Would you order checks from the internet?

Columbia_Student
Thu, 27 Aug 2009 23:09:33 +0000

Anyone you write a check to can see your routing number and bank statement info.

That is the point. We talked to a bank officer at Wells Fargo, hoping they would be different from BoA, but she said she only pays online now because checks expose your bank information.



Regarding fraud, I never, never, never put any checks in my mailbox anymore. If I have to pay a bill through the mail (i.e., a medical bill or something that I cannot pay online), I drop the envelope off at the post office. No worrying about someone driving by and snagging a check out of our mailbox.

I have not done the above in 20 years. I need a key to access to my mailbox. I also shred everything with my name/address that comes in the mailbox. So nobody can have access to any information with my name on. But electronic debit is a different thing. Banks, in a sense, let any business access your account without checking for identity.

BTW, I have ordered checks from Current, Checks unlimited, etc… in the last 15 years. But after this recent fraud activity, I think twice about it. I now put chunk of my money in CDs, break out in short term CDs and medium term CDs. Banks don’t let anybody do electronic debit from your CD. It’s much safer, IMO.