Check-Writing or Online Transactions: Which is Better?

To date, there are literally billions of checks that are written annually to pay for bills. Conversely, companies can save hundreds of millions of dollars by offering online bill paying to their customers. So, when comparing these two consumer options, which one is better?

If you consult environmentalists, they would undoubtedly argue that a paperless society would save more trees and produce a cleaner environment. However, if you talk to a few people that have been victims of identity theft and are no longer willing to use a computer to pay bills (or conduct any other electronic transactions, for that matter), they too would have a valid argument. But, when you consider the costs involved in check-writing such as envelopes, postage stamps, and time consumption, those who are in favor of online bill-paying will probably make up an overwhelming majority.

Certainly, security is a major factor when conducting any business online. For those who consistently utilize the computer to shop and pay bills, it's a cost-effective process that they've come to appreciate. But for those who have always paid for bills by writing a check or purchasing a money order, it isn't so easy to make the switch. And for those who've been burned by internet thieves in the past, their taste for anything 'cyber-related' may have been soured to the point of non-recovery. Considering the two sides, then, it's likely that both online bill-paying and paper bill-paying will continue to have a place in our society.

There are indeed certain bills that most of us would rather not pay online. And that makes us all more vulnerable to a different kind of identity theft that doesn't garner nearly the attention of the electronic variety – stealing mail from mailboxes.

In some cities, mail can only be taken to the post office, but in other cities, mail is delivered and picked up. The fact of the matter is that identity theft can happen at any time, whether you own a computer or not. This is evidenced by recent event in a suburban community in which a young man was seen taking a piece of mail that was to be picked up by a postal worker on his route. Luckily, a neighbor happened to witness the theft and yelled out to the man, who dropped the envelope and ran off. The envelope happened to contain a payment for a credit card bill. Unfortunately, another individual in the same neighborhood wasn't quite so lucky. Both the local police and the postal authorities were notified regarding the incident.

So which of the two forms of payment can you rely on? While online bill-paying has its problems, paper bill-paying has a few, as well. For those who have been victims of identity theft, paper bill-paying may seem like the safer solution. For those who have never had a problem with online transactions, this is the method of choice. It's really a matter of perspective, convenience, and trust.