Here Is Why You Should Still Use Paper Checks
Many people think of paper checks as a thing of the past as there are digital payment methods like Venmo, Zelle, and Apple Pay, but there are still a few instances that it’s more beneficial to use paper checks. There are times when it’s more secure or more convenient to use a personal check, and how to use check safely, as well as when it’s okay to not use them.
It is possible to write personalized photo checks in any of these situations:
- Shop at a small-scale business
- Giving money as a gift
- Tracing important payments
- Secure your identity
Shopping at a Small Business
Because of their size and processing fees, some small companies aren’t willing to accept credit card payments. One study showed that only 27% of small businesses would prefer digital transactions (think credit cards or ApplePay) over non-digital ones (cash check, cash, and money orders). So if you hire someone to mow your lawn or buy goods from a local market and flea market seller or even have a dog walker, you might need to keep a cashier’s check in your wallet to pay the bill.
Gifting Money
If you’re running out of time and are headed to a birthday celebration, wedding, or other family celebration, that probably means tucking money into a credit card. But if you’re looking to give money as an offer, checks could be a better choice instead of cash. Both cash and checks are easily lost in the excitement of unwrapping gifts, one is specifically addressed to the recipient and the other isn’t. This may help the recipient be able to recall who gave them cash.
If they place the money to the side and return it later, they might not remember who gifted the money to them. A check-to-payoff gift can additionally encourage the recipient to put the money away rather than spending them instantly. You’ll need to go to banks or use a mobile app to deposit the money or cash it, which might take a little more effort.
Tracing Important Payments
When making a substantial payment such as the down payment of a new property, college tuition payment, a deposit for the location of a wedding, or even making a payment to a government agency, such as the IRS It is recommended to make a check-in paper. This will help you ensure that your payment is received since you’ll see the date that the other party deposits or cashes the check on your next bank statement, or through your bank’s website.
Some banks can even provide an image of the check that was cashed to ensure that it’s the correct one. It could also prevent you from having to pay charges for late payments since the transactions will be all dated. In addition, if your check is lost or stolen You may request to cancel your payment through the customer service line or online via your bank’s site. If you want to make a stop payment on a check, you’ll need to pick “stop payment” in the “stop payment” option via your bank’s online portal–but you must do this before the check has been cashed. You may also need to enter the account number and check number along with the amount for the cheque. Make sure you’ll most likely have to pay a cost to stop a check. These fees vary from the bank you are using to stop it, but you could be charged around $33 to stop the cash, and some banks will charge even more.
If You’ve Been the Victim of Fraud
Has your personal financial information been compromised or stolen? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. A study revealed that in the year 2018, 14.4 million people in the U.S. were victims of identity fraud in the amount of $3.4 billion losses. In addition, that study found that a greater number of victims had to pay out of their own pocket to cover the cost of this fraud.
Based on these figures it’s only natural to need to ensure your personal information is safe if you’ve dealt with similar issues. Most people opt to continue cash or paper checks instead of using debit or credit cards at local stores. They may also decline to submit their payment details online on websites for retail stores or make use of online and electronic payment methods. While writing a paper-based check isn’t a foolproof method keeping your private information online and not using your credit cards less can reduce the chance of identity theft and fraud and other financial criminals.