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I literally used a paper check last month for my new apartment's deposit. It's still fairly common for some transactions in France. Last I heard, faxing was sti

• jb1991 4y ago
  > I literally used a paper check last month for my new apartment's deposit. That's interesting to hear. I didn't know that was still common; this article from 5 years ago suggests Europe doesn't use checks any more, and that's my experience as well. > The love affair with checks may be strictly American — countries in Europe, like Poland, Denmark, Finland, and the Netherlands stopped issuing checks over the last two decades https://www.theverge.com/ad/16774328/american-checks-currency https://www.theverge.com/ad/16774328/american-checks-currenc... A bit more poking around suggests France and Portugal are the main countries in Europe still regularly using checks in common practice.
  • mrj 4y ago
    Many of the electronic services charge fees which paper checks don't. There's a reason people do this, it's not "love" or lack of knowledge or legacy. It's a big incentive on large transfers (like rent) to avoid a percentage fee.
    • jb1991 4y ago
      Direct bank transfers in many European countries I've transferred to is free and easy and the way everything (including rent) is typically done when a check might be used elsewhere. Same in other countries I've lived in in Asia. In the U.S. bank transfers may not be free, though.