I all but stopped carrying a checkbook long before I heard Clark talk about it. I write one check a month and that's because the power company charges to use a card to pay online.
Many years ago I had a gas station I went to regularly and the clerk tried to refuse my check because I didn't have a fixed work number. Nevermind that they had all my information and I wrote checks there at least twice a week. Once I got a debit card it made that hassle a thing of the past.
As for safety of debit cards vs checks, a thief doesn't need either to clean you out. A checkbook is just one less thing for me to carry around and worry about losing somewhere.

I used to write checks for most everything. I get the custom type of checks and pay for the service of the image I have on thE checks. But looking at what I pay for the checks I've turned to just using my debit card and just writing the checks to pay for bills in the mail. My wife is not wanting to pay bills over the internet.

Julia E. - Excellent response!

I don't like the idea of ANY business limiting payment methods, even if that business has the right to do so.

It would seem to limit the business' efforts to make a profit.

That seems to go against the reason why a business is created in the first place.

I would not deal with any business that did not accept cash, checks, credit or debit cards, as I may use anyone of these methods to pay for goods and services.

I have had one merchant refuse cash.
I was amused/amazed at this.
I explained that U.S currency is legal tender for all debts, both private and public and even showed the guy where that's printed on the note. He still refused.
I never knew the reason why.
I do hope that that individual was respnsible for placing the items I had intended to purchase back on the correct shelves of the store.

As for civility, it's not as plentiful as it should be.

I can see this when driving, shopping, and many other activities where there's human interaction.

A lot of people just aren't raised to be good, decent people anymore.

They are always in a hurry and seem to believe that they are better that anyone else. They seem to believe that they are special.

Even if you try to explain something to them where they are wrong or they may benefit from a situation, they argue, argue, argue.

There's nothing like an ignorant/stupid elitist.

Trust me, don't ever waste your time with one of these.

I see nothing wrong with checks or checkwriting. I have been held up more in retail stores by debit and credit machines that don't work properly than I've ever been held up by someone writing a check. It you don't have the time to shop and pay in the first place, then don't take it out on others! We should as a society ditch the plastic. After all, isn't that what has gotten the majority of us in trouble in the first place?

Joe Chicago must be kidding. Us help the banks out??? What have the banks ever done for us? Charge outrageous fees on credit cards, totally screw up your account then refuse to make it good. What a laugh!

Why does it always seem to be the same people that write about one word per minute that want to write a check? As a cashier, I spent a year or two in retail while I was in school, I'd MUCH rather teach EVERY single person how to use the machine than wait for just one person to write a check.

As for the check guaranteeing/verification. Perfect, add another 2-3 minutes to every person in line.

My husband and I had a business until the down turn of the economy. But a store should be allowed to decide to take checks or not. I know that we struggled with consumers not honoring their checks. This is a big expense to small businesses. Consumers can still pay with debit or credit cards or even cash.

Clark, I love you guys but that is a horrible and slanted poll. Of course their is a real risk writing a check. And no businesses should not be "required" (by law?) to accept them. There is a real risk of getting mugged if you carry cash for everything. There is a real risk of getting hit by a bus if you cross the street. Should walking be outlawed?

Clark doesn't like debit cards and now no checks What are we to use???

A retailer that doesn't accept checks is both shortsighted and incompetent. There are check-verification services for merchants that both verify and GUARANTEE customer checks, and the cost is often less than that of accepting credit cards. Smart merchants accept all valid forms of payment: cash, checks, and credit cards. To turn away even one customer with a valid form of payment is unthinkable. Period.

These days theives don't just want your check book to write checks from it. They want the routing and account numbers. I had this done to to me. They made at least four checks and went to an unsuspecting and overly anxious (to get the check cashing fee) small-store owner. On the fourth check, the owner suspected something; tracked down my phone number by the business name and asked me if I had written the checks. Too late for him; he had already cashed about $3500 in checks. The bank refunded me my money; the store owner lost out.

So you write an IOU on a piece of paper and give it to someone for payment. They take it to the bank and to get the money out of your account assuming there is enough. And if there isn't you can go to jail.

Sounds archaic and inefficient. Don't think I would like to be on either side of that transaction!

I've been the victim of identity theft through check writing and while it's a pain, I will never go to a credit or debit card use for my everyday purchases. If push comes to shove, I'll use cash. It's my preference. It's my money.

If vendors don't want my money, fine. They have no clue as to what they are turning away.

Once again the responses are skewed toward approval. I don't think it's fair to ban cellphones as long as they don't interfere with operation of the plane or the pilot's air to ground communications. Business people benefit by in route calls re changes in schedule etc. But, like smoking, it should be a privilege not a RIGHT! Your right to make a cellphone call should be limited to short QUIET conversations, and, like smoking, should cease if it is disturbing people around you.

I think most people who answered this survey were thinking only about their own convenience, not about having to share the very close quarters amicably with others. My right to chat on the phone stops where your ear begins--if you object.

And REALLY, how many of us actually have communications that can't wait for the hour or two until we are on the ground again. Even the President of the United States doesn't have to be in THAT close touch with anybody else. In fact Obama had to PLEAD to keep his "Blackberry" after he was sworn in. If he can afford to be away from the phone, so can WE!!

not only should we get rid of checks, hopefully one day we can get rid of 1 penny coins !

Clark,
YOU SAID: "But the real danger comes if somebody steals your checkbook and passes checks as if they were you. Retailers can swear out a warrant for your arrest if the check bounces because of insufficient funds. And that's even if you put a stop on the checks and close out the account!" This is simply not true. If it is stolen, then it is not my signature & no authorization. When the Merchant first contacts you, simply take care of your business & there will be no arrest. Recently, my checkbook was stolen with 30 blank checks. I called the bank reported the number sequence missing, froze the account & opened a new account. The Bank said they will call me should one of the checks go through. I will take police report and go to the Merchant and execute an affidavit of forgery. Once informed, the Merchant would proceed at their own risk trying to fool a magistrate into arresting you & you got it, a false arrest would be a pretty hefty civil penalty. BTW, it is just as easy to steal those ATM cards. Also, the Banks are making a killing on ATM cards charging account holder & merchant alike with various and sundry fees.

See you article "Bank of Opportunity" as a reference of why this isnot a good idea. Until credit and debit card companies can do honest business, why support their bad pracitices through use of force?

My goal for 2010 is not to write any checks. I have only written 11 so far this year, with my wife writing most of those. Retailers should have the option of taking or not taking checks.

I don't use an ATM or debit card and never have, but, have chosen to 'write' a check for my purchases. I keep tabs on my purchasing expenses better than just 'trusting' a bank's process. I always know how much is in my checking account and balance my account each week to ensure accuracy. I can also feel the real pain of spending money and that psychologically is healthy for me. If a store wishes to make my check into an electronic form for their accounting, that's fine; but, I will stand by my writing of checks. I do not have any information on my checks other than my name and address. Period. I also do not live in a state of Chicken Little who thinks the sky is falling at every second. Being conscientious and responsible is the best strategy. People are so impatient these days...like road rage in a checkout line...you can see it also the way they plow through the lanes of a grocery store with their carts..parking them mid aisle, too!

i usually use credit cards or cash, but if i want a receipt for tax purposes on some items i like to write a check

I think grocery stores should have a seperate line for check writers. I also think there should be a trap door to get rid of those crazy cat people who think 53 cans of cat food are OK in the express lane.

I would not shop at any store that refused to take checks. I have one credit card that I only use for online purchases.
Clark says fake Visa & MC are a no-no.
I will not own a debit card.
Furthermore, I write my checks quickly and if there is someone in front of me, I have it all filled out except for amount when the clerk starts checking out my items.

Right on Paul!
I have waited just as long while couples argue about how much money is "supposed" to be in their account and then have to dig out a credit card or two to make their purchase.

I don't see any big advantage and therefore don't use a debit card. Besides, there doesn't appear to be a convenient way of knowing your balance (perhaps the balance is printed on the reciept of each purchase?).

All local purchases I make are by check, I hardly ever carry cash. Works for me; and I would let the establishment know that a check ban would be the last they saw of me.

I run a small business. It is becoming more and more difficult to collect on bad checks and more people seem to be using checks to "float" money. We no longer accept checks

Man Clark, you can't have it both ways. You say debit cards are evil and now you applaud a merchant refusing to take a check for payment? What??!@

For those that think checks are less dangerous than debit cards. I have some news for you. All you need to do an EFT on your checking account is printed right on the check. Many retailers and merchants have systems that allow them to swipe your account with an EFT and the checks never get processed. Have you ever written a check and the merchant hands the check back to you after putting it through a reader?

Guess who puts in the amount by hand? The retailer or merchant keys it in by hand and you never sign anything authorizing the transaction because the check is already signed. The money is transferred bank-to-bank via an EFT. My bank even allows me, the customer, to do deposits from home. My own EFT reader via my computer. I just take scanned image of your check and enter the amount. Viola the money transfers and I shred the check.

For those that worry about the fake MC and Visa products you can ask your bank for a ATM only debit card. I have one myself. But, the banks will always hand you over a check card and debit card combo because they make money off the check card fees. You have to be pushy and ask for a debit only card. They still make them.

Of course things can go wrong with debit cards. And they can go wrong with credit cards.

But they can go wrong with checks too (your account can be wiped out just as fast with forged checks as with debit cards, and your identity is more easily stolen with a check).

And cash is risky, because you can lose it or be robbed.

Yet ALL of the above possibilities are extremely rare.

In any case, using that logic, you would never drive to the store because one day you might have a car accident. Or not walk into the store because you might trip on the sidewalk.

Life is risky. Everything has a risk. I'll take the teeny tiny risk that something will happen with a debit or credit card (which any major bank will resolve anyway) so I can have ease of use the other several thousand of days of my life.

Perspective here - there are lots of scary things in life to worry about. Paying electronically is not one of them.

I do have some old cassette taps but no "8 tracks". I through out the video tapes as the become useless. I do need to make purchases and sometimes use the internet. Call me a "7 track" sic if you want to but I still have to buy and don't like to use the "NEW" garbage much.

Come up here and learn a little. The merchants won't take a city check but they don't have a problem taking mine.
Mark

"get with the times
I bet those check writers listen to 8-track's, get up to change the channel and think "the internet" is fishing device . . .
By evolve @ 10/13/09 02:26:31 PMreport abuseCASH!"

If Whole Foods refuses checks, then I will likely cut back on stopping at Whole Foods. Debit cards are a bigger risk. Lose a debit card and it can be instantly used over and over. Minor electronic errors can instantly cause you a lot of headaches. Checks offer a way for you to use your checking account without having a constant "open" sign hanging over your money.

Those who think debit cards are wonderful have never experienced the problems that come hand in hand with those "fake Visa" products.

If whole foods wants to adopt what amounts to a "credit card only" policy(because, what fool would carry a debit card attached to their primary checking account?), it is a mistake. Cash? Well, lose that and you KNOW it's gone. Carry $200+ in cash to Whole Foods? I don't think so.

Other shoppers hate waiting for someone to write out a check? Too freakin' bad. Take a sedative and chill...or better yet, pass the time by actually TALKING to the person next to you.

The fact is that your schedule is probably not that pressing to begin with...and if it is, you shouldn't be grocery shopping anyway!

Why any stores still accept checks is beyond me. I'm sure within 3-5 years checks will no longer be an option in most places.

Debit cards work just fine and don't normally charge any fees (if you're seeing fees, get a new bank). Some debit cards even give you rewards points.

Credit cards work especially fine because they more often have rewards points. As long as you pay the balance in full every month, paying by credit card makes the most sense. I've already redeemed card points for several hundred dollars of gift cards this year.

Let's see...I can pay for printed paper checks, then stand there writing out a check, fussing with ID's, holding up everyone behind me, and trying to keep manual track of amounts spent and balance it all manually at month end. Or I can swipe a card and be out in 10 seconds, have all transactions automatically tracked online, and get free stuff. Bet I know which method is going to win!

Let's move to a cash only society, crime may go up a bit but at least the lines will move quicker. lol

Checks and people's stupid debit and credit cards, need to go. Why are so many afraid of having cash on their person? I'd like to take those card readers that we now see at almost every checkout counter in America and rip it off it's base and smash them on the ground. How about this? A grocery chain where you can virtually shop online, get your exact total, then you come to the store with that amount in cash, get your stuff and have a quick checkout and you're out the door. Sound good?

As for that danger scenario, it happened to me. In 2000 my car was stolen, a Wells Fargo checkbook was one of the items in my car. I filed a report and my car along with the items in it were never recovered. Years later, after I had long since closed that account and switched to a credit union and I lived a state over now, I was driving to my parents back in that state. I wasn't speeding nor did I do anything illegal, I just got in front of some cop at a light who was bored and he was running peoples plates willy nilly. I was pulled over and arrested on a warrant for "theft by check" a gross misdemeanor. I had to sit in jail for 12 hours, I bailed out, I had to get a lawyer, I had to take off work and go back into court a few weeks later to enter a not guilty plea, thankfully my bail was continued. I then had to take off work again weeks later to go in front of the judge who then dismissed the case after the prosecutor actually did his job and learned those checks were stolen from me years before. Someone had went into a giant wholesale warehouse center, I forget the name, they bought everything from camping gear to food to clothes to electronics. They used 5 of my checks in that one store in one day, being my ID was never stolen I have no idea how 5 different store clerks would allow someone to buy over $1,200 worth of items with no ID. I was told since each check was just under $250 that store didn't make it mandatory for a person to present an ID for checks under that amount. Sounds like an inside job to me or it was a professional theft ring. Nobody has even been charged in either my car theft or the checks incident.

C-A-S-H

Just saw mark's comment below, he's right. Credit card companies do require this, but many merchants fail to ask for ID verification. The merchant takes the loss, not the credit card banks.

In the past times I always wrote a check for groceries and would feel sorry for those I witnessed using their credit cards thinking they had no money for groceries. Now I use a credit card for everything. It's faster, safer, I get points for cash back and I don't have to pay the bill till next month.

I use checks. Checks do not have fees; debit cards do have fees. It's cheaper to use checks.

Some credit cards do offer a picture to be placed on the card. My card has my picture on it. I just submitted a passport style photo to the bank and got a new card. I have had this photo card for about 6 years.

I use debit cards regularly for all my purchases, but what about the ol' mom and pop stores that don't accept plastic? Not enough cash? Writing a check is just as good. I've had many experiences where the card swiper is down, they didn’t have the manual roller, and I had too little cash on hand to make the purchase, but they would take a check. No problem! REMEMBER, technology is great, but it can fail!! It’s nice to have a backup.

Check writers are stuck in the past. in this day and age and the simplicity of debit cards it's hard to imagine anyone with a legitmate use of a check.

Whole Foods is marketed as a hippie store in Oregon. They have moved all of their stores from $$$ neighborhoods into Trader Joe type neighborhoods. Only now, Trader Joe is moving into the suburbs.