Denmark to stop delivering letters

[Alan Edward Klein]

In Ireland and most EU countries, the cheque is no longer used. The majority of payments are made electronically, either by debit or credit card in retail outlets or online (secure encrypted).

Payment can also be made electronically from bank to bank. I can give the payor my Bick and Iban number. These are my account details. They can then make the payment electronically TO my account. They CAN NOT withdraw money from my account.

When I make an electronic payment, on line or through the bank app, the payment needs to be verified by my personal pin number and also by a confirmation code sent to me by text. The bank software also notices if an unusual transaction should occur.

Electronic bank transfer is very safe.

I have alerts on all my credit cards that send me a message whenever a charge is processed. I do the same with bank checks except only for checks over a certain amount to avoid nuisance alerts. I also get alerts for deposits like Social Security when they make bank-to-bank deposits. The credit card companies and banks allow a lot of flexibility in alerts in how you want them triggered.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I've used VERSACHECK software to print my own checks since the last Millenium -- basically for free. There's probably free check printing software that can be downloaded on the WEB.

Bank checks should be special paper that supposedly makes them harder to forge and change details if intercepted in the mail. Do you use bank paper or regular print paper?

 

[wiltw]

Of course, packages delivered to single homes don't seem to be that much safer.

At least secure entry apartment lobbies are safer from the 'porch pirates' who drive slowly up the street or even walk up the block, stopping briefly to steal the packages left outside at the front door of homes, ignoring tne presence of video cameras video'ing the theft of packages while it occurs.

 

[Pieter12]

My daughter lives in an apartment house in NY State. All the UPS, Fed Ex, and other packages are left on the floor in the lobby near the dwellers' mail boxes. You just look for your own packages. Everyone seems to trust everyone else. Hard to believe this is common practice in apartment buildings. I guess if you ordered something valuable like a camera, you make delivery requiring a signature. That would require the guy to take an elevator up to the apartment. Of course, packages delivered to single homes don't seem to be that much safer.

Most companies (and individuals) who ship high-ticket items require an adult signature. If no one is there, they don't go to the unit in search of the recipient, they leave a tag.

 

[xkaes]

Bank checks should be special paper that supposedly makes them harder to forge and change details if intercepted in the mail. Do you use bank paper or regular print paper?

I use regular paper and SHARPIE ink which can't be removed or altered.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I use Uniball Signo 207 ballpoint pens when writing checks . They're recommended as their ink is very difficult to bleach out of the check and the details changed to pay a thief who stole your check from your mailbox, if that;s where you mail from, or from other places. Apparently, there are ways to bleach out ink from less secure pen types.

My girl friend bought some pens like that for her place and my place. Great product.

 

[Sirius Glass]

My wife refuses to leave her checks in the mailbox outside our house for pickup. She always drives to the post office and drops it off inside, not in the boxes outside.

The US Post Office has eliminated outside mail boxes at most of its post offices in the area because people were putting sticky materials inside the slots to steal mail. Now we have to park the car and walk in to deposit mail safely.

 

[grain elevator]

In practical terms, if snail mail really does become obsolete, sure, that service may not be needed any more. In Germany, we are a long way from that. Not because of cheques but because a bunch of communication with public administration still only works on paper.
Having mail delivered to central locations might work for some, but certainly not for e.g. the elderly, who happen to also be one group that can't be reached in other ways.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

In practical terms, if snail mail really does become obsolete, sure, that service may not be needed any more. In Germany, we are a long way from that. Not because of cheques but because a bunch of communication with public administration still only works on paper.
Having mail delivered to central locations might work for some, but certainly not for e.g. the elderly, who happen to also be one group that can't be reached in other ways.

We thought we were so advanced when we got a beeper.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Does anyone besides me think it's odd that a group of film shooters think snail mail is obsolete?

 

[Don_ih]

Does anyone besides me think it's odd that a group of film shooters think snail mail is obsolete?

Well, I made this thread because, for a couple of groups of us here, the mail service is pretty important. Can't have much of a postcard exchange if you can't mail postcards.

 

[BrianShaw]

We thought we were so advanced when we got a beeper.

, and before that the TV “clicker”…

 

[Pieter12]

Does anyone besides me think it's odd that a group of film shooters think snail mail is obsolete?

Let me check my fax machine.

 

[AnselMortensen]

When is the next tickertape parade?

 

[MurrayMinchin]

In Canada, I've often thought it would be an interesting statistical study to compare home delivery to neighbourhood group mailboxes. Specifically, comparing broken wrists etc during long icy winters between the two groups. My suspicion is, considering we have universal healthcare, it might be cheaper in the long run to have home delivery everywhere.

Much like we have motorcycle helmet laws because we all pay via taxes into the healthcare system, so why should I pay the hospital brain injury bills for someone choosing not to wear a helmet?

Even if it turned out not to be cheaper, the reduction in doctor/hospital visits would reduce load on the overall healthcare system.

 

[MattKing]

Let me check my fax machine.

I shared a purchase of a fax machine in ~1986. It was $500 back then, and it used thermal paper.

 

[bedrof]

A fun fact - a package with prints I sent to Canada for BPX arrived to country of destination on 2nd of March, then somehow registered in Ethiopia on 4th and five days later returned to Canada.
Sure it might be a local software bug somewhere in processing chain.

 

[wiltw]

I shared a purchase of a fax machine in ~1986. It was $500 back then, and it used thermal paper.

And FAX machines are still the only acceptable form (no JPG, no PDF) to a number of institutions like life insurance companies wanting proof of death, etc. in lieu of mailing the actual document.