People are writing fewer and fewer checks … and subsequently forgetting how to do so. In many ways, checks are going the way of the savings passbook, a bit of quaint manual financial record-keeping more in line with Bob Cratchett than the modern American consumer.
I still write checks — when forced to. Certain come-to-the-home vendors require it (cleaning people, lawn people, contractors), and a lot of Kay's school expenses need it as well. Aside from that, I tend to live on plastic-based transactions, or electronic account transfers (in bill-paying), and am quite happy to do so.
Where Americans don’t know how to write checks
We’re forgetting how to do it, Google data show.
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I haven't been able to get my off-site landlord to accept Paypal, so I write one check a month.
I don't even know where my checkbook is these days. Neither Anne nor I write checks. Most purchases are done through debit cards and most bills are paid online. The few things that still require a monthly check (such as rent) are done through my credit union where we can log in, schedule them to cut a check for a certain day and amount, and they make sure it gets there on time.
+Les Jenkins , I never thought of that! For years, I've been writing rent checks when I could have had my bank doing it automatically. I am in your debt.
I believe most banks and CUs offer such a service and I'm surprised more people don't take advantage of it.
+Les Jenkins All the ones I know do (albeit sometimes at a cost). We use a third party, Paytrust.com (owned by Intuit) that provides even more flexibility in terms of auto-payments (and isn't tied to any one bank, making changing your bank a lot easier).