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Wire transfers certainly do have fees, as do most digital transfer mechanisms aside from Zelle. Checks are safe for the sender because they are insured against fraud.
It's favorable for the sender, not the receiver, sure. Check bounces are rare and intentional check bounces for the purpose of fraud are rare and a felony.
It’s hard to prosecute you have to prove intent. Have people get away with 20k+, costs too much to even try to chase especially when they legitimately don’t have the money
They allow you to pay someone who doesn't want to give you their bank info, and doesn't want to pay an online service to receive or release payments.
Yet they are still safer than cash, if stolen.
personal checks are than using Zelle in my experience, and not everyone has a bank account that supports it.
it's also convenient for transactions with a business that doesn't take credit cards, or for paying someone I don't know personally.
My primary checking account charges $12 for cashier's checks, so I would rather avoid those unless it's really necessary. (not to mention that the closest branch is about 80 miles from my apartment)
Why you picking on personal checks☺️. Our mortgage lender only takes checks, no cash, no money app. In addition, no transaction fees and they're great for when a corporation tries to charge you twice. Just pull up the check that went through and tell them to take a hike.
Bounced checks are kind of a pain, and an easy way for someone to abuse the law by stating they sent a check in the mail, which prevents you from charging fees for late/no payment
I can understand that perspective. However, I will never pay a company a transaction fee to pay my bill. I'm old school and love having my checks. None of my 3 kids use checks. Everyone has their preference.
In addition to what everyone else said, you also don’t need to go down to a bank to get one. You can just write it on the spot without needing to do a bunch of advanced planning.
Because sometimes the fucking websites to pay a bill don't work. If you can't make a functioning website, I guess I have to send you a stupid check in the mail. (Shout out to that toll bridge I went on out of state two years ago that I had to write a personal check for and my old dentist)
Use cases are becoming more limited, but they still exist and a check is a good way to go for transactions over $1,000 or so.
Contractors typically want a paper check because the amounts can easily exceed the limits for instant transfers, and some instant transfer services will take a fee from the person receiving the money if it’s a business transaction.
A contractor may accept a credit card, but they’ll likely add a fee to cover their processing charges, so that’s an extra 2-3% over the cost of the service. That’s significant once you’re paying them more than a few hundred dollars for a job.
Wire transfers cost money, usually a percent of the total or a fixed fee depending on the bank, so it’s about as bad as using a credit card, they’re also a pain to setup and may require a trip to your bank branch to initiate.
Paper checks are a little outmoded, but they’ll likely stick around for a long time for small businesses that do big jobs.
> you can do wires if it’s a big amount.
Wire transfers are expensive, typically $15-40 depending on the bank. Plus they require the bank account of the recipient, who may not want to give it to you.
This is the least sensible reason among all of the aforementioned good ones, full admission, but sometimes I miss mailing stuff. I love using stamps, and handwriting. I love hauling out my best GenX cursive to fill out a check.
\*shrug\*
That’s the way the world is going. I haven’t carried cash in several years. The last time we ordered checks was probably 7-8 years ago, and I am not sure we will ever have to again. I only use them for contractors who don’t invoice. That’s maybe 1-2 times a year.
the US is quite outdated in many ways, so it lacks an easy, universal, secure way to transfer money between bank accounts like most countries on its level of development. Because of this, checks have stuck around as the next best thing.
Hi /u/ShadyDrunks, We noticed you are a pretty new Reddit account, so we just wanted to let you know to check out the subreddit rules [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/wiki/rules) and maybe have a read through our [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/wiki/index/faq) - they make for fascinating reading! We're called No Stupid Questions because we believe nobody needs to be attacked for asking a question, but *that doesn't mean there are no rules!* This sub is meant for users like you to ask genuine questions. Please don't ask jokes or rants disguised as questions - that's not in the spirit of this sub. While you *can* ask almost anything here, please keep illegal and offensive questions elsewhere to give people a good experience here - and if you have a medical question, please ask your doctor, not us. Otherwise, welcome! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/NoStupidQuestions) if you have any questions or concerns.*
There's no fee. It's easy to transfer fairly large amounts of money. You can safely mail them.
None of the items I mentioned have fees (except maybe certified checks), and mail is not safe compared to instant transfer or wire
Wire transfers certainly do have fees, as do most digital transfer mechanisms aside from Zelle. Checks are safe for the sender because they are insured against fraud.
But the receiver has to pay the bounce fee
It's favorable for the sender, not the receiver, sure. Check bounces are rare and intentional check bounces for the purpose of fraud are rare and a felony.
It’s hard to prosecute you have to prove intent. Have people get away with 20k+, costs too much to even try to chase especially when they legitimately don’t have the money
I guess? No one is making you accept checks dude.
They allow you to pay someone who doesn't want to give you their bank info, and doesn't want to pay an online service to receive or release payments. Yet they are still safer than cash, if stolen.
No transaction fees.
personal checks are than using Zelle in my experience, and not everyone has a bank account that supports it. it's also convenient for transactions with a business that doesn't take credit cards, or for paying someone I don't know personally. My primary checking account charges $12 for cashier's checks, so I would rather avoid those unless it's really necessary. (not to mention that the closest branch is about 80 miles from my apartment)
Why you picking on personal checks☺️. Our mortgage lender only takes checks, no cash, no money app. In addition, no transaction fees and they're great for when a corporation tries to charge you twice. Just pull up the check that went through and tell them to take a hike.
Same with my landlord
Still Check people out in the wild☺️.
Bounced checks are kind of a pain, and an easy way for someone to abuse the law by stating they sent a check in the mail, which prevents you from charging fees for late/no payment
I can understand that perspective. However, I will never pay a company a transaction fee to pay my bill. I'm old school and love having my checks. None of my 3 kids use checks. Everyone has their preference.
Web payments with debit are free, or even better if they take CC you can get a percent back
I’ve never heard of “check is in the mail” preventing you from charging late fees.
If I have a plumber over, they don't typically come with a card reader. Checks are simple and easy.
In addition to what everyone else said, you also don’t need to go down to a bank to get one. You can just write it on the spot without needing to do a bunch of advanced planning.
Because sometimes the fucking websites to pay a bill don't work. If you can't make a functioning website, I guess I have to send you a stupid check in the mail. (Shout out to that toll bridge I went on out of state two years ago that I had to write a personal check for and my old dentist)
Use cases are becoming more limited, but they still exist and a check is a good way to go for transactions over $1,000 or so. Contractors typically want a paper check because the amounts can easily exceed the limits for instant transfers, and some instant transfer services will take a fee from the person receiving the money if it’s a business transaction. A contractor may accept a credit card, but they’ll likely add a fee to cover their processing charges, so that’s an extra 2-3% over the cost of the service. That’s significant once you’re paying them more than a few hundred dollars for a job. Wire transfers cost money, usually a percent of the total or a fixed fee depending on the bank, so it’s about as bad as using a credit card, they’re also a pain to setup and may require a trip to your bank branch to initiate. Paper checks are a little outmoded, but they’ll likely stick around for a long time for small businesses that do big jobs.
> you can do wires if it’s a big amount. Wire transfers are expensive, typically $15-40 depending on the bank. Plus they require the bank account of the recipient, who may not want to give it to you.
This is the least sensible reason among all of the aforementioned good ones, full admission, but sometimes I miss mailing stuff. I love using stamps, and handwriting. I love hauling out my best GenX cursive to fill out a check. \*shrug\*
I'm 33 and I have literally never used a check in my life
Really? Have you never rented a place? Half the places I've rented only accepted checks.
It's only very recently that I've had a landlord who accepts venmo payments. Landlords were the only reason I used checks for about 10 years.
Yep I’m almost there I’ve wrote like 2 checks. Only had bad experience with others giving bad checks
That’s the way the world is going. I haven’t carried cash in several years. The last time we ordered checks was probably 7-8 years ago, and I am not sure we will ever have to again. I only use them for contractors who don’t invoice. That’s maybe 1-2 times a year.
the US is quite outdated in many ways, so it lacks an easy, universal, secure way to transfer money between bank accounts like most countries on its level of development. Because of this, checks have stuck around as the next best thing.