OT: Absolutely Fuming!!!! #$%^&*

[GumbyCT]

Through the use of Bill Pay (free), and credit and debit cards, I use less than one check per year.

I'm just sayin'.

Jay

Ditto

But you do have to be careful even w/CU cuz they will "float your money" to fund the "FREE" part.

But yea use the credit card on as many things as possible then Bill Pay that once a month. I esp. like that my CC give me a chart to show where I spent my money at.

I like the local bank too. Someone you can look at and touch. Esp. if you have problems.

You do need to keep your banking pc clean of malware. Or use one pc for surfing and another for banking, I think is best way.

Don't mix your business with pleasure. Or is it Don't mix your pleasures with business?

Edit: You could do like my mother & father did, pay everything in cash or get a Money Order. They never had even a checking acct. never mind a Debit or Credit Card. I got my 1st checking acct in Jr. High and had no idea they didn't have one.

[Slinky]

Yep, drive "them" nuts! GO CASH ONLY and an occasional money order when needed. They HATE that all cash world. They can't make any money on cash.

[chunkyfrog]

I remember my parents going over the statement every month for their joint checking account. Fireworks!
Hubby and I have had separate accounts for decades. Much less excitement.

[macewa]

regarding leaving a small town bank: People are being advised to go to these banks rather than the larger ones because the larger ones are adding on fees like heck! I am with one of the larger banks and stay with them only because they give free checking to people who have direct deposit. I had a second account with them that I used for living expenses but they were going to start chaging me a fee just to have the account. I gave that account up. Of course they said if I did a savings account, debiting a certain amount each month out of my checking account they wouldn't charge me a fee. I told them i couldn't afford a savings account right now. They told me, "well after you put money into the savings account you can move it back to your checking account." Like, then why even make me do that to start with? The larger national banks are going to be putting even more fees on us . . . so possibly local is much better. I have most of my monthly bill automatically debited from my account and i use my debit card for other things. Rarely write a check anymore.

[idamtnboy]

Thanks for the vistaprint and Staples suggestions.

You can order checks from Walmart.com also. One of the least expensive I've found.

[kempo]

I have been using online banking for the past 5 years. My retirement check is direct deposit. Move money from one account to another and pay bills online. Only write one check a month and thats for health insurance. I purchase everything with my debit and credit card. I can go to Wally World and use my debit card for purchases and get cash back at the checkout if I need any. The transaction will be on my computer as soon as I get home. Never have to go to the bank unless I need to put something in or take something out of safety deposit box. I love it.

[Elle]

What's a check?

I haven't used them in years (online banking, paypal, visa, debit). When I did use them ages ago they were quite expensive....way more than $20.

[DavidCarolina]

not to play advocate, life is infuriating half the time.

But checks are very expensive for banks. I seriously doubt theyre trying to rip you. The banking climate today is cutthroat and some offer free
checking but others have concluded they just cant afford it.

20 bucks is not all that much for such a service.

Why not switch eveyrthing to debit direct deposit and be done with it? Just use the card.

[idamtnboy]

But checks are very expensive for banks.

Not when you use one at Wally World. The cashier scans the check and hands it back to you. From there on it's all electronic. By the time you get home the check will have been deducted from your bank account.

[Lizistired]

Before web bill pay, I bought my checks from the companies that have the flyers in the sunday paper. The prices were reasonable but had been creeping up.
That last box will last be the rest of my life now.
I've written 3 checks this year and 2 of them should have been put on my visa! I would have gotten $25 back in rewards.
My favorite thing about WBP is being able to schedule the payments according to the due date as soon as I get the bills and file it. Done.

[BlackSpinner]

I don't trust technology with my bank account. There are way too many criminals and unscrupulous individuals that will do anything possible to steal from people. Having my personal bank account more accessible than it already is -- NOT something I am comfortable with.

It is much worse to have your check book stolen. Trust me on this. If your card is stolen they get one chance to get money out, then it is locked down. If your cheques are stolen, the bastard goes for WEEKS cashing them at random ATM's in just below his limit( because it takes time for one bank to tell the other and the police need to get involved). Yes you get the money back - eventually - but in the mean time all you payment get over drawn or rejected until you open a new account and get all the transfers done which you need to do quickly between cheques while you have money in the account. A nightmare!