On Jun 7, 4:01*pm, notbob > wrote:
> On 2012-06-07, Nancy2 > wrote:
>
> > in the general lobby - dump your coins in.....
>
> YOU gotta dump the change in? *Philistines!
>
> nb
>
> --
> vi --the heart of evil!
> Support labeling GMOs
> <http://www.labelgmos.org/>

I like the serve-yourself facet of it all. Who needs a dippy bank
clerk to dump coins in a machine? This is much faster.

N.

On Jun 7, 4:17*pm, "
> wrote:
> On Jun 7, 4:04*pm, George Leppla > wrote:
>
> > I write very few checks any more... most bills are paid by EFT.
>
> > George L
>
> Mine, too. *I write, on average, 6 checks per year. *Property taxes
> and drivers license renewal are two that get checks. *They'll accept
> debit or credit cards but tack on a 2.75% fee, checks are accepted
> with no charge and I can whip out that checkbook in a flash!

We can pay property taxes online (costs 40 cents) and car registration
fee (costs 50 cents).

N.

>
> I last bought a box of checks (200) several years ago. *I only write a few
> per month. The debit card has eliminated most of the checks that I used to
> write. *I'm getting low though and need to order another box. *Those cheap
> offers in the Sunday paper ads work fine. *My last box cost me $5.00 vs
> almost $20.00 if I had ordered from my bank.
>
> Gary

I've been using one of those "flyer" check suppliers for years. A lot
more choice of backgrounds (although when I worked part-time at a
fabric shop, I absolutely hated the ones that are so overpowering the
designs make the handwriting on the check almost unreadable), and
cheap. I think my current supply will outlast me.

N.

>
> We get the seniors rate at our bank..... no fees at all, except we have
> to pay for cheque books. *Since we use the debit card most of the time
> we rarely write cheques. I had to write one last week for a load of
> gravel for the driveway. I had to get my wife to find the chequebook.
> The month bank statements for our chequing account used to include the
> cancelled cheques and there would be dozens of them each month. Now
> there is one or two, sometimes none.

My bank doesn't charge a fee for using a debit card as a debit card,
or as a credit card, and lately I find myself selecting "credit" more
often, just because it's impossible to swipe a PIN if you say it's
credit. It all comes out of my checking account immediately, anyway.
I especially select "credit" at the gas pump.

N.

On Jun 7, 5:58*pm, Damsel in dis Dress > wrote:
> On Jun 7, 5:43*pm, Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Your $12/month is a fee. *That you have to maintain a 5K balance on a
> > business acct but no balance on a personal account doesn't make sense
> > unless the accounts are linked... and no bank is going to maintain a
> > checking acct with a zero balance, typically the minimum balance is
> > like $250 just to open an account, you can't open a checking acct with
> > no money. *Many banks still offer a per check fee because especially
> > nowadays folks don't write more than a few checks a month, even most
> > businesses don't write many checks anymore... a per check fee for most
> > people is less costly than a monthly fee.
>
> I'm in Iowa and pay no monthly service fees, no minimum balance, and
> no per-check fees. *It was the same in Minnesota. *I think it's free
> because I have automatic deposits.

Mine is free, too, in Iowa - don't know about auto deposits - but I
suspect it doesn't matter with my main bank - it's a local bank (one
of the wealthiest "small" locally-owned banks in the nation) and
started mostly as a bank specializing in real estate loans and other
land transactions.

N.

On Jun 8, 6:37*am, Janet > wrote:
> In article >,
> says...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:19:04 -0400, Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:
>
> > >I don't know what you mean by "the account is in credit"... here in
> > >the US a checking account is required to maintain a minimum balance or
> > >the account will be closed, but still folks have to buy their check
> > >books and pay the bank a fee per check used. *Because of the fees
> > >fewer and fewer people have checking accounts anymore, they've
> > >switched to plastic and the occasional money order. *The only
> > >exception I know of to have free checking is if one maintains a rather
> > >large minimum bank balance.
>
> > My bank has no charge if you have direct deposit. *You can buy checks
> > from a half dozen places though, cheaper than the bank.
>
> * If you buy checks elsewhere, not from your bank, *what info do they have
> printed on? Are they personalised?
>
> * In the UK cheques come as tear-off pages in a wee book, all cheque books
> are printed by the banks for that specific client and their account. They
> have the bank logo, the client name and a/c number, the bank branch
> number, and the ID number for that cheque.Bank statements show the cheque
> number as well as the amount of money).
>
> * No option for a picture of my dog, sadly :-)
>
> * *Janet


In your first order, you send a "void" blank check to them so they can
put the correct routing and account numbers on them. You can have
your name and whatever personal information you want on them. They're
cheap, especially if you are writing only 2 or 3 a month, you don't
even need an NCR copy to keep. I've been using single-copy checks
from Checks Unlimited for decades.

Also in your first order, you can have them begin with a number you
select - i.e., "1000," or "5000," or whatever. That's convenient in
some cases.

N.

On Jun 8, 8:16*am, Nancy Young <replyto@inemail> wrote:
> On 6/7/2012 7:10 PM, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
>
> > On Thu, 07 Jun 2012 17:56:39 -0400, Nancy Young <replyto@inemail>
> > wrote:
> >> (laugh) *Well, the thing is, it's a big country and every state
> >> has their own banking rules, and regionally there are probably
> >> what's the word I'm looking for grrr ... traditions, for lack of
> >> the right word.
>
> > Just for the record-- I'm in the same state and within an hour or so
> > of Sheldon and I haven't seen a check fee in 25 years. * *They just
> > stopped paying me interest on balances over a certain amount a few
> > years ago.
>
> Oh, I get interest! *I'm up a few pennies a month! *(laugh)
>
> I've never in my life paid a per check fee and even my check
> writing days extend further than 25 years.
>
> For whatever reason it bugs me that I do have to pay one fee,
> $10 annually for each ATM card. *I know they save a fortune on
> staff because people don't go to the bank. *But, it is what it is.
> Bill paying is free, at least. *Can't complain.
>
> nancy

Well, see, I don't know of anyone here who has to pay for their ATM
card. That sounds like BOA thought it up. ;-)

N.

On 6/8/2012 9:39 AM, Nancy2 wrote:
>> Gary
> I've been using one of those "flyer" check suppliers for years. A lot
> more choice of backgrounds (although when I worked part-time at a
> fabric shop, I absolutely hated the ones that are so overpowering the
> designs make the handwriting on the check almost unreadable), and
> cheap. I think my current supply will outlast me.


We had to buy new checks recently when we moved and we ordered them from....

Walmart! http://www.walmartchecks.com/index.aspx Fast delivery, VERY
reasonable prices.

This morning I went to the local Walmart. Dropped my car off to get an
oil change, went into the store and to the bank, bought some groceries
and by the time I was done, my car was finished. Oil change, bank and
groceries all done in under a half hour... and located less than a mile
from home.

That is convenience.

Let the Walmart bashing begin!

George L

Nancy Young <replyto@inemail> wrote:

>On 6/7/2012 7:10 PM, Jim Elbrecht wrote:

-snip-
>> of Sheldon and I haven't seen a check fee in 25 years. They just
>> stopped paying me interest on balances over a certain amount a few
>> years ago.
>
>Oh, I get interest! I'm up a few pennies a month! (laugh)
>
>I've never in my life paid a per check fee and even my check
>writing days extend further than 25 years.
>
>For whatever reason it bugs me that I do have to pay one fee,
>$10 annually for each ATM card.

I feel better about no interest, now.<g> My ATM card is free-- and
several of my grocery stores have my bank's ATM, so I don't even have
to pay to use it.

Jim

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>Brooklyn1 wrote:
>
>>I don't know what you mean by "the account is in credit"... here in
>>the US a checking account is required to maintain a minimum balance or
>>the account will be closed, but still folks have to buy their check
>>books and pay the bank a fee per check used. Because of the fees
>>fewer and fewer people have checking accounts anymore, they've
>>switched to plastic and the occasional money order. The only
>>exception I know of to have free checking is if one maintains a rather
>>large minimum bank balance.
>
>My bank has no charge if you have direct deposit. You can buy checks
>from a half dozen places though, cheaper than the bank.
>
>This is for CT and may vary in other states where People Bank does
>business.
>
>Free checking with:
>Direct Deposit, or
>Age 65 or older.
>
>
>If you don't have direct deposit, just keep a low $750 minimum daily
>balance in your checking account and there's no monthly fee.

The bank's standard checks are printed by the same companys that print
all sorts of fancy schmancy checks, the standard checks would cost the
same if you ordered them yourself. Banks don't print checks, they are
not in the printing business. By maintaining over a certain bank
balance, mostly in my money market account and CDs, I don't pay for
check printing, I cna choose whichever check I like but I prefer the
standard bank check, however I rotate colors. Today the bank's Jumbo
CDs pay the best interest on a federally insured acct.

Banks need to adhere to minimum federal regulations and minimum state
regulations but may offer more than required. Most banks offer
seniors all sorts of freebies, they want their business. But often
those services are not really free when one checks the interest rates
on those special accounts. Nowadays most so-called "free" checking
accounts do not accrue interest, not that checking account interest is
significant now anyway; .5% at lowest quarterly balance is common...
for most folks that amounts to less than 20¢ yearly.

I'm too old now to play the stock market (too risky) so I keep my cash
in Jumbo CDs and real estate... agri land is the best real estate
investment, low taxes, no homeowners ins, no utility bills, and no
worrys about break-ins/theft. Agri land has been appreciating
rapidly, especially in the New England area where large acreage for
sale is rare. Ever you see a hay field for sale check it out... a
nearby farmer will hay it, keep the hay crop and pay your taxes.

"Nancy2" > wrote in message
...
On Jun 7, 4:17 pm, "
> wrote:
> On Jun 7, 4:04 pm, George Leppla > wrote:
>
> > I write very few checks any more... most bills are paid by EFT.
>
> > George L
>
> Mine, too. I write, on average, 6 checks per year. Property taxes
> and drivers license renewal are two that get checks. They'll accept
> debit or credit cards but tack on a 2.75% fee, checks are accepted
> with no charge and I can whip out that checkbook in a flash!

>>We can pay property taxes online (costs 40 cents) and car registration
>>fee (costs 50 cents).

I pay prop taxes at my bank for free.

> >>We can pay property taxes online (costs 40 cents) and car registration
> >>fee (costs 50 cents).
>
> I pay prop taxes at my bank for free.

But you have to go to the bank.

I was talking about fees to pay tax and registration fees online.

N.

On Fri, 8 Jun 2012 13:23:59 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
> wrote:

>
>> >>We can pay property taxes online (costs 40 cents) and car registration
>> >>fee (costs 50 cents).
>>
>> I pay prop taxes at my bank for free.
>
>But you have to go to the bank.
>
>I was talking about fees to pay tax and registration fees online.
>

That seems to be just starting in our area. I've paid my trash
hauler online for years and they just started charging. Still no
charge from NY's car registration-- just did one this morning.

My taxes come out of escrow-- car insurance gives a discount for
*automatic* electronic payment.

My electric utility is interesting-- Years ago they gave a $1 credit
if you went paperless. Now they charge for an electronic payment.

Different times--
Jim

Janet wrote:
>
> If you buy checks elsewhere, not from your bank, what info do they have
> printed on? Are they personalised?

Normally they just ask you to send a blank voided check and also a deposit
slip with your order. They will duplicate this for you unless you prefer a
change.

Gary

Andy wrote:
>
> She can't get a loan?
>
> Leech request?
>
> Absurd!
>
> Andy


I don't even know her but give me another week and I might send her a small
amount but I don't want someone taking a percentage of what I send. I'd like
her to receive the full amount.

Sometimes a 'random act of kindness' from a stranger helps that person so
much and makes you feel good that you helped out for a true need and not
some bum just wanting to buy a cheap bottle of wine.

If there really is a heaven after this life, the occasional donation like
this will at least give you some brownie points once you arrive at the
Pearly Gates. heheheh

Give it up, Andy!

Gary

Nancy2 wrote:
>
> >
> > I last bought a box of checks (200) several years ago. I only write a few
> > per month. The debit card has eliminated most of the checks that I used to
> > write. I'm getting low though and need to order another box. Those cheap
> > offers in the Sunday paper ads work fine. My last box cost me $5.00 vs
> > almost $20.00 if I had ordered from my bank.
> >
> > Gary
>
> I've been using one of those "flyer" check suppliers for years. A lot
> more choice of backgrounds (although when I worked part-time at a
> fabric shop, I absolutely hated the ones that are so overpowering the
> designs make the handwriting on the check almost unreadable), and
> cheap. I think my current supply will outlast me.
>
> N.

I gave up on the cute picture checks many years ago. Think about it...when
you send a check to pay a bill, no one cares about some picture on your
check. I always order just the plain checks now. And I REALLY do need to
get off my butt and order some very soon. I'll run out before the August
bills are due.

Gary

On Fri, 08 Jun 2012 18:18:58 -0400, Gary > wrote:


>
>I gave up on the cute picture checks many years ago. Think about it...when
>you send a check to pay a bill, no one cares about some picture on your
>check. I always order just the plain checks now. And I REALLY do need to
>get off my butt and order some very soon. I'll run out before the August
>bills are due.
>
>Gary

Last month I wrote one check. This month, none. Next month water
bill and property taxes need checks. Everything else is done on line.
I use Quicken and print the checks. Used to write maybe 10 a month,
now usually one or two. No cute pictures on them, but I do buy stamps
with whatever is new at the time.

Gary > wrote:
-snip-

>
>I gave up on the cute picture checks many years ago. Think about it...when
>you send a check to pay a bill, no one cares about some picture on your
>check.

Yeahbutt-- when you're standing there looking at them, this one always
gets a smile.
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...babybird01.jpg

Jim

On Jun 8, 9:37*am, Nancy2 > wrote:
>
> On Jun 7, 4:17*pm, "
>
> > wrote:
>
> > On Jun 7, 4:04*pm, George Leppla > wrote:
>
> > > I write very few checks any more... most bills are paid by EFT.
>
> > > George L
>
> > Mine, too. *I write, on average, 6 checks per year. *Property taxes
> > and drivers license renewal are two that get checks. *They'll accept
> > debit or credit cards but tack on a 2.75% fee, checks are accepted
> > with no charge and I can whip out that checkbook in a flash!
>
> We can pay property taxes online (costs 40 cents) and car registration
> fee (costs 50 cents).
>
> N.
>
>
The first time I was able to pay property taxes online I thought, "Oh
goody!" But when I did the math for the 2.75% fee tacked on based on
the amount of my taxes I decided to spring for the 44¢ stamp. The fee
for accepting the debit payment online was just under $40; same
percentage fee applied to credit cards. ):-(

On Jun 8, 9:41*am, Nancy2 > wrote:
>
> > We get the seniors rate at our bank..... no fees at all, except we have
> > to pay for cheque books. *Since we use the debit card most of the time
> > we rarely write cheques. I had to write one last week for a load of
> > gravel for the driveway. I had to get my wife to find the chequebook.
> > The month bank statements for our chequing account used to include the
> > cancelled cheques and there would be dozens of them each month. Now
> > there is one or two, sometimes none.
>
> My bank doesn't charge a fee for using a debit card as a debit card,
> or as a credit card, and lately I find myself selecting "credit" more
> often, just because it's impossible to swipe a PIN if you say it's
> credit. *It all comes out of my checking account immediately, anyway.
> I especially select "credit" at the gas pump.
>
> N.
>
>
I believe the bank charges the merchant more in fees when a card is
used as a credit transaction vs. debit.

On Jun 8, 10:56*am, "tom" > wrote:
>
> On Jun 7, 4:17 pm, "
>

>
> > Property taxes
> > and drivers license renewal are two that get checks. They'll accept
> > debit or credit cards but tack on a 2.75% fee, checks are accepted
> > with no charge and I can whip out that checkbook in a flash!
> >>We can pay property taxes online (costs 40 cents) and car registration
> >>fee (costs 50 cents).
>
> I pay prop taxes at my bank for free.
>
>
I guess each town, city, county, etc. in the states are all
administered differently. Banks here have nothing to do with the tax
accessors office. Here, it's part of the city government.

On Jun 8, 4:40*pm, Gary > wrote:
>
> Janet wrote:
>
> > * If you buy checks elsewhere, not from your bank, *what info do they have
> > printed on? Are they personalised?
>
> Normally they just ask you to send a blank voided check and also a deposit
> slip with your order. They will duplicate this for you unless you prefer a
> change.
>
> Gary
>
>
Girl at work just ordered and received her checks from one of those
online places. She called her order in, all information was taken
over the phone such as the routing, account number, and check number.
It was processed with no trouble and no blank voided check. Free
shipping, too.

On Jun 8, 5:18*pm, Gary > wrote:
>
>
> I gave up on the cute picture checks many years ago. Think about it...when
> you send a check to pay a bill, no one cares about some picture on your
> check. *I always order just the plain checks now.
>
> Gary
>
>
^5!

On Fri, 08 Jun 2012 17:30:11 -0400, Jim Elbrecht >
wrote:

>
>My electric utility is interesting-- Years ago they gave a $1 credit
>if you went paperless. Now they charge for an electronic payment.
>
>Different times--
>Jim

You can bet I'd start sending checks. My insurance tried charging so
I continued to pay by check. Now they allow it free.

On Fri, 8 Jun 2012 16:54:13 -0700 (PDT), "
> wrote:


>>
>I believe the bank charges the merchant more in fees when a card is
>used as a credit transaction vs. debit.

That makes sense. If they handle a debit transaction, they are
processing payment within hours with little risk. If they are
processing a credit card, they take on the risk of not getting paid as
quickly or if ever so they need more to cover expenses.

we get our checks from costco at about a fourth the cost of the bank, worth
the membership for that alone, Lee
"George" > wrote in message
...
> On 6/8/2012 7:37 AM, Janet wrote:
>> In >,
>> says...
>>>
>>> On Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:19:04 -0400, Brooklyn1<Gravesend1> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> I don't know what you mean by "the account is in credit"... here in
>>>> the US a checking account is required to maintain a minimum balance or
>>>> the account will be closed, but still folks have to buy their check
>>>> books and pay the bank a fee per check used. Because of the fees
>>>> fewer and fewer people have checking accounts anymore, they've
>>>> switched to plastic and the occasional money order. The only
>>>> exception I know of to have free checking is if one maintains a rather
>>>> large minimum bank balance.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> My bank has no charge if you have direct deposit. You can buy checks
>>> from a half dozen places though, cheaper than the bank.
>>
>> If you buy checks elsewhere, not from your bank, what info do they
>> have
>> printed on? Are they personalised?
>
> All bank checks here need the bank routing info and your account number
> encoded using MICR (blocky special characters originally printed only with
> magnetic ink) and the usual pay to field and amount spelled out and
> written as numbers, date and signature line. After that there are zillions
> of patterns and pictures available such as this:
>
> http://www.checksunlimited.com/Category.aspx?catid=73
>
>
>>
>> In the UK cheques come as tear-off pages in a wee book, all cheque
>> books
>> are printed by the banks for that specific client and their account. They
>> have the bank logo, the client name and a/c number, the bank branch
>> number, and the ID number for that cheque.Bank statements show the cheque
>> number as well as the amount of money).
>>
>> No option for a picture of my dog, sadly :-)
>>
>> Janet
>

"Ed Pawlowski" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 08 Jun 2012 17:30:11 -0400, Jim Elbrecht >
> wrote:
>
>>
>>My electric utility is interesting-- Years ago they gave a $1 credit
>>if you went paperless. Now they charge for an electronic payment.
>>
>>Different times--
>>Jim
>
> You can bet I'd start sending checks. My insurance tried charging so
> I continued to pay by check. Now they allow it free.

Yeah. I was annoyed with my electric company because they were the only
utility I had that wouldn't do automatic payments or allow to pay online.
Eventually they went to some outside company to do online payments but they
charged a fee. I think it was $3.00. They finally just recently got with
the program. The payments are not automatic but you can pay online. I
guess that is good because during the winter that bill can be quite high. I
often don't want to pay it until the last minute.

"Gary" > wrote in message ...
> Nancy2 wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > I last bought a box of checks (200) several years ago. I only write a
>> > few
>> > per month. The debit card has eliminated most of the checks that I used
>> > to
>> > write. I'm getting low though and need to order another box. Those
>> > cheap
>> > offers in the Sunday paper ads work fine. My last box cost me $5.00 vs
>> > almost $20.00 if I had ordered from my bank.
>> >
>> > Gary
>>
>> I've been using one of those "flyer" check suppliers for years. A lot
>> more choice of backgrounds (although when I worked part-time at a
>> fabric shop, I absolutely hated the ones that are so overpowering the
>> designs make the handwriting on the check almost unreadable), and
>> cheap. I think my current supply will outlast me.
>>
>> N.
>
> I gave up on the cute picture checks many years ago. Think about it...when
> you send a check to pay a bill, no one cares about some picture on your
> check. I always order just the plain checks now. And I REALLY do need to
> get off my butt and order some very soon. I'll run out before the August
> bills are due.

Yeah. I got the ones with the animals on them once. I had to write through
the rabbit's eye! My current ones have pink roses on them. I really don't
care what they look like. I write less than 6 checks a year.

wrote:
> On Jun 8, 9:41 am, Nancy2 > wrote:
>>
>>> We get the seniors rate at our bank..... no fees at all, except we
>>> have to pay for cheque books. Since we use the debit card most of
>>> the time we rarely write cheques. I had to write one last week for
>>> a load of gravel for the driveway. I had to get my wife to find the
>>> chequebook. The month bank statements for our chequing account used
>>> to include the cancelled cheques and there would be dozens of them
>>> each month. Now there is one or two, sometimes none.
>>
>> My bank doesn't charge a fee for using a debit card as a debit card,
>> or as a credit card, and lately I find myself selecting "credit" more
>> often, just because it's impossible to swipe a PIN if you say it's
>> credit. It all comes out of my checking account immediately, anyway.
>> I especially select "credit" at the gas pump.
>>
>> N.
>>
>>
> I believe the bank charges the merchant more in fees when a card is
> used as a credit transaction vs. debit.

I think so too.

Andy wrote:
>
> Gary wrote:
>
> > Give it up, Andy!
>
> You've quickly grown into an asshole.
>
> You think I haven't noticed?
>
> Andy

heheh
I've probably always been one, Andy, and you just figured that out?

Actually, I'm a very friendly nice guy but I do like to tease people (to the
point of making them mad sometimes). I mentioned once before - I showed my
daughter something I wrote and she immediately said, "You can't say that to
people, Dad! They don't know you're kidding."

I tend to forget that others don't think like I do. Someone can pick on me
or cut me down and I'll be the first one to laugh at my own dumb self if
warranted. And anytime I argue some point with others, I consider their side
and I'll yield if I'm wrong or outdated with my beliefs. I often learn from
a debate or argument. Occasionally I end up being right though and winning.


Gary

OT: Breakfast for dinner last night...
- bacon
- fried eggs
- baked potato
- buttered toast
- orange juice
- YUM!

YOU? (tm by Andy)

On Fri, 08 Jun 2012 23:29:25 -0400, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

> On Fri, 8 Jun 2012 16:54:13 -0700 (PDT), "
> > wrote:
>
>
> >>
> >I believe the bank charges the merchant more in fees when a card is
> >used as a credit transaction vs. debit.
>
> That makes sense. If they handle a debit transaction, they are
> processing payment within hours with little risk. If they are
> processing a credit card, they take on the risk of not getting paid as
> quickly or if ever so they need more to cover expenses.

Merchants take a risk on a credit card debt? Highly unlikely. The
bank pays the merchant and it's up to them to collect their debts, not
the merchant. Both types of transactions are done by computer in a
matter of seconds and the bank is just using other people's money
longer than they should if they take any more time to do it than it's
taking me to write this.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

Nancy2 wrote:

>> Mine, too. I write, on average, 6 checks per year. Property taxes
>> and drivers license renewal are two that get checks. They'll accept
>> debit or credit cards but tack on a 2.75% fee, checks are accepted
>> with no charge and I can whip out that checkbook in a flash!
>
> We can pay property taxes online (costs 40 cents) and car registration
> fee (costs 50 cents).

I have free checking and free bill payment. The only catch is that I
can't transfer my mortgage to some other bank. I pay all my bills that
way; in the cases where the merchant doesn't have an online presence,
the bank will mail them a check at no additional charge to me.

Bob

Joan wrote:

> The first time I was able to pay property taxes online I thought, "Oh
> goody!" But when I did the math for the 2.75% fee tacked on based on
> the amount of my taxes I decided to spring for the 44¢ stamp. The fee
> for accepting the debit payment online was just under $40; same
> percentage fee applied to credit cards. ):-(

Holy crap! I'd pay for the stamp in that case too. In my case, property
taxes are administered by our county tax assessor. I have an account
number with that agency. When property-tax time rolls around, I tell the
bank how much to send to that account and on what date to send it, and
the bank sends a check at no cost to me. (I bank with Wells Fargo.)

Bob

Clueless AOL newbie Sheldon "Pussy" Katz blathered ignorantly:

> in CA tellers dress like they work at a titty bar.

If that were true I'd go to the bank a lot more often.

Bob

On 09/06/2012 5:44 AM, Julie Bove wrote:

>> You can bet I'd start sending checks. My insurance tried charging so
>> I continued to pay by check. Now they allow it free.
>
> Yeah. I was annoyed with my electric company because they were the only
> utility I had that wouldn't do automatic payments or allow to pay online.
> Eventually they went to some outside company to do online payments but they
> charged a fee. I think it was $3.00. They finally just recently got with
> the program. The payments are not automatic but you can pay online. I
> guess that is good because during the winter that bill can be quite high. I
> often don't want to pay it until the last minute.


About two years ago I upgraded my heating and switched to natural gas. I
saved a bundle. Going from increasingly expensive oil to a high
efficiency natural gas furnace my heating cost plummeted, I also have
gas hot water so I have gas use in the summer as well. Last summer I got
an abnormally high bill in the middle of summer so I called. They had
guesstimated my usage because their meter reader could not see my meter.
They said that it was obstructed by shrubs. I had no trouble getting a
reading myself. All I had to do was get close and bend over to see the
numbers. As I pointed out to the person on the other end,I don't know
why it would be a problem for them to read, since the meter is exactly
where it was the year before when they installed it.

Bob Terwilliger wrote:
>
> Clueless AOL newbie Sheldon "Pussy" Katz blathered ignorantly:
>
> > in CA tellers dress like they work at a titty bar.
>
> If that were true I'd go to the bank a lot more often.
>
> Bob

Or just make a quick trip to the bank then hang out at the titty bar for the
rest of the afternoon.

Gary

On 6/8/2012 7:52 PM, wrote:
> On Jun 8, 9:37 am, > wrote:
>>
>> On Jun 7, 4:17 pm, "
>>
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> On Jun 7, 4:04 pm, George > wrote:
>>
>>>> I write very few checks any more... most bills are paid by EFT.
>>
>>>> George L
>>
>>> Mine, too. I write, on average, 6 checks per year. Property taxes
>>> and drivers license renewal are two that get checks. They'll accept
>>> debit or credit cards but tack on a 2.75% fee, checks are accepted
>>> with no charge and I can whip out that checkbook in a flash!
>>
>> We can pay property taxes online (costs 40 cents) and car registration
>> fee (costs 50 cents).
>>
>> N.
>>
>>
> The first time I was able to pay property taxes online I thought, "Oh
> goody!" But when I did the math for the 2.75% fee tacked on based on
> the amount of my taxes I decided to spring for the 44¢ stamp. The fee
> for accepting the debit payment online was just under $40; same
> percentage fee applied to credit cards. ):-(
>

Thats a good thing. I don't care for banks all that much and especially
the way they have inserted themselves into so many transactions.
Accepting credit or debit cards is a real extra cost and is much more
expensive than handling other transactions. "rewards" cards cost even
more to accept.

In article >,
says...
>
> On 09/06/2012 5:44 AM, Julie Bove wrote:
>
> >> You can bet I'd start sending checks. My insurance tried charging so
> >> I continued to pay by check. Now they allow it free.
> >
> > Yeah. I was annoyed with my electric company because they were the only
> > utility I had that wouldn't do automatic payments or allow to pay online.
> > Eventually they went to some outside company to do online payments but they
> > charged a fee. I think it was $3.00. They finally just recently got with
> > the program. The payments are not automatic but you can pay online. I
> > guess that is good because during the winter that bill can be quite high. I
> > often don't want to pay it until the last minute.
>
>
> About two years ago I upgraded my heating and switched to natural gas. I
> saved a bundle. Going from increasingly expensive oil to a high
> efficiency natural gas furnace my heating cost plummeted, I also have
> gas hot water so I have gas use in the summer as well. Last summer I got
> an abnormally high bill in the middle of summer so I called. They had
> guesstimated my usage because their meter reader could not see my meter.
> They said that it was obstructed by shrubs. I had no trouble getting a
> reading myself. All I had to do was get close and bend over to see the
> numbers. As I pointed out to the person on the other end,I don't know
> why it would be a problem for them to read, since the meter is exactly
> where it was the year before when they installed it.

Weird, the meters around here are all read via RF. Of course
enterprising sorts have put a farrady cage around their gas meter, but
not after figuring out what frequency and protocol was being used
though. Then when the gas vehicle interrogates, THEIR ersatz gas meter
sends ITS reading.

On 6/9/2012 10:32 AM, Bob Terwilliger wrote:

> I have free checking and free bill payment. The only catch is that I
> can't transfer my mortgage to some other bank. I pay all my bills that
> way; in the cases where the merchant doesn't have an online presence,
> the bank will mail them a check at no additional charge to me.

Exactly how mine works. The credit cards are already set up to be
paid electronically, you could arrange payment the day they're due and
be okay, others are paid by check and you need to account for the time
it takes to be mailed.

I just need to have direct deposit into my checking and the bill
paying is free.

nancy

On Sat, 09 Jun 2012 07:25:20 -0700, sf > wrote:

>On Fri, 08 Jun 2012 23:29:25 -0400, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 8 Jun 2012 16:54:13 -0700 (PDT), "
>> > wrote:
>>
>>
>> >>
>> >I believe the bank charges the merchant more in fees when a card is
>> >used as a credit transaction vs. debit.
>>
>> That makes sense. If they handle a debit transaction, they are
>> processing payment within hours with little risk. If they are
>> processing a credit card, they take on the risk of not getting paid as
>> quickly or if ever so they need more to cover expenses.
>
>Merchants take a risk on a credit card debt? Highly unlikely. The
>bank pays the merchant and it's up to them to collect their debts, not
>the merchant. Both types of transactions are done by computer in a
>matter of seconds and the bank is just using other people's money
>longer than they should if they take any more time to do it than it's
>taking me to write this.

No, the bank is taking the risk. Very little with a debit card as the
funds are transferred quickly. With a credit card, they are holding
the bag for a couple of weeks until they get paid and they may never
get paid, thus their greater exposure = higher fees.

In the case of either card, they are performing a service and have to
get paid for it. Yes, it is done quickly by computer, but the
infrastructure to do so is very expensive.