Out of interest, do you live in a country other than the USA?

(I'm guessing you are because in the USA they spell it check, not cheque.)

I asked because the USA still seems to be stubbornly check-focused.

Is it? I lived in the US for 20+ years until 2021 and, though there were definitely more checks than I see in Europe now, the frequency with which I used them was approaching zero, which definitely wouldn't qualify as "stubbornly check-focused".

I'm in the US and things are definitely less check-centric than they used to be but I still probably write or receive a couple a month.

I guess there's also a difference between "can use checks" vs "have to use checks" because, aside from rent, I can't recall having to write checks.

Everything else allowed either credit card or direct debit on top of allowing checks.

> I guess there's also a difference between "can use checks" vs "have to use checks" because, aside from rent, I can't recall having to write checks.

Landlords, IME, insist on a physical check for the first payment. I think they're performing some sort of blood ritual with it in the back of the office. After the sacrifice is complete, though, they'll switch to ACH.

The only other place I've ever had to use checks is for large purchases, where the amount exceeds that which cards are capable of. Even these would be pretty rare for most people, since there's a likelihood you would finance a large purchase with a loan instead.

I think my last car purchase I paid deposit by card but paid the balance by personal check. In years past that balance would have been by a cashier check but I guess systems these days can confirm there's money in the account.

Both my housekeeper and contractor use checks and, while I could get the bank to "write" them checks, it's easier to just hand them a piece of paper. I've also needed to pay my neighbor something from time to time and it's easier to just write a check. I do also periodically receive checks from various institutions.

I guess to me there's just a big difference between what you're describing (which matches what I remember) and "stubbornly check-focused" as ancestor comment said.

I do find the money transfer options where I am in Europe much easier, though, and they do make checks and PayPal/Zelle/Venmo pretty obsolete too, IMO.

I think that's fair. I do carry a few checks in my travel folder but I don't think I've ever used them in Europe. Do carry some backup US cash.

But in the US, there's probably a general expectation that you can send or receive checks at least now and then. There are often other options but that's probably the lowest friction one even if my bank can send checks if needed, albeit with some delay.

Maybe you aren't required to, but there can tend to be downsides to the other methods in practice:

credit card: - often extra fees or minimums for nontrivial expenses - privacy of course

direct debit: - payee gains ability to debit any amount, and while resolution plays out, you are stuck with the consequences - limited ability to cease payments

check: - fixed payment amount; violating this would be clear fraud not attributable to "mistakes" that can happen with DD