Cheques....

[ToraToraTora]

How long before they become a thing of the past? I use about 2 a year, no supermarkets take them, I imagine not many shops do now either.

[LazyGun]

@ emmie I am all for people using whatever payment system they feel most comfortable with, but does it not cost you more, paying your utlities by cheque? I am fairly sure discounts are offered for payment by direct debit, even larger discounts were you to go the paperless bill route

[emmie]

the discounts have gone, so will be on standard rate, and no i don't want to pay by direct debit, i don't like it for anything, i hate they can access my account, in the past BT messed up big time, took direct debit money they were not entitled to and i had the devil to pay to get it back

[ToraToraTora]

why is this a troll question? It's perfectly reasonable, the fact the OG and his ilk have yet to get out of the 19th century(You on the electric yet OG?) is not a reason to suppress the subject. All my transactions are automatic I have a full audit trail available on line (by law in fact) all these worries about DD's etc are just paranoia I have never had a penny go astray. I only occasionally have to use a cheque when I'm dealing with a stone age payee who does not have Internet banking or take debit cards, fortunately that's rare.

[rockyracoon]

ToraToraTora
Question Author
you put a cheque on the plate in church?! LMAO!



No, it goes in a gift aid envelope, many people do it. One chap puts a rather large chq in the plate everyweek (plate is just a term used, it's actually a bag)

[emmie]

so now i suffer from paranoia, been the victim of direct debit bungle have you, many elderly may not want direct debit so why should it be foisted on you.

[Prudie]

I also only use about 2 a year. I'm surprised no-one has mentioned their great advantage - if you haven't got the money in your account at the time no amount of DD, internet banking, pay with your phone etc is going to help you. Cheques got me out of many a mess in the past.

[emmie]

stone age payee, do you think that you are over egging the pudding, what about all the people who do not have computers, gosh think about that for a moment why don't you.

[ToraToraTora]

who said anything about foisting DD's on you? If DD's scare you then pay bills at bank with a debit card or do on line. I'd get used to the later though as there will be very few bank branches before much longer. The banks are planning to close all but a few central hubs.

[emmie]

as i said if you read it, that many do not have computers, so how can they pay on line, if they do away with cheques, then bills will have to be paid over the counter wherever payment can be made. if it's council then there, think if you are old, can't get out much, don't have a computer, a stamp, envelope and someone to post your cheque if you are not able to go out through ill health, or infirmity will do.

[ToraToraTora]

usually you can phone up andy with a debit card. Or phone the bank and get them to pay a bill, eg like First Direct do.

[carolegif]

I work with the U3A and they insist on cheques for membership, trips, tickets etc. as payments can be traced.

[ToraToraTora]

so only cheque payments can be traced! PMSL! what's U3A?

[emmie]

lots of people use cheques, just because you don't - i know a small local business which does not accept debit cards only cheques, cash. he refuses to have the machine, pay the fees, or whatever, he is not alone, many small businesses are the same.

[ToraToraTora]

I'm amazed he's still in business.

[boxtops]

emmie, you can take the bill to the bank with your debit card, and pay over the counter.

I use about two cheques a month these days, I do like to still have the option to do so.

[emmie]

tora, i am not, he has been in business for more than 40 years, and his clients don't care about how they pay. he has a sign up so everyone knows.
you seem to think that everyone is like you, well welcome to the real world, not everyone is, i prefer for the time being to pay by cheque, surely that is my choice it' not yours,

[boxtops]

Tora's right, emmie - you could just ring up the electricity people and pay over the phone with your debit card. I hardly ever mail anything these days, I use about three postage stamps a month.

Tora - University of the Third Age.

[viv38]

I'm with emmie on this one, I prefer to pay by cheque and there was such a hue and cry when they tried to get rid of them the powers that be changed their mind!

[DrFilth]

emmie is right everyone that i know has had trouble with dd, i am no longer with aol because of a dd mess up

[Baldric]

Just checked the chequebook stubs, I haven't written one for
almost 2 years.