Why I encourage you to give up check writing

I haven't used checks in years. I may write one or two checks a month. It's much easier to keep up with charges on my debit card. But, I have a story to tell. It isn't a personal story. It's a story I see monthly from confused consumers who end up in my office with me as their probation officer.

Jo Shmo writes a check to McDonald's for $5.00 and it bounces. Jo either forgets to pay it or puts it on the back burner. After attempts to collect this check, McDonald's sends this check to the District Attorney's office. The District Attorney add its fees to the check (approximately $150 per check in Alabama). Now, Jo not only owes his bank a fee--he owes the District Attorney $155.00. This check has now cost him roughly $185.00. Let's say he ignores the District Attorney's request for payment and gets arrested. He has to bond himself out of jail. He now has had to pay a cash payment to the bond company to be released from jail. He leaves jail with a court date. When he gets to court, he pleads guilty because he did write the check. Now, on top of the bank charges ($30) and the District Attorney charges ($155) he has to pay Fine and Costs to the Court ($440). If Jo cannot pay the entire amount of $625 at court he is placed on a payment plan with a probation officer. Now, Jo has to pay $625 for all fees to this point plus a probation fee of roughly $40 per month. Generally, it takes a client a year to pay off this debt making small affordable payments. When all fees and fines are complete-----JO HAS PAID IN EXCESS OF $1,000.00 OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR FOR A $5.00 CHECK. Think how awful this would be if you had more than one bounced check.

Moral of this story..............don't write checks if you don't have the money in the bank.