Jay,

I still see the horse and buggy around too, but it's usefulness as a mode of transportation has been marginalized by more efficient alternatives, wouldn't you say?

Checks will be continued to be used of course, but they are - more than ever - a niche means of payment and acceptance.

As a matter of culture I understand why check writing persists.

As a matter of convenience and security I do not. I will applaud any store that bans check-writing as a form of payment.

There is a reason why the cashier asks "cash or credit" and never "check"?

Can't happen soon enough for me. I have a lot of respect for our senior citizens, but really they should give some kind of a warning sign that they're going to write a check, so that we don't get stuck behind them in the checkout lanes. Store managers, please, please, please make at least express lanes check-free.

Quite honestly, it's beyond my understanding why anyone still prefers checks to the debit cards in this day and age.

Well, as a state employee who gets his health insurance through the DirectPay program, the only way I can pay my premiums is by check to the State Department of Budget and Management. No withholding, no online payment, nothing.

If the State is any indication, it will be 3018 before we can do away with checks.

Who died and made the banks the dictatorial ruler of Britain? The colonies aren't the only ones who can have a revolution.

i can see a need for checks in some cases. While I can see use of debit or credit card for point of sale purchases, what about payments such as mortgage, BGE, real estate taxes, water/sewer fees, etc.?

While my mortgage payments are made by EFT payments, I don't necessarily trust all corporations or even state/county agencies enough to give them unfettered access to my checking account. Once someone has your authority to receive payments via EFT, it is extremely difficult to have them listen to you that they took too much out as they have no incentive to do too much research into the matter since they already have the money and your bank will point out that you signed an authorization for them to take your money.

Using a check for payment of anything is like living in the stone age. I have not written a check in at least 10 years. With the internet, on line bill pay, direct take out of checking accounts and debit cards why in the world would you ever need a check for anything. It is ridiculous in this day and age to write a check for anything. I work at a convenience store as my retirement job and we recieve hardly any checks anymore. Good deal. I hate it when people take the time to write on of the darn things. They don't even need to be filled out. We run it through and just void it and give it back to them anyway. Just get a debit card.

It is not possible to eliminate checks. I am a self employed sign painter and I receive an average of 4 checks per week from my customers as payment for signs I have painted for them. I can not accept a credit card payment for sign painting.
When you have to pay someone for a product or service or even paying someone that you owe money to you have to write a check. Also many utilitiy companies don't take credit cards or debit cards. I also can not pay my property taxes using a credit card. I know some offer the service but the fee to do this is very expensive and some of us can not afford those types of fees so unless the government is going to pay those fees they will have to continue accepting checks.

For an interesting article on the dangers of paying bills by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), read the article in the URL below:
http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/category/12/103/358/

Well, Rex, if you don't want to write a check, good for you.
But you need to realize that a lot of us don't trust electronic money transfers, don't have or want debit cards, and won't patronize stores that void checks and hand them back. But I have good news for you: I won't be wasting your time writing a check in your convenience store, because I won't be patronizing it.

We just expanded into manufacturing personal checks. Huh? What? Why would we do that? People still use checks?! Checks are DEAD!

It is true that check usage is declining 4-6% annually. However, according to the Federal Reserve, 30+ billion checks are written annually. The Deluxe Corporation expects checks to continue to be an essential part of their business even though their direct-to-consumer sales are declining 10%+ annually. This represents $190 million annually and $1 billion annually if sales through banks are included. You can safely double these numbers by including Harland Clarke.

Don't stick a fork in us just yet!