Just Say No

Fifteen years ago, you had two options when it came to paying someone else - cash or personal check. Nowadays, you have a dozen different ways with new methods popping up each year. I, for one, am ecstatic we're moving away from personal checks. I very rarely use bank checks and it's usually at the request of the person I'm paying. I'm not a fan of personal checks because personal checks are not secure.

They have almost all the information someones needs to steal your identity (name, address, bank, bank account number, and your signature). I'm not an identity thief so I don't even know the full extent of the shenanigans you can pull with just that information. but I imagine you could do some serious damage. The only time I use checks is when I'm paying back a friend for something, like for social sports leagues, and even then it's only if they want it as a check (they're doing me the favor, so I'll pay however they want).

As for taking personal checks, I don't take personal checks unless it's from some I know. I have no desire to verify a personal check and I definitely don't want to get dinged the fees for bounced checks.

Do you use personal checks? What's your feeling towards them? Let the world know.