Return-Path: Received: from m.gp.cs.cmu.edu by K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU id aa09816; 2 Aug 91 15:28:24 EDT Received: from Messages.7.8.N.CUILIB.3.45.SNAP.NOT.LINKED.M.GP.CS.CMU.EDU.rt.r3 via MS.5.6.M.GP.CS.CMU.EDU.rt_r3; Fri, 2 Aug 91 15:27:29 -0400 (EDT) ReSent-Message-ID: ReSent-Date: Fri, 2 Aug 91 15:27:29 -0400 (EDT) ReSent-From: Andrew.Hastings@cs.cmu.edu ReSent-To: Harry.Bovik@cs.cmu.edu X-Andrew-WideReply: org.cs.general X-Added: With Flames (uniquebb $Revision: 1.1 $) Return-path: To: post-general@CRABAPPLE.SRV.CS.CMU.EDU Xref: crabapple.srv.cs.cmu.edu misc.consumers:40213 cmu.cs.general:5102 Path: crabapple.srv.cs.cmu.edu!pt.cs.cmu.edu!abh From: Andrew Hastings Newsgroups: misc.consumers,cmu.cs.general Subject: check printing summary (long) Message-Id: <14160@pt.cs.cmu.edu> Date: 2 Aug 91 18:23:57 GMT Distribution: usa Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon Lines: 93 Nntp-Posting-Host: pogo.camelot.cs.cmu.edu Originator: abh@POGO.CAMELOT.CS.CMU.EDU Sender: news@CRABAPPLE.SRV.CS.CMU.EDU Almost everyone reported having no problems with alternate check printers. The most popular choice was Current (mentioned by 13 respondents), with 8 respondents using Checks In The Mail. DC Chuang writes: > According to Consumer Reports (or some similar publication) >independent check printers will save you money. The two they listed >were Current, Inc. (800-426-0822) and Checks In the Mail >(800-733-4443), both charge $4.95 for the first 200 checks. Jennifer.Kay@IUS5.IUS.CS.CMU.EDU and Richard.Lewis@cs.cmu.edu also mentioned the Consumer Reports article. Karen York Kietzke , Ravinder Bhumbla , and David Seth Meyers provided contact information: Current Inc Checks In The Mail Check Printing Dept P O Box 7802 PO Box 19000 Irwindale, CA 91706 Colorado Springs, CO 80935-9000 (800) 422-2439 (800) 426-0822 (800) 733-4443 Signature Classics Image Checks Keller Check (800) 562-8768 917 Colmar Avenue Salt Lake City, UT 84104 Federal Check Printers (800) 999-9755 (800) 543-3922 Bob Rowe offered the following advice: > Yes, we have used the ads in the Sunday paper for years. The best >way to approach it is to use the ad for the first set of checks only. >Usually the next order is much more expensive. While using those checks, >keep looking for another ad and save it. When the first set of checks is >nearly depleted, send in the ad for your next batch of "initial" checks. We >have never had a problem with anybody accepting them. Hope this helps. Timothy J. Lee suggests: >As far as your bank honoring checks printed by someone else, check >your bank. Most only require that the magnetic numbers are printed >correctly, which cheapos like Current and Checks-in-the-Mail do. >Also check the bank's disclosure statement -- some require that you >use their own checks, or get approval in advance. Eric Cooper also notes: >The check numbers on perhaps 5 out of 1000 checks >couldn't be read electronically, and that may have been due to my >keeping them folded up in my wallet for months at a time. Joseph M. Newcomer writes: >I tried this because I was not happy with the quality produced. After >two months of searching, the answer is: you can't get it done at a >reasonable price anywhere except at the bank. Deluxe (a real bunch of >turkey yahoos) has the best price. Also, the order has to be validated >by the bank so they know you aren't getting someone else's account >number on your check (because you could then take the money and run). Michael Skokin cautions: >I wondered about the same thing till a bank customer rep. told me that some of >these printers sell the account numbers to outsiders and there is a chance that >you may end up with an empty account. Now I don't know if the printers the bank >uses doesn't do the same thing, but I believe that you could sue someone (the >bank) if this happens (or rather blow up their offices). Thanks to all who responded: tp0x@SPICA.FAC.CS.CMU.EDU trm@GS46.SP.CS.CMU.EDU gt1762c@prism.gatech.edu ecc@ECC.NECTAR.CS.CMU.EDU Sammy.Tao@SPEECH1.CS.CMU.EDU Jennifer.Kay@IUS5.IUS.CS.CMU.EDU Betsy.Herk@ISL1.RI.CMU.EDU ky@VARICOSE.VENARI.CS.CMU.EDU cec@leland.stanford.edu u4944@snoid.cray.com Richard.Lewis@MIXO.SOAR.CS.CMU.EDU jb15+@andrew.cmu.edu wolfe@vw.ece.cmu.edu sgc@SEI.CMU.EDU timlee@btr.com gt9022a@prism.gatech.edu mlz@mlz.speech.cs.cmu.edu mattp@godiva.sps.mot.com jad@chaos.arh.cdc.com elle@midway.uchicago.edu rbhumbla@ucsd.edu skarthik@tucker.intel.com rowe@sj.ATE.SLB.COM jn11+@andrew.cmu.edu duveneck@vacs.uwp.edu NU104043@VM1.NoDak.EDU bbs.dchuang@doomsday.spies.com -Andy Hastings abh@cs.cmu.edu 412/268-8734