<p>This seems like a dumb question…but my hub wants us to order our next set of checks online (will save about $40) vs directly from the bank.</p>
<p>You have to give out your routing # & bank acct #. I’ve heard that is info you should never give out online (always buy online w/a credit card) because if there were fraud involved, your complete account could be cleaned out.</p>
<p>This seems like a bad way to save $40, but I wondered if I’m the only one who thinks this way? Maybe over-cautious? Funding is tight right now, but I’m nervous abt giving out <em>all our account info</em>!!! Even if the website has that little ‘lock’ symbol for security…</p>
<p>My bank provides free checks but they are plain. You pay more if you want a printed design on your checks. I do not write very many checks anymore as we use online banking for the vast majority of payments that used to be paid by check. I’m a bit shocked that your bank is charging so much for checks unless they are really fancy.</p>
<p>We use our local credit union so there is some measure of shopping and doing business locally.</p>
<p>Wow, for you to save $40 your bank must be charging a fortune! Either that or you write a lot more checks than most people. Like BCEagle, we write very few checks, only to the small businesses that we deal with who aren’t subscribers to online banking, e.g., our landscaper, pool service company, etc. Everything else is done online.</p>
<p>To answer your question, though, I would not be divulging that banking information to an online company.</p>
<p>I’m old enough to still love checks. JS–do you ever access your checking account online? If so, there should be an option to order checks there (and they already have all of your account info). (If not–it’s wonderful. I take a quick look weekly to make sure we’re in synch, and have even elected to stop receiving paper monthly bank statements.) My bank still charges, but it’s pretty easy to click a few buttons and re-order checks when I’m already on the bank’s web site.</p>
<p>Why would it be bad to give out your bank acct # and routing number? We give that information out whenever we write a check to someone. Just because they have your acct # it doesn’t mean they could do anything with it. Even if they tried to cash a check in your name, you could still get the money back. Your bank couldn’t and wouldn’t give out your information or let anyone withdraw any money without additional information. I don’t know if there is a problem here.</p>
<p>There was a story out yesterday that Fed Reserve Chairman Bernanke’s checking account was hacked. Someone stole his wife’s purse and went to withdraw money from their account. The crime ring was caught.</p>
<p>Check fraud is still common and has fewer safety and protection mechanisms compared to credit cards.</p>
<p>I prefer paper statements as I found out what happens when an account gets closed because of fraud. One of my credit cards locked me out of my old account so all of my account history was no longer accessible to me. Fortunately I had all of my old paper statements which would be useful if I needed to prove that a payment was made.</p>
<p>I don’t send checking information over the internet. I will snail mail a check or bring it in person but there’s just too much hacking on the internet, even with legitimate sites.</p>
<p>I’ve done it, although not recently as we just don’t write many checks anymore. I think I used [url=<a href=“http://www.currentcatalog.com/~Checks.html]Current[/url”>http://www.currentcatalog.com/~Checks.html]Current[/url</a>]. They had a really cute check covered in lipstick kisses and it was called “Kiss That Money Goodbye”. Anyways, I agree with oldfort – that information is out there in public anyways, so I personally wouldn’t worry about it.</p>
<p>Interesting perspectives, thanks so much. ingerp–hub won’t do online checking (doesn’t want all that info out there!). Is somehow okay w/ordering online checks, though…</p>
<p>alwaysamom–our bank charges $49 for 300 checks, we’ll need 600. Guess that is pricey. </p>
<p>oldfort & archiemom–that is true about everyone seeing acct info when writing a check and that makes me feel marginally better if hub insists on the online check thing. But, I have to side w/BCEagle–I’ve heard that you never, every give out your bnk acct info online because of the hacking thing. I’d imagine you are potentially exposing that info to many more people/people who might hack than you would by handing over the check to the cashier at Target. I could be wrong though.</p>
<p>Jolynne, your husband shouldn’t be worried about online banking, as it’s all done through your own bank. It’s not as though your actual banking information is being transferred to the recipient payee. In fact, in that regard, it’s actually safer than handing over a check which does have your account number on it, and which can be viewed by anyone who has access to that check. It’s the safest, most secure way you can pay bills. :)</p>
<p>What make us think ordering checks from our bank is any safer? Banks out source this type of services. Would I be surprised if they were to get on those check ordering website and enter your information just like you and I would, but maybe those check ordering companies just put the bank’s logo on to make those banks think they are on their own site. </p>
<p>Whenever a company outsources a service they often utilize the vendor’s website to service their customers. Vendor will put the company’s logo on the site, so most customers wouldn’t even know it’s a third party’s site.</p>
<p>When you issue a check to , oh say, Joe’s Garage, the probability that Joe or one of his employees will use your routing and account numbers to scam your account is very small.</p>
<p>This probability is, of course, multiplied by the number of checks you issue.</p>
<p>When you buy checks on-line, your data is in a database accesible to the employees of the check printing company and anyone who can hack a system of questionable security.</p>
<p>You are beting the check printing company has security equivalet to a bank and is not itself a front for a scam.</p>
<p>Remember that the most effective scams don’t drain your account but take out small sums over long periods in a manner that looks like a legitimate charge. The internet makes this profitable for perps with good computer skills. Many of these are in foreign countries beyond US law.</p>
<p>Our bank directs customers to a check publishing company’s website where you input info to reorder. We always do it and have never had a problem. If you do any online banking or electronic bill payments, the info is already out there.</p>
<p>I have always ordered checks from the internet- probably for 25 years or more. No problems and cuter checks (which doesn’t matter anymore but at one point I cared about that for some reason).</p>
<p>I’m old enough to remember when the only checks you could get were GREEN, and the banks returned the canceled checks to you. I was an “early adopter” when TAN checks first became available!</p>
<p>Jolynne - This is one of those issues you decide with either your head or your gut. I support the former choice, but I fully understand why the latter would be appealing to some.</p>
<p>Online banking is WAY cheaper. Not only are there no 20 cent checks to purchase (which what my last Current batch cost … YMMV) but you save 44 cents on the stamp to mail each check. The risk of loss is small, because the checking account should have a limited amount of cash in it. I have several checking accounts (don’t ask) and use one for online banking.</p>
<p>I really don’t see how someone would drain your acct by just knowing your acct # and routing #. You and the bank are the only entities that could initiate any money transferred OUT of your acct. Someone else could use your banking information to transfer money INTO your acct. Yes, there are always fraud going on out there - someone stealing your checks or printing up your checks to use. But banks are suppose to check people’s id before they cash any checks. If a bank or merchant didn’t do enough due diligence and cash a fradulent check, you have the right to challenge it (I think within 60 days after you get your statement). Like I mentioned before, all banks use third party to print their customers’ information, and make a very good money in doing so.</p>
<p>To be absolutely safe, you could instruct your bank to block any outside electronic payment out of your acct.</p>
<p>I always order my checks from companies outside of the bank - much cheaper. I usually do it via mail though. Have done so for 30 years.</p>
<p>My H has a co-worker who was afraid of online banking. This summer, thieves somehow got ahold of his bank info (including SS#) and created an online account for his banks - easy to do, since he didn’t already have one. Then they transferred all the money into one account, then went in person to withdraw all the money. Completely wiped him out of every penny.</p>
<p>Investigation showed that the person who withdrew the money (in person, as required by the bank) had produced an ID that had their own picture on it, but the co-worker’s name. Bank was held responsible - don’t remember all the details. I think they did catch the people responsible - or at least had leads. I think the bank copied the ID. And they found the money in a NYC bank.</p>
<p>But the lesson for the coworker was that it was actually worse for him that he didn’t have an online account already, since it made it that much easier for the thieves to create one.</p>
<p>I just reordered my dads checks online (he preferred the kind that are in a 3 ring notebook, though we could use the free ones from the bank, and he doesnt really write them out himself anymore!! Sigh… Oh well). We can get them much cheaper from online venders than through the bank, and we’ve had no security problem. I can’t recall the company we used, but they had merged with another checking co (it wasnt Harland). The websites all seem to have lots of stuff on them about security and safety and privacy. I think you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>*** ooh- just saw your post, Binx! Yikes! Did the bank refund his $$?</p>
<p>The Federal Reserve Board chairman was one of hundreds of victims of an elaborate identity-fraud ring, headed by a convicted scam artist known as “Big Head,” that stole more than $2.1 million from unsuspecting consumers and at least 10 financial institutions around the country, according to recently filed court records reviewed by NEWSWEEK.</p>
<p>Last summer, just as he was dealing with the first rumblings of the financial crisis on Wall Street, Bernanke learned that a thief had swiped his wife’s purse—including the couple’s joint check book. Days later, someone started cashing checks on the Bernanke family bank account, the documents show. “It’s fair to say he was not pleased,” said one close associate of Bernanke, who asked not to be identified discussing what the Fed chairman considers a private matter.</p>
<p>The theft of the Bernanke check book—never publicly revealed until now—soon became part of a wide-ranging (and previously underway) identity-theft investigation by the Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The probe culminated in recent months with a series of arrests, criminal complaints, and indictments brought by federal prosecutors in Alexandria, Va. The targets: members of a nationwide ring that used an inventive combination of old-fashioned thievery and high-tech fraud to loot the bank accounts of unsuspecting victims.</p>
<p>I buy my checks online, I’ve never had a problem. Though I can’t remember what company I buy them from, I’d have to ask my mom where it was she had me go-- she gets hers online, too. When I got my first box of checks at 18 I wanted 101 dalmatian checks. I think I am going for batman next.</p>
<p>Correction on my part. The thief had his wife’s wallet, so he probably had a lot more information than just the family’s bank acct #. You can’t compare Bernanke’s situation with ordering check online.</p>
Like BCEagle, we write very few checks, only to the small businesses that we deal with who aren’t subscribers to online banking, e.g., our landscaper, pool service company, etc. Everything else is done online.</p>
I think I am going for batman next.</p>