Does your employer still pay you by check? Mine is doing away with them.

Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
My employer, like many others, offers direct deposit along with the standard check like most of us may get...until the end of the month. After May they will offer a debit card or direct deposit only. I will mention that my employer is one of the biggest "Big Box" stores in the country.

At first I was like WTF does a person do if they don't have a checking/savings account. How many folks want debit card? But, the more I thought about it, it makes some sense. For someone that does not have a checking account they might have to go to a check cashing store and then they are charged a fee (sometimes as much as 7-10%) to cash their check. Whereas with a debit card they could go any ATM and maybe get charged $2 or so to draw the money out.

So, does your employer still give you a check? What do you think about the debit card deal?
05/04/2012
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Contributor: FemmeFlo FemmeFlo
Personally, I find direct deposit a lot easier, but I've also always used a checking account.

The only problem with direct deposit is that my paycheck "magically appears" in my account, and it doesn't seem like real money, so I spend it faster than I should. Getting a physical paycheck forces me to be more conscious and slow down my spending. Eh, well.
05/04/2012
Contributor: Ms. N Ms. N
I've been direct deposit for ten years, at least.
05/04/2012
Contributor: spunkmonkey spunkmonkey
I still get a paper check each week.
05/04/2012
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
Direct deposit, though I wish cash were on option. Ever notice how everyone else can dictate how we pay, but no one allows us to dictate how we get paid?
05/04/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
I'm not so sure about that TripleT - the $2 thing...

It is specifically designed to penalize you and bully you into getting a checking account. The one we had at a former employer (and I doubt that where you are would be any different) had a $.99 fee for using the card in a store, $.99 for withdrawing the money. Only certain banks/branches were available and they were always in really bad locations as in just impossible to get to, not problem areas. And there was a limit on how much you could not only withdraw at once but withdraw within 24 hours.

Chase Checking - it's a godsend when it comes to banks. We just recently made a large purchase and by the time my husband got from the store to the house, Chase had called to find out if it was a legit purchase and not someone who stole our cards. It's free with direct deposit and it's one of the easiest banks to work with that I know of.
05/04/2012
Contributor: Various Various
I don't work, but my husband still receives a paper check.
05/04/2012
Contributor: TdotY TdotY
I still get a paper check.
05/04/2012
Contributor: Woman China Woman China
China is still mainly a cash society when you leave the big cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenzhen, Guangzhou), and there you can use your debit or credit card pretty much like you could in Western countries.

Leave those cities and you could be screwed. Only major and big fancy hotels and restaurants will for sure accept credit or debit. Banks might take them and let you withdraw money. Larger stores are now accepting debit, but credit is iffy.

Cash is still how most of society does business. I get paid in a stack of bills each month.
05/04/2012
Contributor: Crystal1 Crystal1
We have the option for checks, but nobody really does that. Direct deposit is so much easier!
05/04/2012
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
Quote:
Originally posted by FemmeFlo
Personally, I find direct deposit a lot easier, but I've also always used a checking account.

The only problem with direct deposit is that my paycheck "magically appears" in my account, and it doesn't seem like real money, so ... more
I hear that, my wife (who takes care of the bills) also hates that she has to check to see if/when it is deposited.
05/05/2012
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
I'm not so sure about that TripleT - the $2 thing...

It is specifically designed to penalize you and bully you into getting a checking account. The one we had at a former employer (and I doubt that where you are would be any different) had ... more
See, I can bet that would be a problem for folks up here. Corporate is down south in a big city and we are pretty small. We only have on big bank and a handful of credit unions to chose from.

Ours does that too, very nice that they actually pay attention.
05/05/2012
Contributor: ejrbrndps ejrbrndps
direct deposit
05/05/2012
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Our company offers check and direct deposit, and every so often offers up the unpleasant surprise of, "Oops, we forgot to do direct deposit this month so here's a live check!"

I love Direct Deposit--it's one less thing I have to do in a day.
05/05/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
Our company offers check and direct deposit, and every so often offers up the unpleasant surprise of, "Oops, we forgot to do direct deposit this month so here's a live check!"

I love Direct Deposit--it's one less thing I have to do in a day.
Damn those holidays!
05/05/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyTimeTim
See, I can bet that would be a problem for folks up here. Corporate is down south in a big city and we are pretty small. We only have on big bank and a handful of credit unions to chose from.

Ours does that too, very nice that they actually ... more
Ugh, it was a nightmare for me. The bank was clear across town - they only had two branches. And my rent at the time was higher than their daily allotment. I had this batshit insane formula for how I had to take care of everything for the first month or two until I could decide on which bank I wanted to go with.
05/05/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
My hubbies job is talking about doing away with them as well. But for those that can't do direct deposit charging them $10.00 per check. Seriously, WTF? He doesn't have a bank account because he wouldn't have any money in it because creditors would take it. I could open one in my name, but I'd have to put his name on it and they could still take all of our money. He knows he needs to file bankrupt, but that takes cash and we need to move and buy a car. (As we are driving a 2 door car for a family of 4 and it needs a new transmission and a bunch of other work. We live in a one bedroom house for the family of 4 too. We have to move and get a car before we can do anything else.) With no over time lately, we are stuck with what we have.
05/05/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
My agency doesn't have direct deposit. I wish they did. I HATE going to the bank. Like true anxiety attack time every time I have to go into a bank. I use a regional/local bank and have completely free checking, with no fees for most things. I am not charged for most debit card uses, as long as it's for commercial purposes etc. I don't use ATMs to get money, I prefer to go to a teller and just stock up while I'm there.

My husband has direct deposit and loves it. He has a different bank than I do, and they have some fees for falling under a certain balance etc. which is why I don't use it.

I have 2 paychecks, 2 travel expense checks and a "make up" check (for when I was underpaid for a service) that have to be brought to the bank. UG. I wish they would "magically" appear in my checking account. I live in the Chicago area and truly don't know anyone who doesn't have a checking account. I've had bank accounts since I was a small child and checking accounts since I was 17, I can't imagine not having one.
05/05/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyTimeTim
My employer, like many others, offers direct deposit along with the standard check like most of us may get...until the end of the month. After May they will offer a debit card or direct deposit only. I will mention that my employer is one of the ... more
You can cash your check at Walmart for $3.00. That's what hubby does. It's their flat rate price.
05/05/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Even though he has a checking account (which he uses as if he lived in Mad Men days, actually still writing checks and mailing them for his bills. It drive me CRAZY and I'm trying to get him to use the internet or at least phone in payments more. He sometimes gets payments in late, because of the mail, and then we all suffer.)

He doesn't have a debit card, he doesn't even have an ATM card, which drives me crazy because with an ATM card, at least you can get cash in emergencies. He's always broke on Sunday Mornings, and has to whine until the bank window opens so he can get enough cash for Sunday and Monday. Like most Bohemians in Chicago, he visits his bank with more regularity than he visits his mother. He goes to the bank at least once a day, which I find a waste of time, and anxiety producing to boot. I just take out enough cash I think I'll need for the month and not go back. Sadly, (or not) most of my purchases are on credit cards. I stopped using cash a lot many years ago. As long as you pay your credit card bills every month and keep track of what you spend, it seems to work for me. I actually spend more with cash on hand, I do better with plastic.
05/05/2012
Contributor: Red Vinyl Kitty Red Vinyl Kitty
I get paid via a direct deposit debit card, and I like it a lot. I either use the card to pull out money, or pay bills online. The only thing that is a bummer is the card I have to use charges almost $5 each time you take out money, so I usually just pay for everything with the card. $5 is a huge fee to me. Most debit cards I had in the past are between $2-3. I could go get an actual check *cashed* for $5. Still, I like my little debit card.
05/05/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
I've had employers where the only available method was by check, and I've had employers where the only available method was by direct deposit. Both are fine---but when I was living rurally (and mailing paper checks in to deposit at the (urban) bank every other week) I was extremely grateful that debit cards work everywhere. No way could I have driven to a city to withdraw money to use every two weeks. And establishing a bank account just for a 6 month employment contract would seem really silly.

Anyway, both work for me. And I'm grateful that the world has been made convenient.
05/05/2012
Contributor: BG529 BG529
Cash!!
05/05/2012
Contributor: Kitten has left the site Kitten has left the site
i dont work, but my mother gets a debit card (she works at a gas station) and she doesn't mind it, but i think that would drive me crazy.

at the end of my work a few years ago at Kwong Wah (resturant, my old employer paid me in drinks and chinese food because she was losing money
05/05/2012
Contributor: November November
I get paid through direct deposit and I LOVE it! It's definitely my first preference!
05/05/2012
Contributor: Gracie Gracie
I love having direct deposit! I find it more convenient than depositing my check myself.
05/05/2012
Contributor: Arch600 Arch600
We resisted direct deposit for a long time, but definitely find it much more convenient. There's talk at my company of forcing everyone to direct deposit as well, and even though we're using it, I don't like the company dictating how I should handle my personal finances. If someone does not want direct deposit, it should remain their choice, regardless of their reasons.
05/05/2012
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
My agency doesn't have direct deposit. I wish they did. I HATE going to the bank. Like true anxiety attack time every time I have to go into a bank. I use a regional/local bank and have completely free checking, with no fees for most things. I am ... more
My bank has this app for the iphone (and probably android, too, who nows) that lets me deposit my check by taking a picture of it. Maybe yours has that? It was a total lifesaver, because I work the graveyard shift and going to the bank at 4 AM isn't very convenient for my lifestyle.
05/05/2012
Contributor: Deeder Deeder
The company my hubby and I work for still issues checks to some of it's associates who have been around longer, but requires that all new hires sign up for direct deposit. (On the bright side, for people without any sort of bank account, we also have our own credit union which will sign you on for a one-time fee of $2.00 -- after that it's free.)

Personally, I love it. We know our pay is going to be in the bank first thing Thursday morning, can check the amount deposited on both our bank's website or on our company's site if we need a more detailed breakdown of hours, deductions for insurance, etc., and can set it up so that it deposits into multiple accounts (for example, we both have a small amount go into our savings account, and whatever is left over goes into our checking).
05/05/2012
Contributor: Peaches2000 Peaches2000
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyTimeTim
My employer, like many others, offers direct deposit along with the standard check like most of us may get...until the end of the month. After May they will offer a debit card or direct deposit only. I will mention that my employer is one of the ... more
A check is still an options with our company. Know the pace we move, it will still be an option for another 20 years...
05/05/2012