[Dont Mention the War]

They're trying to limit their potential loss on bad checks - limiting to a certain amount/week means checks will clear within that time or they won't. If they don't, the loss is limited.

By the way, it isn't going to be much longer that you're going to be able to use checks at supermarkets at all, at least not in the old-fashioned way. There are already grocery store chains that have started direct-debiting your account at checkout. You write out the check and hand it to them, the cash register scans the magnetic ink on the check and instantly deducts the amount from your account. The cashier then hands you back the check, which has "VOID" stamped all over it.

Say goodbye to the float!

[Skooz]

You write out the check and hand it to them, the cash register scans the magnetic ink on the check and instantly deducts the amount from your account. The cashier then hands you back the check, which has "VOID" stamped all over it.

A local bookstore uses that. I bought something there about a year ago and they debited my account immediately and gave me the voided check. That's why I haven't stepped into the store since, and never will again.

[Experiment 6-2-6]

I made the mistake of writing a check at a VONS last year when I was back in the states. My, how things have changed. Not only did the cashier tolerate me like a bug, the customers started making snide comments 'bout "who writes checks anymore?".

Sometimes life on an island in the South Pacific gets better and better..