Another Check Story

Traditional Farmer · May 16, 2018

Local one man tire shop I go to often had a sign up the other day NO CHECKS,I figured there was a story behind it as he always took check no problem.I asked he said I'll take yours and laughed.Seems two women came by and got a set of tires from him for a car he took their check it was drawn on a local bank with a local sounding address on the check.Come to find out
the account doesn't exist and the women are scammers that have been all over several states doing the same thing they make up the checks on the computer.I use a CC or cash these days for most everything and rarely write a check as the CC pays between 1% and 5% back on purchases at the end of the year.

Goose · May 16, 2018

I heard once there were some phony checks going around with the bank's name "The West Bank Of The Mississippi".

BarnyardEngineering · May 16, 2018

Frankly I'm surprised that check fraud isn't more prevalent, and/or checks haven't been eliminated entirely. Nobody has really made any effort to make checks secure or give vendors a way to verify checks before accepting them.

The only place I use checks anymore is at auctions because they nail you for 2-3% for running a card, even if it's a debit, IF they even accept credit cards. Some of them still don't use computers and keep everything in paper ledgers.

Really, checks are an obsolete way to pay for things.

docmirror · May 16, 2018

(quoted from post at 06:34:11 05/16/18) Frankly I'm surprised that check fraud isn't more prevalent, and/or checks haven't been eliminated entirely. Nobody has really made any effort to make checks secure or give vendors a way to verify checks before accepting them.

The only place I use checks anymore is at auctions because they nail you for 2-3% for running a card, even if it's a debit, IF they even accept credit cards. Some of them still don't use computers and keep everything in paper ledgers.

Really, checks are an obsolete way to pay for things.

Don't get me started on personal checks. I have a lot of RE rentals. I've had so many bad checks over the years, I could wall paper a house. I've stopped taking personal checks from tenants unless they have +3 year rental history. The deposit, first year rent must be paid by bank check, or auto-payment withdrawal.

But - there are plenty of problems with auto-bill pay too. If the money isn't in the account, I don't get paid. The upside is I don't have to deposit the bad check, wait for it to bounce, then get mailed back to me. If I don't have an auto-pay from a tenant on 1st, I know it on the 2nd and they get the notice to pay or quit.

One little trick I've learned is that most personal checks will be good for up to a year. Long after a tenant has moved out, I've taken their old returned check to the issuing bank and cashed it. Works about 50% of the time, because the deadbeat forgot they wrote me the check, or they think that once the check is returned to me it's no good anymore. Oops.

Determined · May 16, 2018

In 10+ years I only had to deal with a few bad check's at the shop.

I am by no means a psychology expert but we can all make observations of common behaviour.

One tell tale sign I always watched for was when somebody would ask the question;

" Is it okay if I give you a check"

Not to say that everyone who asked this was trying to pass a bad one but the question was asked on each of the occasions when there was a problem.

If I passed an invoice to a customer and they just pulled out a check book and started writing not once did I ever have a problem.

Can only guess it has something to do with a subconscious fear of getting caught that causes them to ask this first.

If their check is good and money is in the bank to cover it then if anything they would feel insulted if you asked them if their check was good.

Bruce from Can. · May 16, 2018

We send out a hand full of checks every month, feed company , electric company , Vet , Milker equipment supply company, local equipment dealerships where we have accounts. Checks still work well for me

Bob in SD · May 16, 2018

I normally offer to pay with a check for a big job from a small company. The company used to have to pay the extra fee for the credit card. My local gas station, where I normally used the credit card, thanked me for using cash to buy one gallon of gas (to mix for chainsaw). He said he wouldn't have made any profit if he ran the card for that small amount (during the Bush years, so probably $1.59, not $4).

When I offered to pay for my clutch with a check, the guy didn't really care, which surprised me. Normally for something like that (around $1000), they don't want a CC as that couple of percent adds up. I know when I worked retail (70s) we paid a service to basically guarantee our checks. So long as I verified a local driver's license with matching address and a couple of other things we didn't have to worry about a bad check. I assume that they took a percentage also.

As far as "do you mind if I pay with a check", I almost always ask (and I've never bounced a check). For some reason it just seems riskier for the business to take a check (VS CC or cash) from a "stranger" and asking is a courtesy.

JOCCO · May 16, 2018

They do have service to determine if checks are good and convert them to an instant deposit.

DCM · May 16, 2018

Had several dealings with members here cross border, nothing even close to a problem.

Kansas4010 · May 16, 2018

I never thought I'd be one to use credit cards but that's about all I use now. More and more places are no longer accepting checks. After the problems my sister has with Telecheck she has been forced to get credit cards. She has never written a bad check in her life but Telecheck will deny her check if she writes two checks in one day. She's had multiple problems from them. She has to call them up and even though she has plenty of money in her account to cover any check she writes they tell her she wrote to many and it looked suspicious so they denied the check. Just happened a couple months ago, she went grocery shopping and wrote a $50 check one place and went to another to get groceries and was denied. My other sister happened to be with her and swiped her cc and it went straight through. She called up Telecheck who told her she wrote to many checks in one day and it was suspicious enough they put a lock on her account and said she couldn't write another check for at least a week or they'd deny it as well even though the money was in the account to cover it. She talked to the bank who told her checks were on their way out and would most likely be gone in 3-4 years and they couldn't do anything. She thought opening a new account would help but the bank told her it wouldn't. She said it was embarrassing everyone starring at her like she was a criminal so she applied for a cc and hasn't had a problem since. I suppose that's a little long winded but it's a sore subject with me.

Two0aks · May 16, 2018

When paying for work, I alway ask. Cash, check, or gold.

jon f mn · May 16, 2018

The last check I wrote was the earnest money when we bought our house 5 years ago. Never use them anymore. Had to go to the bank to get some printed recently because we are looking for some land and will need another for earnest money. All bills are paid either on a credit card that pays back, or direct from our account.

W_B · May 16, 2018

(quoted from post at 15:07:16 05/16/18) We send out a hand full of checks every month, feed company , electric company , Vet , Milker equipment supply company, local equipment dealerships where we have accounts. Checks still work well for me

Same here, but with the cost of the checks going up and up we are going to look into more on-line payments and just use checks where we have to. Have to change banks because ours is closing their retail operations and just go back to being a trust bank, so this would be a good time to start that. At least at the feed store we get a discount for cash or check.

W_B · May 16, 2018

(quoted from post at 17:35:12 05/16/18) She said it was embarrassing everyone starring at her like she was a criminal so she applied for a cc and hasn't had a problem since. I suppose that's a little long winded but it's a sore subject with me.

It's a fact of modern life that a CC is something everyone should have, even if you barely use it. At some point you'll be short of cash and they won't take a check, but will take a CC. Beside, how do you do on-line shopping without one? (Neanderthals who don't shop on-line need not comment, I know where you are coming from. LOL.)

oldtanker · May 16, 2018

(quoted from post at 06:34:11 05/16/18) Frankly I'm surprised that check fraud isn't more prevalent, and/or checks haven't been eliminated entirely. Nobody has really made any effort to make checks secure or give vendors a way to verify checks before accepting them.

The only place I use checks anymore is at auctions because they nail you for 2-3% for running a card, even if it's a debit, IF they even accept credit cards. Some of them still don't use computers and keep everything in paper ledgers.

Really, checks are an obsolete way to pay for things.

I don't know. I just bought a new boat, about 30K worth of new boat. They kinda frown on someone walking around with 30K. Sorry but I've never had a CC that was good for 30K. That only leaves a check. Same thing when we bought our last car. Wrote a check. They charge to do a bank transfer.

Rick

JD Farmer · May 16, 2018

I don't get it. 10 weeks ago I ordered a new truck, it came in last Friday, I took delivery on it yesterday and wrote a personal check for the whole amount......no problem. I guess it's who you are and where you come from.

Ted in NE-OH · May 16, 2018

But you won't get the title until the check clears!!

chuck2015 · May 16, 2018

(quoted from post at 09:35:12 05/16/18) I never thought I'd be one to use credit cards but that's about all I use now. More and more places are no longer accepting checks. After the problems my sister has with Telecheck she has been forced to get credit cards. She has never written a bad check in her life but Telecheck will deny her check if she writes two checks in one day. She's had multiple problems from them. She has to call them up and even though she has plenty of money in her account to cover any check she writes they tell her she wrote to many and it looked suspicious so they denied the check. Just happened a couple months ago, she went grocery shopping and wrote a $50 check one place and went to another to get groceries and was denied. My other sister happened to be with her and swiped her cc and it went straight through. She called up Telecheck who told her she wrote to many checks in one day and it was suspicious enough they put a lock on her account and said she couldn't write another check for at least a week or they'd deny it as well even though the money was in the account to cover it. She talked to the bank who told her checks were on their way out and would most likely be gone in 3-4 years and they couldn't do anything. She thought opening a new account would help but the bank told her it wouldn't. She said it was embarrassing everyone starring at her like she was a criminal so she applied for a cc and hasn't had a problem since. I suppose that's a little long winded but it's a sore subject with me.

that seems very odd that they would deny her check. telecheck is not a bank then?

Kansas4010 · May 16, 2018

Telecheck is a company venders go through
for instant checks. About all stores have it
now. It isn't a bank.

Eldon (WA) · May 16, 2018

(quoted from post at 14:28:57 05/16/18)

(quoted from post at 06:34:11 05/16/18) Frankly I'm surprised that check fraud isn't more prevalent, and/or checks haven't been eliminated entirely. Nobody has really made any effort to make checks secure or give vendors a way to verify checks before accepting them.

The only place I use checks anymore is at auctions because they nail you for 2-3% for running a card, even if it's a debit, IF they even accept credit cards. Some of them still don't use computers and keep everything in paper ledgers.

Really, checks are an obsolete way to pay for things.

Click to expand...

I don't know. I just bought a new boat, about 30K worth of new boat. They kinda frown on someone walking around with 30K. Sorry but I've never had a CC that was good for 30K. That only leaves a check. Same thing when we bought our last car. Wrote a check. They charge to do a bank transfer.

Rick

If they frown on my cash they ain't getting it!

Traditional Farmer · May 17, 2018

Same at auctions cash gets you the title but with a check and you get the title mailed to you after the check clears.

W_B · May 17, 2018

(quoted from post at 05:25:30 05/17/18)[

If they frown on my cash they ain't getting it!

I'd think the dealer doesn't want to have to handle large amounts of cash. Makes them vulnerable to theft/robbery too. Amounts of $10,000 and over result in paper work when they go to the bank. Forewarned my MIL to expect that if she takes a large cash payment for the motor home she's selling, she had no clue about that.

BarnyardEngineering · May 17, 2018

The reason Telecheck is giving her a hard time is because it's EXTREMELY unusual for a person to write more than one check per day anymore. It has nothing to do with her personally or the balance in her bank account.

If anything, having a large balance in the bank account would make them MORE likely to suspect fraud when there is "unusual" activity. That's assuming Telecheck has access to her bank balance.

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