Cheques?

[dimsum]

This may sound like a ridiculous question, but is there a reason to get paper cheques anymore? 

I'm OUTCAN and in Australia, no one has used paper cheques in over a decade; when I suggested a void cheque for banking details on my HHT a few years ago, the landlord (a 60-year old lady) said "she used to use them when she was young".  I never bothered getting any more and just used my last one to pay CRA, which surprisingly still requires them. 

I'm coming back in a year and was wondering if rental agencies/landlords, etc still require paper cheques (and whether or not I should order some)?

Thanks!

 

[dapaterson]

I go through 2-3 a year for various things that I want a paper trail for.  If you're renting or owning a condo they may be handy for providing post-dated payments.  (Not all owners are set up for electronic payments,. oddly enough)

And depending on your account, cheques may be free (well, free to write; you'll still have to pay for the actual cheques) where email transfers or other electronic payments still have fees attached.

 

[PuckChaser]

You can get dft authorization forms from banks now to set up stuff for rent, etc.

 

[dimsum]

Cool, thanks for the tips.

As an aside, it took me a bit to get over the fact that Aussies freely email/text their bank account details for pretty much anything - few people actually carry cash here.  It helps that bank transfers to/from any Aussie bank are free and pretty much instantaneous.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

If I need cheques, I print them from my computer.

 

[ballz]

My landlord uses cheques, so I do up 12 months rent at a time and post-date them.

I still use some here and there for deposits and certain purchases (for example, I bought a custom leather briefcase as a gift for someone from somebody that does leather work out of his house). I can view cheques cashed on my online banking so it's a good way to have an electronic receipt that I'll never lose.

But I'm old fashioned I guess, I take out a fair chunk of my pay on pay day and use cash for 85% of things.

 

[Biohazardxj]

It is so nice to see everyone spelling cheque properly.    I haven't written a cheque in years.  However, I have one folded up in my wallet just in case. 

 

[Tibbson]

I'm moving unaccompanied to Ottawa next week and was told by the CFSU(O) IR cell to bring a void cheque so they can advance my rent reimbursement each month.  Archaic but basic cheques are free at most banks so order a book for those few times you may need them.

 

[AmmoTech90]

I've used print outs of details for my pay deposit account from the pay system for any dealings with the pay office including IR and also with IRP . Ask for the screen that shows where your regular pay goes,  I just give photocopies of that. Cheques needed for mortgage approval though .

 

[dimsum]

Cheques needed for mortgage approval though .

That's the part I don't understand - isn't the point of a void cheque just so they have your banking info (which you can give them anyway without the cheque)?

 

[medicineman]

I presently pay by cheque to my current landlord monthly; my new one will be taking everything out electronically on the first of each month.  One less thing to remember...which reminds me, rent day tomorrow.

MM

 

[Pusser]

That's the part I don't understand - isn't the point of a void cheque just so they have your banking info (which you can give them anyway without the cheque)?

You're absolutely right.  The only reason anyone asks for a void cheque is so that they can get all the bank details correct.  Not everybody understands all the numbers associated with bank accounts and institutions so the easiest way to avoid mistakes is for the organization needing it to ask for a void cheque.  Yes, you can get direct debit forms from the bank, but the risk of a mistake rises when you use those.  However, since it's the information that they need from the cheque and not the cheque itself, a photocopy works just fine.  In fact, I keep a PDF of a void cheque on my computer for just such things.

 

[exgunnertdo]

One of my kids' activities still only takes cheques (3 post dated cheques per year).  I also registered her in a day camp with a small dance school who only takes cheques, cash or email transfer.  I pay for email transfers, but cheques are free, well, after I order the cheques (that I find archaic...thanks TD!).

I also pay the dog sitter (home based business) by cheque because it's easier than cash (I never have more than $10-20 cash on me).

I still feel like I need to have cheques available, but I don't use them often!

I also keep a PDF of a void cheque saved for easy printing. 

 

[Pusser]

You don't actually need to use cheques issued (sold) by the bank.  As far as I know, you can legally hand write a "cheque" on any piece of paper and as long as it has all the required information, it should be negotiable.  A friend of mine once wrote a cheque on a cocktail napkin just to see if it would work - it did.  It's all a matter of what the people involved in the transaction are willing to accept.

 

[dapaterson]

Banks can and do charge additional fees for cheques that lack the magnetic encoding of brach, transit and account information, though.