Bub actually did a pretty good job defining what makes a check valid. Date, specified account, fixed amount, order to pay, signature. There are some other details of what has to be present on a check, but those five are essential. Warning: banker pun dead ahead. You could say those five elements are “non-negotiable.” I’ll see myself out.
I get free e-transfers and bill paying (they print and mail a check) by my bank.
However, the county has a several dollar charge for paying by credit card so I write two actual checks each year for my property taxes on my vehicle that are due every six months and will continue to do so until I run out of the 100 “Forever” stamps that were GIVEN to me by the USPS for participating in a study.
The lesson is a good one. Junior ought to pay attention anyway. When the payment system went down our apartment system made us use a check or m.o. to pay the rent so it wasn’t late. No grace period.
The outfit that pumps our holding tanks is a farm with a mailbox at the end of a driveway. I can’t guess how many checks they must get, but they sit in a mailbox at the end of their driveway, and have for years. I don’t see it changing anytime soon.
And some places will not allow an e-transfer if you do not use your cell phone to make the payment. You cannot use your home computer, you cannot have your bank do it, so it’s off to the post box to drop off the cheque.
I still can’t understand how people are so comfortable using an “app” on their phone to enter and send their bank account information of to who-knows-where, and to who-knows-who-can-hack-access to it. I do use free “bill pay” through my bank, but would NEVER enter my bank account information anywhere online.
We closed all E-transfers after hackers made a couple $3,000 dollar withdrawals, and the bank only woke up when they tried $19,000. The bank couldn’t explain how it happened; and they threatened that if it happens again they wouldn’t reimburse us.
When I moved almost seven years ago, I ordered new checks — 200 of them. If I don’t move again (and therefore need checks with my new address), I probably have enough to last the rest of my life. Only one party in my life requires a check instead of paying electronically. My kids have checking accounts and debit cards, but I don’t think either of them has ever ordered paper checks.
In next Sunday’s strip, will he try to explain to the kid what a checkbook register is, and a checking account statement, and how to balance a checkbook? (Full disclosure: I enter all debit card purchases — in person or online — into my checkbook register, I download my checking account statement from my bank every month, and I then balance the register against the statement, the old fashioned way. But my checkbook register has been an Excel spreadsheet for over a decade.)
boydpercy Premium Member almost 3 years ago
He probably should have taped the check and mailed it anyway. And there is the matter of float time!
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Bub actually did a pretty good job defining what makes a check valid. Date, specified account, fixed amount, order to pay, signature. There are some other details of what has to be present on a check, but those five are essential. Warning: banker pun dead ahead. You could say those five elements are “non-negotiable.” I’ll see myself out.
abucksworth Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Oh, and I came here to say that there are fees for e-transfers and credit or debit cards, bound to be more than the cost of two checks and postage.
AlanM almost 3 years ago
I get free e-transfers and bill paying (they print and mail a check) by my bank.
However, the county has a several dollar charge for paying by credit card so I write two actual checks each year for my property taxes on my vehicle that are due every six months and will continue to do so until I run out of the 100 “Forever” stamps that were GIVEN to me by the USPS for participating in a study.
Jaymi Cee Premium Member almost 3 years ago
The lesson is a good one. Junior ought to pay attention anyway. When the payment system went down our apartment system made us use a check or m.o. to pay the rent so it wasn’t late. No grace period.
well-i-never almost 3 years ago
The outfit that pumps our holding tanks is a farm with a mailbox at the end of a driveway. I can’t guess how many checks they must get, but they sit in a mailbox at the end of their driveway, and have for years. I don’t see it changing anytime soon.
Brent Rosenthal Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Just double click and Apple Pay does the rest.
Teto85 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
And some places will not allow an e-transfer if you do not use your cell phone to make the payment. You cannot use your home computer, you cannot have your bank do it, so it’s off to the post box to drop off the cheque.
L L almost 3 years ago
I still can’t understand how people are so comfortable using an “app” on their phone to enter and send their bank account information of to who-knows-where, and to who-knows-who-can-hack-access to it. I do use free “bill pay” through my bank, but would NEVER enter my bank account information anywhere online.
EMGULS79 almost 3 years ago
Bub, just make sure you don’t dare EVER be ahead of me in the grocery store line until you learn to use a debit card.
Geophyzz almost 3 years ago
We closed all E-transfers after hackers made a couple $3,000 dollar withdrawals, and the bank only woke up when they tried $19,000. The bank couldn’t explain how it happened; and they threatened that if it happens again they wouldn’t reimburse us.
paullp Premium Member almost 3 years ago
When I moved almost seven years ago, I ordered new checks — 200 of them. If I don’t move again (and therefore need checks with my new address), I probably have enough to last the rest of my life. Only one party in my life requires a check instead of paying electronically. My kids have checking accounts and debit cards, but I don’t think either of them has ever ordered paper checks.
In next Sunday’s strip, will he try to explain to the kid what a checkbook register is, and a checking account statement, and how to balance a checkbook? (Full disclosure: I enter all debit card purchases — in person or online — into my checkbook register, I download my checking account statement from my bank every month, and I then balance the register against the statement, the old fashioned way. But my checkbook register has been an Excel spreadsheet for over a decade.)
david_42 almost 3 years ago
Remember when credit unions couldn’t have checking accounts, so they sold “Negotiable Orders of Withdrawal” aka NOW accounts?