Non Chex System Banks Debit Card - Why You Should Boycott Your Checkbook
Many non chex system banks do not offer paper checks as an account feature and for good reason.
Have you ever actually thought about the process of writing checks?How is it that we can transfer money across the country with one click of a mouse, buy something from a store on a different continent in less than 2 minutes online, and yet we still bother to take out our checkbook and spend time filling it out, giving our phone number out loud, show our ID, and then wait for the check to be run through the ChexSystems machine?Think about it, if you went to buy something at a store and they asked for your full name, phone number, current address, bank account number and routing number, wouldn't that be absurd?Of course it would be!So isn't it scary to think that every time you write a check, you do just that?We put huge effort into protecting ourselves from identity theft and then somehow don't think twice about writing checks everywhere! The second issue with writing checks is that you risk losing your banking privileges if you ever make a big mistake and some may have even found themselves on ChexSystems list for this very reason.
For example, if you were to use your debit card without having enough money in your account, the transaction would simply be declined and you wouldn't need to worry about future consequences.
However, if you were to write a check and walk out of the store with merchandise and the check bounced, you could be arrested and charged with a felony.
Needless to say, this would be a horrible situation and yet another reason why it is best to look for alternatives to traditional check writing.
While I truly believe in educating oneself on the proper use of paper checking,there has got to be a better way.
What about those handy websites that sell checkbooks?You know, the ones that sell checks with cartoon characters or nice pictures on them?How do they know they are selling to the rightful owner of the account?Well, they don't!If someone can provide your name, your account number, routing number, and mailing address (all of which is printed on every check you write), then they can order a whole box of your checks for themselves.
Luckily, there are many other payment methods available including online payment services such as PayPal which you can use to make payments without the need to write a check.
You can use a Mastercard debit card, Visa debit card, online bill pay through your bank, online payment through the merchant, and automatic payment to name a few common alternatives.
With all these factors taken into consideration, writing checks could be considered just plain risky business!There's no reason to open yourself up to all that trouble and you'd be well advised to start using an alternative payment method, like the ones listed above.
If you're not sure how to use a certain type of payment method, just ask your bank or the merchant you're trying to pay.
They can help answer your questions and get you started using safer payment methods.
Have you ever actually thought about the process of writing checks?How is it that we can transfer money across the country with one click of a mouse, buy something from a store on a different continent in less than 2 minutes online, and yet we still bother to take out our checkbook and spend time filling it out, giving our phone number out loud, show our ID, and then wait for the check to be run through the ChexSystems machine?Think about it, if you went to buy something at a store and they asked for your full name, phone number, current address, bank account number and routing number, wouldn't that be absurd?Of course it would be!So isn't it scary to think that every time you write a check, you do just that?We put huge effort into protecting ourselves from identity theft and then somehow don't think twice about writing checks everywhere! The second issue with writing checks is that you risk losing your banking privileges if you ever make a big mistake and some may have even found themselves on ChexSystems list for this very reason.
For example, if you were to use your debit card without having enough money in your account, the transaction would simply be declined and you wouldn't need to worry about future consequences.
However, if you were to write a check and walk out of the store with merchandise and the check bounced, you could be arrested and charged with a felony.
Needless to say, this would be a horrible situation and yet another reason why it is best to look for alternatives to traditional check writing.
While I truly believe in educating oneself on the proper use of paper checking,there has got to be a better way.
What about those handy websites that sell checkbooks?You know, the ones that sell checks with cartoon characters or nice pictures on them?How do they know they are selling to the rightful owner of the account?Well, they don't!If someone can provide your name, your account number, routing number, and mailing address (all of which is printed on every check you write), then they can order a whole box of your checks for themselves.
Luckily, there are many other payment methods available including online payment services such as PayPal which you can use to make payments without the need to write a check.
You can use a Mastercard debit card, Visa debit card, online bill pay through your bank, online payment through the merchant, and automatic payment to name a few common alternatives.
With all these factors taken into consideration, writing checks could be considered just plain risky business!There's no reason to open yourself up to all that trouble and you'd be well advised to start using an alternative payment method, like the ones listed above.
If you're not sure how to use a certain type of payment method, just ask your bank or the merchant you're trying to pay.
They can help answer your questions and get you started using safer payment methods.
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