The Long Shadow of Checks

Writing Style, Jargon, and Citations

• Several commenters like the article’s substance but find the prose “winding,” with uncommon words and unexplained asides.
• Some want more inline citations, especially when historical or legal terms (like “uttering”) are mentioned but not sourced.
• Others push back, arguing that blog posts aren’t academic papers and that readers can look up minor curiosities themselves.
• There is a playful subthread about enjoying rare words and “inkhorn terms,” versus a preference for simpler language.

Checks, “Uttering,” Clearing, and Credit Risk

• Discussion clarifies “uttering” as presenting a forged instrument, distinct from creating it; reasons for the historical distinction are noted as hard to find.
• Multiple comments elaborate that check “clearing” is effectively a credit process: banks front funds during a delay and profit from the float.
• People note that check deposits can be reversed days later for insufficient funds or fraud, leaving someone holding the loss.
• There’s debate over whether standard checking accounts are inherently “credit products,” especially if overdrafts are disabled.

Overdrafts, Fees, and Business Incentives

• Overdraft and NSF fees are described as historically major US bank revenue sources, which helps explain why non-overdraft accounts are rarer.
• Some propose scaled NSF fees by transaction size; others counter that the marginal processing cost is flat.
• Comparisons are drawn to European practice where overdrafts are treated explicitly as credit with interest, rather than fee-based penalties.

Persistence and Use Cases of Paper Checks

• Many everyday US transactions still favor or require checks: rent, some utilities, professional services, government fees, charitable donations, and tipping in certain contexts.
• Several note that checks are attractive because bank processing costs are largely hidden and payer fees are typically flat or zero, unlike cards.
• Others point out growing availability of free ACH/e-check options and bank “bill pay” that mails checks on the user’s behalf.

International Comparisons and Alternatives

• Commenters from Europe and elsewhere describe near-total replacement of checks by low-cost or free bank transfers, sometimes with instant settlement.
• Some countries have already phased out or scheduled the end of checks, citing high processing costs.
• US wire transfers are criticized as costly, paperwork-heavy, and not suitable as a mass retail payment system.
• There is curiosity about why the US lacks a widely used, account-holder–initiated push transfer system akin to European “giro,” though FedNow is mentioned as a possible step.

Security, ACH, and Account Number Exposure

• Several people are uneasy that US account and routing numbers allow both deposits and withdrawals, likening them to bearer credentials.
• Others respond that ACH debits can be reversed, banks and processors underwrite merchants, and fraud controls exist, but controls are often reactive rather than opt-in.
• Desired improvements include:
  • Deposit-only identifiers or “wallets” tied to accounts.
  • Fine-grained access control or allowlists for ACH debits.
  • Tokenization similar to credit-card networks.
• There’s also criticism that employers and utilities must store sensitive bank details, creating additional breach risk.

Behavioral and Strategic Use of Checks

• Some businesses and individuals intentionally use the slowness of mailed checks to delay payment while claiming to have “already paid.”
• Others prefer checks or mail over poorly designed or untrustworthy online portals, reporting essentially no lost checks in practice.

Fraud, Crime, and Legal Nuances

• One commenter argues the article downplays historical check fraud by serious criminals; others reply that the piece acknowledges real fraud but focuses on institutions misclassifying honest mistakes as crime.
• Someone notes the article omits the doctrine of “holder in due course,” considered an important legal concept in the check ecosystem.