| User | Comment |
|---|
| Avocado | | posted 14-Nov-1999 11:40pm |
The dry cleaners where I used to live didn't take credit cards, which was annoying, albeit understandable (credit card processors are expensive to purchase). Now that I've moved, I write far fewer purchase checks; credit cards are just way convenient. |
| mandy | | posted 14-Nov-1999 11:54pm |
I write checks for bills mostly and groceries...I prefer cash or credit cards for purchasing most things. |
| Mariah | | posted 15-Nov-1999 2:00am |
It's usually a hassle and a lot of places won't take them, but I no longer trust myself with cards of any sort when it comes to money. If a place I need to shop at won't take a check, I go to the bank and get the cash. |
| kirst | | posted 15-Nov-1999 4:43am |
Checks are not widely accepted in Hong Kong. I mainly write checks to pay my mobile phone account and for the doctor. (I used to write a ton of checks when I lived in the States.) |
| gilly | | posted 15-Nov-1999 7:51am |
I pretty much only write checks to pay rent and shared utilities these days; most of my other bills I pay online through my bank or with a debit card. I love being able to use the debit card at the grocery store, and even get cash back! It'll be interesting to see whether that becomes universal. |
| Fluffball | | posted 15-Nov-1999 9:28am |
I hate writing checks. I love cash. |
| anonymous | | posted 15-Nov-1999 9:47am |
People who pay for groceries with checks should be publicly flogged. |
| magbast | | posted 15-Nov-1999 9:48am |
mostly for bills, but sometimes i'll write a check for a purchase, not often though |
| seanhuxter | | posted 15-Nov-1999 11:14am |
I use checkes to pay bills and rent. Everything else is handled by bank-card. |
| natsim | | posted 15-Nov-1999 2:07pm |
I use cheques to pay bills but I'd rather do everything by direct debit, or by credit card over the phone (not a rotary phone though). Since moving to the US from Australia, I've been amazed at how often I see people writing cheques. I think of it as a very old-fashioned way of paying... |
bill   | | posted 16-Nov-1999 10:41am |
I dislike checks. I've mostly factored them out of my life, but I still need 1-2 per month for random stuff. My bills pay themselves via direct withdrawal and I'm very happy with that. |
| yorricks | | posted 16-Nov-1999 11:28am |
Flogging? Isn't that a bit harsh? Although I'm sure you meant it in the nicest way possible. I use checks almost exclusively. I don't believe in credit cards, I go through cash too painlessly, checks are easy to carry and help me keep track of where I'm spending what. |
| drdt | | posted 17-Nov-1999 12:05am |
Gilly: many of us are still paranoid about debit cards. Especially debit cards disguised as credit cards so you don't need to provide a PIN to use them.
|
SueBee  | | posted 17-Nov-1999 12:49am |
I don't like carrying a lot of cash with me, and I don't trust myself to remember to deduct debit card withdrawals from my check register...the slips are too easy to misplace. I prefer my checks with the carbons. |
| ILJ | | posted 17-Nov-1999 2:48pm |
bill: I don't know what bank you're with, and I hate to sound like a commercial for BankBoston, but their Homelink system is really cool in that it will pay bills electronically to whichever companies are hooked up to deal with it, and for those who aren't they actually write out and mail checks in your name. It's completely transparent to the user which method is being used. Very cool. I haven't written a check in over a year and I don't miss it! :) |
| drdt | | posted 17-Nov-1999 6:42pm |
ILJ: especially since the Great Green Monster sucks in so many other ways. |
| Jody | | posted 18-Nov-1999 9:45am |
ILJ, drdt - And may get worse with its "merger" with Fleet. |
| ILJ | | posted 18-Nov-1999 2:11pm |
drdt, Jody: You know, I've heard people say that and I've never had a single complaint about them. What is it that you don't like about them? |
| Jody | | posted 19-Nov-1999 10:34am |
ILJ - I have many friends who have had bad experiences with both, though I haven't personally....yet. I think the cause of these problems are just incredible growth as banks acquire other banks and merge with them.....small things are bound to get lost in the ever-growing sea of transactions. |
| ILJ | | posted 19-Nov-1999 10:42am |
Jody: I've been very happy with them, but I've never tried to get a mortgage from them or anything. They clear my deposited checks the next day without waiting for funds to transfer, which is cool. Once I went in to see if I could get a small loan to pay for my school books and instead they just slapped a $1000 credit line on to my debit card, just like that! The one time I had a billing error they cleared it up with one phone call. And HomeLink just kicks ass all over the place. I really do hate to sound like an advertisement for BankBoston, but I have to give them a big thumbs up. |
| drdt | | posted 19-Nov-1999 12:33pm |
ILJ: They bought up three local banks in quick succession of which I and my friends were members, and in all three cases service got both more expensive and less convenient, 'to better serve you'.
|
| SueBee | | posted 19-Nov-1999 7:39pm |
More expensive? Now I'm getting curious how much people pay for their checking accounts, but it doesn't seem worthy of another survey. We have free checking, no minimum balance...even the checks are free (as long as we're not picky about the design). I'd be interested to know what kind of service fees you other folks pay. |
| Mariah | | posted 19-Nov-1999 7:48pm |
SueBee: My checking account is a special one for students. I don't know if I have to pay for checks or not, but I don't have a minimum balance and checking is free. I have to pay for each check that I write after the 12th one, though. I also have a built in credit line for up to $500 in case I bounce a check or need some extra money. |
| SueBee | | posted 20-Nov-1999 12:54am |
Mariah - I'm surprised to hear that. I thought the 'per check' charges went out of use years ago. I guess that one's fine if you don't need to write many checks. The credit line is a nice touch. |
| Mariah | | posted 20-Nov-1999 4:17am |
I was kind of surprised by the 'per check' thing, too. Maybe since it's a student account they think that it will help keep me from spending too much. It isn't working, though. |
| eris | | posted 10-Jan-2000 10:10pm |
I use them to write to other individuals, or clubs and such. For purchases (groceries, restaurants, gas, etc.) I use either credit or debit cards. For bills, I use an electronic bill pay service. |
