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I write checks occassionally. I pay my bills online or pay by phone. Sometime I break down and take out the checkbook to keep me in practice with it, but sending birthday money in the mail I'll write a check.
With credit/debit cards bill pay got rid of checks. Most utilities and recurring home stuff had to be sent by a check but now that most banks have bill pay, so no checks. But I still write checks to pay rent.
I'm still not entirely comfortable with online banking, but Ive made a few transactions with my brokerage and getting money for home purchases so Im warming up to it. Yes, I may be a dinosaur in this manner, but I know there are thousands out there trying to hack into bank systems.
I only write checks to pay rent to my apartment complex, but other than that it is all online/debit card. I don't mind at all if others use checks - I understand that everyone has a different style and you've got to do what works for you.
That said, the main reasons I pay all of my other bills online is time, money, safety and the environment.
By paying everything online...
I save time by not having to drive to the bank, the post office, etc.
Save $$ from not paying for gas to run extra errands to pay bills, and from not having to buy stamps (which are going up by 1-cent a month it seems)
I reduce my negative impact on the environment, since the companies don't have to waste paper mailing things to me, and I don't waste more paper mailing bill payments back to them. It all adds up.
I also feel that online bill payment is much safer than paying by mail. I know instantly that my payment went through, and didn't get lost in the mail or incorrectly processed. It is also easier for someone to just open up your mailbox and go through your mail, whereas online you don't have as much risk of that due to encryption.
Of course, nothing is 100%, but for me online is safer, easier, cheaper, and better for the environment than writing checks.
Wow, I really went on a rant there
Last edited by DCguy03; 04-02-2009 at 08:49 AM..
Reason: added bullets so it didn't look all jumbled together :)
I only write checks to pay rent to my apartment complex, but other than that it is all online/debit card. I don't mind at all if others use checks - I understand that everyone has a different style and you've got to do what works for you.
That said, the main reasons I pay all of my other bills online is time, money, safety and the environment.
By paying everything online...
I save time by not having to drive to the bank, the post office, etc.
Save $$ from not paying for gas to run extra errands to pay bills, and from not having to buy stamps (which are going up by 1-cent a month it seems)
I reduce my negative impact on the environment, since the companies don't have to waste paper mailing things to me, and I don't waste more paper mailing bill payments back to them. It all adds up.
I also feel that online bill payment is much safer than paying by mail. I know instantly that my payment went through, and didn't get lost in the mail or incorrectly processed. It is also easier for someone to just open up your mailbox and go through your mail, whereas online you don't have as much risk of that due to encryption.
Of course, nothing is 100%, but for me online is safer, easier, cheaper, and better for the environment than writing checks.
Wow, I really went on a rant there
Don't forget that with billpay you have proof of when payments were mailed.
I'm still not entirely comfortable with online banking, but Ive made a few transactions with my brokerage and getting money for home purchases so Im warming up to it. Yes, I may be a dinosaur in this manner, but I know there are thousands out there trying to hack into bank systems.
I'm also uncomfortable with online checking. My niece does it and 2 weeks ago, the bank
contacted her that someone from the caribbean attempted to debit $800.00 from her
account.
As convenient as the debit/credit cards are, we are probably over-spending then before
they existed.
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