Comment Cheques have real value (Score 1) 796
For business purposes I use cheques all the time. I don't know if any of you have ever had a tax audit, but when dealing with governments, papers ALWAYS wins over any "e-statment" or any other electronic form of information keeping, or at least, that has been my direct, first hand experience. Last time the government looked me over for anything, they never took a penny form me for two reasons : 1) I knew the law like the back of my hand; 2) I had PAPER to back up every single statement I made, including canceled cheques.
You see, at least what I was told, when you have a cheque in your hand, you have physical evidence, fingerprints, personal handwriting, etc. Heck, maybe even some left over DNA somewhere. You cannot fake that, but some people can very easily fake electronic financial statements.
I also find that at least once a year, somebody, somewhere, individual, business or even a government agency claims I didn't pay a bill, and then I go pull out my canceled cheque, wave it in front of them, and watch the dumbfounded look on their faces. Now here's the thing that scares me. If I find an error at least once a year, how many errors are there out there every year, how may people are NOT looking closely at their accounts and keeping close track of them? In find electronic statements are often wrought with error, and most people trust a computer before they trust themselves.
Another thing about cheques is that you - believe it or not - have very few bad payments or even fraud or ripoffs. Seriously. My business take no credit card or debit card, and my bad debts/losses are almost non existent. I am not saying you can do this with every business, not by any means, but it is easier for people to commit fraud with electronic means and credit cards than with cheques.
Something else many of you seem unaware of, but credit cards and debit cards are very expensive for any business or merchant to use. Easily 5% of any purchase you make at most small and medium sized businesses with a credit card goes not to the store or business, but to the credit card company. Don't ever shurg it off and say "oh, that's the cost of doing business", because IMO, that phrase is one of the most foolish things you can ever say. People who says things like that are the ones who in the past created the Enrons of this world, or who created some of the major financial messes we are in today. so if you think the ease and use of a credit card is worth an unofficial 5% "bank tax" on every purchase you make, go ahead, knock yourself out.
One last thing - book keeping and accounting of any kind is a major PITA, no two ways about it, but grow up and get a life before you start tossing 'attitude" at people like me who use cheques. If I can financaily keep my head above water by using cheques, and that helps me keep my finances on an even keel, what's wrong with with that? For what it is worth, I have zero personal debt. I may not own much, but everything I own is paid for 100%. So maybe some of us cheque writers aren't that stupid after all.
All I am saying is, if some of use stone age idiots like myself want to use cheques, and you don't, fine. I'm not saying all of you should, and I don't think I have the right to tell any of you what to do, but I am asking for the same right & respect back.
