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Post by tnthomas on Feb 4, 2019 15:27:59 GMT -5
I'm tired of ordering checks from my credit union. Getting expensive overall, they would like to tack on an additional $22 to make the shipment 'secure'. I usually just opt for "bulk" delivery, which is free.
However, bulk is not traceable, and if they do get lost or stolen the headaches would be monumental.
Any suggestions for getting checks printed from sources other-than your financial institution?
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Post by rosa427 on Feb 4, 2019 17:31:29 GMT -5
I've been using the same checks I ordered more than 10 years ago from one of those mail order check companies. I started ordering outside of my financial institution back in 1999 maybe even before. I've never had an issue, but, like I said its been more 10 years since I ordered my last batch since I rarely use them. Presently, the checks I use still have my address from two addresses ago. I just cross out the address. I still have way too many checks in this box. Vistaprint is a pretty repitable company, just watch out for them trying to tack on. I've only ever order business and other types of cards from them, but, they were reliable. www.vistaprint.com/wallet-checks.aspx?GP=02%2f04%2f2019+17%3a26%3a33&GPS=5304817637&GNF=1This company seems to have some good deals as compared to several others. www.checks.com/c/323/value-checks
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Post by Drifter on Feb 4, 2019 18:12:49 GMT -5
I haven't ordered checks through my bank in eons, because, like you stated tnthomas , they are too expensive, especially the shipping cost. I order from this place and have been very satisfied with them... SuperValue Checks
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Post by tnthomas on Feb 4, 2019 18:33:05 GMT -5
I haven't ordered checks through my bank in eons, because, like you stated tnthomas , they are too expensive, especially the shipping cost. I order from this place and have been very satisfied with them... SuperValue Checksrosa427 & Drifter , Thanks, I have actually heard of vistaprint,and did see checks.com and SuperValue Checks while googling. I ended up going with Costco, as I am a member there. The website does re-direct to the
Harland-Clarke checks site, same as my credit union. However, going through Costco yields a much better deal than my CU. Credit union: 2 boxes (200 checkes): $38 Costco: 2 boxes(492 checks) $16.48 I should consider automating some payments, and let the creditor take payment electronically from my checking account. I just don't like that, haven't forgotten the times when I had to "float" a check because my weekly paycheck didn't stretch close enough to the next payday.
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Post by highlandannie on Feb 4, 2019 21:42:32 GMT -5
Checks?? I write one check a year and that's to my son for xmas gifts because I haven't figured out how to transfer the money to him.
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Post by smitty45 on Feb 4, 2019 21:50:00 GMT -5
tnthomas , You can order checks from Checks Unlimited. They email you when they are printed and shipped with a date for delivery to your mailbox. I;ve used them for years, never with any issue.
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Post by tnthomas on Feb 4, 2019 21:57:42 GMT -5
Thanks smitty45, I hope my order through Costco is satisfactory, if not I'll be looking at Checks Unlimited, real life testimonials are a valuable shopping aid.
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Post by butterfly on Feb 5, 2019 0:49:41 GMT -5
tnthomas, you really should try paying online for bills. I've been doing it for about 15 years and never had a problem. It saves a huge amount of time and aggravation and saves the cost of checks and postage, too, and worrying about late fees if mail doesn't get there on time. Also it eliminates all that paper trash from getting bills by snail mail when you get paperless bills online.
I don't use my bank's "bill pay" feature because it is clunky. I just go to the creditor's website, i.e., the electric company, etc., and pay directly there. I was skeptical of the online payment thing at first, but once I tried it I loved it and would never go back to the hassle of checks. I haven't written a check in years -- I'm not sure I even have any, but probably have an old checkbook somewhere around here.
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Post by highlandannie on Feb 5, 2019 1:00:41 GMT -5
tnthomas, you really should try paying online for bills. I've been doing it for about 15 years and never had a problem. It saves a huge amount of time and aggravation and saves the cost of checks and postage, too, and worrying about late fees if mail doesn't get there on time. Also it eliminates all that paper trash from getting bills by snail mail when you get paperless bills online. I don't use my bank's "bill pay" feature because it is clunky. I just go to the creditor's website, i.e., the electric company, etc., and pay directly there. I was skeptical of the online payment thing at first, but once I tried it I loved it and would never go back to the hassle of checks. I haven't written a check in years -- I'm not sure I even have any, but probably have an old checkbook somewhere around here. We've been paying bills through direct debit since I moved to Scotland nearly 19 years ago and husband had been doing it for years before that. All bills are automatic. We have the credit card bills set up to automatically take the entire balance, but that could be changed if it was necessary. Direct debits are set up here through each company, etc. When it's someone we rarely use like a plumber, we simply transfer the money into their bank account which they give us the numbers to. Rarely do we need to write a cheque.
My sister (in Michigan) always asks us how we pay our bills when go to Thailand. And every year I tell her we don't get any bills in the mail. It's all automatic.
I have a US account as well for my American pensions and do have a checkbook, but as I posted I only use that to send my son an xmas check in dollars. I have two automatic payments taken out of my US account - for 2 online newspapers - The Guardian and the Washington Post.
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Post by rosa427 on Feb 5, 2019 9:50:36 GMT -5
All of my bills are paid online, I use checks only when there's no alternative. Also, I didn't set up recurring payments and I don't pay fees for making my monthly bills via online payments, I prefer to make single payments instead of letting the companies take money directly out of my account unless I authorize it each time.
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Post by smitty45 on Feb 5, 2019 10:12:58 GMT -5
I just want to put a warning out. If paying online or automatic, be very careful. If both spouces have the same account that their SSI goes into, when one dies, Uncle Sam locks takes back the SSI of the one who passed, and if not enough in the account, the bank has no choice but to lock your account, so what ever money you do have you can not access it until there is enough money in the account for Uncle Sam to pull out the passes persons SSI.
When my dad died, Uncle Sam screwed over my mother extremely bad. They both lived on SSI, with no other income form pensions. They were comfortable as dads SSI made it so. But when he passed, and all their bills had been paid the bank account was locked from any withdrawing of any sort. Once their was enough money in the account, Uncle Sam wiped it leaving my mom with pennies in the account. My advice,,, for SSI, get seperate accounts. Uncle Sam will have no problem screwing you over either.
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Post by tnthomas on Feb 5, 2019 12:02:40 GMT -5
Uncle Sam locks takes back the SSI of the one who passed Interesting, I was not aware of that. Here's what AARP says about this issue:
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Post by tnthomas on Feb 5, 2019 12:15:26 GMT -5
Tnthomas, you really should try paying online for bills. I've been doing it for about 15 years and never had a problem. I We've been paying bills through direct debit since I moved to Scotland nearly 19 years ago All of my bills are paid online, I use checks only when there's no alternative.
Well I guess I am either a bit of a control freak...or a dinosaur, just never felt comfortable with automatic payments. In reality, such automatic payments would offer a greater level of security, as the money is
electronically transferred, without being ever looked at by human eyes.
About 17 years ago my checking account was breached, by the time I was aware, $2700+ dollars had been siphoned out of my account. And not only the checking account, but because for overdraft purposes it was
linked to my savings account, the crooks had a field day. The way that my account became compromised is this: a paper check I wrote was handled by some low paid employee(gas bill, water or electric..?), that
person could see my account number on the paper check, and decided to "borrow" it. Long story, but what a mess.
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Post by tnthomas on Feb 5, 2019 12:20:56 GMT -5
All of my bills are paid online, I use checks only when there's no alternative. Also, I didn't set up recurring payments and I don't pay fees for making my monthly bills via online payments, I prefer to make single payments instead of letting the companies take money directly out of my account unless I authorize it each time. I would be comfortable doing business in this way, and I know all the 'payees' would prefer paperless transactions. I suspect some that send "we haven't received your payment" e-mails are actually trying to prod the
customer into signing up for automatic payments.
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Post by Drifter on Feb 5, 2019 14:55:14 GMT -5
I just want to put a warning out. If paying online or automatic, be very careful. If both spouces have the same account that their SSI goes into, when one dies, Uncle Sam locks takes back the SSI of the one who passed, and if not enough in the account, the bank has no choice but to lock your account, so what ever money you do have you can not access it until there is enough money in the account for Uncle Sam to pull out the passes persons SSI. When my dad died, Uncle Sam screwed over my mother extremely bad. They both lived on SSI, with no other income form pensions. They were comfortable as dads SSI made it so. But when he passed, and all their bills had been paid the bank account was locked from any withdrawing of any sort. Once their was enough money in the account, Uncle Sam wiped it leaving my mom with pennies in the account. My advice,,, for SSI, get seperate accounts. Uncle Sam will have no problem screwing you over either. My mother had no problem whatsoever after my father died. No account was frozen or seized. I called SS the day after my father died, they offered their condolences and would make a note of the date he died. There is no need to have separate accounts. A married couple file taxes as joint owners. So, whatever each one has in any account would have to be accounted for when doing those taxes. That's why it's important to have an accountant where one can discuss these matters and get sound advise. Because, all that information eventually goes to the IRS, etc.
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