checks in the mail regularly. However I always use a pen with permanent ink made specifically for check washing. Never had a problem in over 20 years. In my neighborhood the USPS has installed newer mailboxes with a slit instead of the older swinging door style.
Yes, pens with ink specifically made to prevent 'washing'. Use them.
I like a 'hard copy' of my bills. The power co . wants to charge me 2.50 if I want to get a bill and pay online. So I send them a check. My only monthly check.
Or I could go to E- bill and print the bill. Nope not gonna do it.
Aug 25, 2022 14:16:48 #
ad9mac wrote:
Yes, pens with ink specifically made to prevent 'washing'. Use them.
I like a 'hard copy' of my bills. The power co . wants to charge me 2.50 if I want to get a bill and pay online. So I send them a check. My only monthly check.
Or I could go to E- bill and print the bill. Nope not gonna do it.
I like a 'hard copy' of my bills. The power co . wants to charge me 2.50 if I want to get a bill and pay online. So I send them a check. My only monthly check.
Or I could go to E- bill and print the bill. Nope not gonna do it.
Will they do an automatic monthly bank draft (ACH transfer)?
Aug 25, 2022 15:45:34 #
I don't use check these days but I do send checks to the IRS and to the county tax office once a year.
Aug 25, 2022 18:05:54 #
I too am reluctant to send a check thru the mail. I just put cash in the envelope. 
Aug 25, 2022 20:20:33 #
elliott937 wrote:
I'll bet many of you knew this already, but until ... (show quote)
About 6 months ago I was checking my checking account balance and was overdrawn. I looked at the debits and found a check for $1,950 to a person I don't know, never met, and the note said for rent. The check didn't even match my checks. They look nothing alike. But that person took it into a Wells Fargo and cashed it.
Of course, the exact same things you did are what I had to do too. Heck, I just found out that one of the things that I pay for annually didn't get paid. Rut-row!!!!
Aug 26, 2022 08:08:10 #
Personally, I've been hacked and had scams attempted to me and my accounts many times online and my personal health data has also been compromised 6 times now (thanks Mr. Obama). Even with the free credit monitoring they seem to provide after the fact, I've been compromised repeatedly. Point is, I've never once had a problem paying bills with a check by mail and in fact now due so exclusively to avoid similar issues online. I guess nothing is really safe anymore and the crooks will go out of their way to steal whatever they can. There has indeed been an upswing in postal collection box break-ins and theft around here recently and I now carry my mail inside the Post Office to mail it rather than use the more convenient boxes, but that's just being cautious. In any case and at least in my opinion, writing a check and mailing it is less of a risk than doing my banking on line where anyone that really wants to can see it. Frankly, there is nothing private and nothing secure on the internet, period! Hell, even Windows monitors your every keystroke and transaction these days. Think about it!
Aug 26, 2022 10:36:44 #
I think this is an isolated case and an overreaction to one lost check. The USPS delivers millions of letters each day and I suspect the lost/stolen numbers are a small percentage of the total delivered safely and securely.
I read these columns every day and EVERY DAY someone is mad and going to stop using USPS, Fed Ex, UPS, or almost every other shipping or delivery company. The common denominator in all these services is people, imperfect humans. Where humans are involved, accidents, thefts, mishaps, and other issues will also be found. It is an imperfect world and to expect otherwise is to be constantly disappointed or upset.
I sent a rather large check today for something I ordered. I wanted to use a credit card until the company informed me there would be a 4.5% additional fee for the use of any credit or debit card. The only other options were money order or check. A money order has a fee plus I have to get in the car and drive somewhere. The check costs me nothing. I dug out my checkbook and sent it, saving myself a good bit of money.
It cost me only a stamp to travel across the country. Only the USPS can do that. I think the odds are with me that it will arrive safely.
I read these columns every day and EVERY DAY someone is mad and going to stop using USPS, Fed Ex, UPS, or almost every other shipping or delivery company. The common denominator in all these services is people, imperfect humans. Where humans are involved, accidents, thefts, mishaps, and other issues will also be found. It is an imperfect world and to expect otherwise is to be constantly disappointed or upset.
I sent a rather large check today for something I ordered. I wanted to use a credit card until the company informed me there would be a 4.5% additional fee for the use of any credit or debit card. The only other options were money order or check. A money order has a fee plus I have to get in the car and drive somewhere. The check costs me nothing. I dug out my checkbook and sent it, saving myself a good bit of money.
It cost me only a stamp to travel across the country. Only the USPS can do that. I think the odds are with me that it will arrive safely.
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