What are the benefits of writing a cheque over online banking?

Question

I have received a number of payments through cheque from other people, although I am uncertain about the exact benefits accrued from using a cheque to transfer money from one bank account to another. There seem to be many drawbacks, and no benefits that I can think of when compared to direct interbank online transfers.

The answers in this question seem to suggest that cheque cashing presents many problems if the money is to be withdrawn immediately on the same day or on weekends, more so if the transfer is between banks, due to the difficulty in verifying that a cheque drawer has sufficient money in their account.

For cases where online transfers are available, however, the transfer is usually performed immediately (or nearly so) and the money often becomes available within a few minutes to hours of the actual transfer. It can also be performed when banks are closed, after which the recipient of the money can directly withdraw the money from a 24-hour ATM.

Are there any reasons in today's world, where internet banking is widely available, to write cheques instead of performing direct bank transfers?

Answer 1

France is one country where cheques are common. More an more people are using credit cards for typical store payments and wire transfers are slowly gaining traction.

There are several cases where cheques come handy:

• the delivery man with your furniture arrives and need to be paid.
• you agree on a deal around the table with someone who wants 30% of the payment in advance so that he can secure the deal on his side.
• you rent a small house for a week in the countryside and the landlord wants to secure the rent

Sure, all these cases could ultimately be resolved with a wire transfer. Sometimes it is just simpler/faster to mail a piece of paper. This said, I believe than in 1à years from now even France will go cheque-less.

Answer 2

In order for you to send me check for $10 you would have to know my banking details. You would have to know the bank number and the account number. Giving you this information does put my funds at risk.

While you would know this for a small circle of friends you wouldn't know this for everybody. My parents have 19 grand kids. They would have to know the banking account information for all 19. While my parents can be trusted with this information their grand children would have to make sure that they had the updated information. Instead they just mail them a check or give them a check on their birthday or other special occasion.

Most of the time that money needs to be transferred it is not important that it immediately be converted to cash. The question you referenced is about how the Unbanked function:

The unbanked are adults who do not have their own bank accounts. Along with the underbanked, they may rely on alternative financial services for their financial needs, where these are available.

These people need check cashing places to get money. They don't have a bank account. There is no place for you to electronically send money. Every source of income for them has to start as cash, or be converted to cash. All spending they do is by cash. If they need to pay by check they convert cash to a money order for a fee.