Personal checks, a thing of the past.

[moneysense]

Your first checkbook used to be a rite of passage. Today it's a relic -- so much so that some retailers and restaurants now decline to accept personal checks.

Whole Foods Market are testing their no checks policy in their Arizona and California stores. They are also testing this policy in some of their Northeastern stores.

Fresh and Easy skipped the test period and they just quit taking checks from the start of the store in 2007.

It is said that in 5 to 10 years, that checks will be a thing of the past. And quite possibly sooner than that.

It is very irritating to stand behind someone in line waiting for them to write out a check. They knew they were going to shop at that store, so they could have had the check prewritten and just have to fill in the amount. Or, hand the check to the cashier to run through the register, then sign it and present their drivers license as ID.

Doing away with checks will make the wait at the cashier shorter. Personally, I dont use checks either. Ive paid bills with money orders for years now. Or with a debit card, at the stores that I shop at. Its quicker and easier by far.

[ClassyLady]

We all knew this was coming! When they came out with the debit cards,I knew checks was going to become obsolete! I only write a check anymore for my rent. The rest I use my debit card.

[moneysense]

Yes, the coming of the debit card did definitely have a lot to do with the non use of the personal check. And it takes a lot less time to use when you are paying for purchases at a store than the checks take.

But one thing everyone still has to remember is to log all of those debit card purchases or you will be still suffer from the fees from being over drawn.

I like the debit cards much better than credit cards because you dont have all of those different fees to contend with.

The disappearance of the personal check is not going to bother me at all. I am for whatever is quickest and easiest for all concerned.

[pennypinch]

I am all for no more checks. I write a check about once per year and thats it.

As for the debit card. I love it but I use it as a credit card because if I use it as debit I get charged a quarter per transaction, using it as credit is free.

[beaston]

It is very irritating to stand behind someone in line waiting for them to write out a check. They knew they were going to shop at that store, so they could have had the check prewritten and just have to fill in the amount. Or, hand the check to the cashier to run through the register, then sign it and present their drivers license as ID.

AMEN!!!!

This is one of my biggest pet peeves when I'm out shopping. I usually have the luck of being behind someone that's writing a check most of the time.

It's not as bad nowadays, because as you said, most stores have it where they'll either stamp the check or run it through the register and give the check back to the customer for them to sign and hand over their ID.

But then you get these people that don't even bother to get their ID out while they're waiting in line or when the cashier is scanning their items. They simply wait till the last second to go digging for their ID.

I know some people prefer checks, but c'mon....why??? It's so much simpler to use a debit or credit card, and keeping track of purchases isn't an issue. You simply keep your receipts and once you get home, record every transaction.

[moneysense]

Beaston, you are so right. And what is really bad is the women that have these huge purses that they have to literally dig through to find what they need.

When I go to checkout, I hurry to get my purchases on the counter, and have my money or whatever in hand. I also hate to wait.

[ClassyLady]

Right pennypinch!! I always use my debit as a credit card. If you try to write a check now days, you have to go through so much unless they have one them things that check it and it is debited right then.