In article bfmFd.8172$u47.5515@trnddc09, Jürgen Exner wrote:
Let's say, the rest of the world finds it impossible to believe, that paper
checks are still being used today in an industrialized country.
snip
This paleozoic banking system of the US of A is nothing but a job guarantee
for the postal service and a permanent annoyance for anyone who has to pay a
bill.

People use them out of choice in the US. When I lived in the US, I did
the majority of my transactions either with a debit card or automated
bill pay. However, I saw quite a large number of people still paying for
their groceries by check - they had the option of using debit cards, but
for some reason they didn't want to.

Still checks are useful for paying private people. I'd rather pay for a
used car off my neighbour with a check than show up with a suitcase full
of cash or have to arrange a bank transfer.

--
Dylan Smith, Castletown, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net
"Maintain thine airspeed, lest the ground come up and smite thee"