[Luggage]

Not quite true, some banks do take responsibility

[Ski Bum]

Have all of you check writers considered that when you write a check at the grocery store, you are handing your full name, address, (sometimes) phone number, routing number, and account number out to who knows how many people?

I echo many of the other thoughts here. I use auto payment from the bank and credit cards. When I set them up, I enable notifications so when any transaction hits my account, I get an email or text.

[Luggage]

Here's my take using your bank or debit card company to pay your bills. First have you called your bank and checked out how good their customer service is on the phone? Do they sound American or foreign?
Secondly if they allow electronic transfer meaning it the other company can get it in one or two days please be sure that they have all your companies on their list of AcH transfers . I had trouble entering one or two major companies that could not be simply found.
Third be aware that companies that are small or possibly City related like Leesburg electric they can only send paper checks to. Many times I have found that it takes 10 days or more for receipt and yes once or twice the mail has been lost. Like one or two other commenters said you will learn quickly when these need checks to pay a month in advance so you always have a balance I did that back in the 1990s after one or two people get me with a $40 fee for late payment. But overall it's good.

One more thing is that you should really look at their system and understand how they approach this. My old debit card with immediately reflect a lower balance when I entered any future electronic payment or paper check. My newer Bank does not do this and keeps my balance higher until a payment is authorized or a check has cleared. You may not realize this and try to pay more then you have if you keep a low balance like I do in my account waiting for my social security to clear monthly. Also some systems allow you to set up a monthly payment while you may have other bills that allow payment from their side which I find somewhat risky.
And one very last thing is that you can set up transfers from One bank to another depending on the system and Bank you use.
I can recommend PenFed which is not local but excellent and also Capital One where you can have credit cards debit cards checking accounts and savings accounts all tied in together and the advantage here is that you can pay your credit card bill instantaneously from your other Capital One accounts. I hope I've helped and yes the future is here now for the last 20 years at least good luck

[Luggage]

Checks do not need a full address on them. But considering that my very first check was not signed back in the days of college and it was still cashed I understand your viewpoint.

Originally Posted by Ski Bum

Have all of you check writers considered that when you write a check at the grocery store, you are handing your full name, address, (sometimes) phone number, routing number, and account number out to who knows how many people?

I echo many of the other thoughts here. I use auto payment from the bank and credit cards. When I set them up, I enable notifications so when any transaction hits my account, I get an email or text.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Ski Bum

Have all of you check writers considered that when you write a check at the grocery store, you are handing your full name, address, (sometimes) phone number, routing number, and account number out to who knows how many people?

I echo many of the other thoughts here. I use auto payment from the bank and credit cards. When I set them up, I enable notifications so when any transaction hits my account, I get an email or text.

It's even worse when you give your credit card to a restaurant server and they take it into the back room. I always pay cash in restaurants.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Luggage

Here's my take using your bank or debit card company to pay your bills. First have you called your bank and checked out how good their customer service is on the phone? Do they sound American or foreign?
Secondly if they allow electronic transfer meaning it the other company can get it in one or two days please be sure that they have all your companies on their list of AcH transfers . I had trouble entering one or two major companies that could not be simply found.
Third be aware that companies that are small or possibly City related like Leesburg electric they can only send paper checks to. Many times I have found that it takes 10 days or more for receipt and yes once or twice the mail has been lost. Like one or two other commenters said you will learn quickly when these need checks to pay a month in advance so you always have a balance I did that back in the 1990s after one or two people get me with a $40 fee for late payment. But overall it's good.

One more thing is that you should really look at their system and understand how they approach this. My old debit card with immediately reflect a lower balance when I entered any future electronic payment or paper check. My newer Bank does not do this and keeps my balance higher until a payment is authorized or a check has cleared. You may not realize this and try to pay more then you have if you keep a low balance like I do in my account waiting for my social security to clear monthly. Also some systems allow you to set up a monthly payment while you may have other bills that allow payment from their side which I find somewhat risky.
And one very last thing is that you can set up transfers from One bank to another depending on the system and Bank you use.
I can recommend PenFed which is not local but excellent and also Capital One where you can have credit cards debit cards checking accounts and savings accounts all tied in together and the advantage here is that you can pay your credit card bill instantaneously from your other Capital One accounts. I hope I've helped and yes the future is here now for the last 20 years at least good luck

Every online bill I pay, including Leesburg Electric, is transmitted electronically. Paper checks are only sent by the bank to individuals or very small companies.

[Villages Kahuna]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

Do you use your bank to pay your monthly utility bills or other transactions?

Just curious

I’ve been paying my bills automatically for years. I had been using Chase, but recently shifted to Bank of America. Both work well, without any problems. I also use the check deposit feature of the bank websites. I can’t recall when I’ve actually been inside either bank.

All you have to do is make sure you have the balances in the bank to pay the bills when they are paid by the bank per your instructions!

[Roron123]

Absolutely on auto pay! Just check bills as they come in that amounts haven’t changed.

[Michael G.]

People forget by writing checks, you are totally responsible until the receiver cashes that check which could be months.

Also when using a bank to pay your bills, if for some reason the bank screws up, YOU are
responsible for late payment, NOT THE BANK.

The Answer:
Always use rewards or cash back c/c and use your c/c $$$$.
If that bill is not payed, they will investigate it, and you have options on why it wasn't paid.

Pay directly on their website with your c/c, sit back and receive the rewards that are TAX FREE.

A no Brainer.

OH.....Your Welcome

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by jebartle

I'm the one in line at the register everyone hates, writing a check, I know, I know, it's hard to teach an OLD DOG, new tricks, besides I'm perenoid.

Or me with cash, I alway get that look 👀.

[MollyJo]

Originally Posted by Worldseries27

no the wait is not that bad, it's the pony express hitched to the handicap parking that causing the ruckus
rolling rolling rolling
keep those doggies rolling ( in the carts)

Crooks ‘wash’ checks Its a different world nowadays…

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by bowlingal

absolutely not...do not trust anyone....hackers everywhere. I also pay cash for my gas....never credit/debit card

I buy the gas card and out money I it so I don’t have to go I every time to pay. circle K now has gas cards. That way I don’t have to stick my credit card in the gas pump.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by MollyJo

Crooks ‘wash’ checks Its a different world nowadays…

Crooks are crooks no matter what method you can still get scammed.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Luggage

Not quite true, some banks do take responsibility

With you’re money 💰

[Salty Dog]

As mentioned by some others, I use a rewards CC for as many transactions as possible. I have all the monthly transactions setup so the payee automatically charges my CC. This pretty much sets the onus on the payee as to the proper amount and date of payment.