Printing photos on checks?

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 21:28:51 GMT, jj@unspameljefe.net wrote:

>I suppose there's also the option of getting MICR ink for my laser
>printer, but how feasible is that?

Well, just try giving your local camera store a check you completely
printed yourself....

As Mark pointed out, google it, they are there. I checked a couple of
months ago and saw that these cost more than twice as much as the ones
with national park photos on. Then I thought, who the hell sees these
checks anyway - the machine at Bell south?

Really, the whole concept is stupid.

--
Owamanga!
http://www.pbase.com/owamanga

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

jj@unspameljefe.net wrote:
> Is there any place that prints custom checks for photographers? I'm
> tired of the usual selections from banks and check printers. I'd like
> to see my own photos on my checks. I statred asking about this more
> than 20 years ago, but they always wanted an arm and half a leg to do
> the set up and printing. Maybe things have changed.
>
> I suppose there's also the option of getting MICR ink for my laser
> printer, but how feasible is that?
>
> JJ
I print my own checks from MS Money, with blank checks I make from VersaCheck. I don't
take advantage of it, but I could put a Personal Logo on the check, and that could be a photo.

It is much cheaper than having checks printed by a bank or a service. The electronic code
at the bottom of the check is read optically, so it doesn't need special ink.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Owamanga wrote:
> On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 13:27:12 -0400, Marvin <physchem@cloud9.net>
> wrote:
>
>
>>I print my own checks from MS Money, with blank checks I make from VersaCheck. I don't
>>take advantage of it, but I could put a Personal Logo on the check, and that could be a photo.
>
>
> Good idea, this could be made to work.
>
>
>>It is much cheaper than having checks printed by a bank or a service.
>
>
> Interesting.
>
>
>>The electronic code at the bottom of the check is read optically, so it doesn't need special ink.
>
>
> Actually, Federal law requires it to be read magnetically. From
> versachecks own website:
>
> The Check Clearing Act for the 21st Century ("Federal Law Check 21" or
> "Check 21" ) became effective October 28, 2004.
>
> To transmit check data electronically, banks have a two-step process.
> They must make an accurate image of the front of the check and they
> must magnetically scan the MICR line at the bottom of the check. The
> clearinghouse or bank receiving this check data electronically is then
> able to print it out to create a substitute check, which has the same
> legal standing and value as the original check.
>
> Federal law Check 21 defines the MICR line as the numbers printed in
> magnetic ink at the bottom of the check. These numbers represent the
> payor’s account number, routing number, bank, the check amount and
> other information.
>
> Check 21 requires that all checks, original or substitute, meet the
> ANSI standards requirement of printing the MICR line at the bottom of
> the check using magnetic ink. Magnetic check-reading equipment is the
> standard used today for check processing by banks, clearinghouses and
> retail stores due to its ability to process data at high-speed with
> extreme accuracy.
>
Check with your bank. I've been doing this for several years, with accounts at two banks.
My payees have deposited them at their banks. I use regular HP ink. It has always
worked fine.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 20:29:19 GMT, Owamanga
<owamanga-not-this-bit@hotmail.com> wrote:

>On Wed, 13 Jul 2005 15:57:01 -0400, Marvin <physchem@cloud9.net>
>wrote:
>
>>Check with your bank. I've been doing this for several years, with accounts at two banks.
>> My payees have deposited them at their banks. I use regular HP ink. It has always
>>worked fine.
>
>I wasn't saying you can't, because you are proof that you obviously
>can. Yes, in your case, they use an optical system. Any check that
>can't be read by the mag readers gets chucked in a bin and processed
>by hand.
>
>There was a 'trick' a while back that people used to use - run a
>magnet over the MICR line and (apparently) it can't be read. The idea
>was that hand processing wouldn't clear as fast as electronically
>reading it - possibly slowing the system down, and leaving the money
>in your account for longer.
>
>Apparently the banks in England started getting very upset when word
>spread and half the checks couldn't be read any more...
>
>...it could all be legend though...

Or it could be for real! As anyone with a checking account knows by
now, the whole Check 21 deal does nothing for consumers. It was
hustled through Congress by banking lobbyists. Now banks can get their
money out of your account faster via electronic transfer.

However, there's no requirement that the banks clear checks you've
deposited in your own account equally fast. So, the traditional
"float" is gone. Instant electronic debiting means the distinct
possibility of expensive (and perhaps multiple) overdraft charges and
service fees, even if you think you've made the deposits to cover your
check-writing. As a hedge, I've occasionally deposited checks in my
savings account at Bank A, and taken cash out to deposit into my
checking account at Bank B.

So far I've successfully demanded that two of my regular accounts
(Visa and Amex) not electronically debit my checking account. I don't
want check "replicas," I want the original cancelled checks. Ever try
to present a "replica" for a refund?

I'm now getting my checks back. How long this will go on remains to be
seen, but anything that throws a wrench into Check 21 sounds like a
fine idea to me. And if that means printing checks at home with
non-MICR ink to slow down the transfers, I can probably be convinced
to try it.

OTOH, I really like the magnet idea.

JJ

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Owamanga <owamanga-not-this-bit@hotmail.com> writes:

>There was a 'trick' a while back that people used to use - run a
>magnet over the MICR line and (apparently) it can't be read. The idea
>was that hand processing wouldn't clear as fast as electronically
>reading it - possibly slowing the system down, and leaving the money
>in your account for longer.

>Apparently the banks in England started getting very upset when word
>spread and half the checks couldn't be read any more...

>...it could all be legend though...

That sounds like urban legend to me. I don't think there's any *data*
encoded by the magnetization of the ink on a cheque - the only
information is in the shape of the letters. The magnetic ink simply
differentiates the line of data from all the other printing on the
cheque, and makes it readable by electronic equipment designed a long
time ago. So there's no reason that the MICR reader should care about
the magnetization state of the ink on a deposited cheque - the machine
is free to remagnetize the ink any way it wants.

MICR ink is quite different from the mag stripe on credit cards or
recording tape (audio and video) where there is a uniform layer of
magnetic particles, and information is stored in a pattern of magnetic
reversals. Wiping that with a strong magnet will erase the data.

Dave

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Thu, 14 Jul 2005 17:46:07 -0400, Stan Horwitz <stan@temple.edu>
wrote:

>In article <j6d8d19ig2rrppl16uu2ma033e2biaoina@4ax.com>,
> jj@unspameljefe.net wrote:
>
>> Is there any place that prints custom checks for photographers? I'm
>> tired of the usual selections from banks and check printers. I'd like
>> to see my own photos on my checks. I statred asking about this more
>> than 20 years ago, but they always wanted an arm and half a leg to do
>> the set up and printing. Maybe things have changed.
>>
>> I suppose there's also the option of getting MICR ink for my laser
>> printer, but how feasible is that?
>
>Checks? You mean, people still use those things? Try online bill paying.
>You'll make life a lot easier for yourself and you'll save on postage
>and check-printing costs.

Can you send little jpegs alongside your online bill paying?

--
Owamanga!
http://www.pbase.com/owamanga

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

I agree. I've been using online bill pay for several years now without a
hitch. And I don't worry about checks being lost in the mail or worse,
stolen. Makes one small order of checks last a lifetime.


"Stan Horwitz" <stan@temple.edu> wrote in message
news:stan-7C55DB.17460714072005@news.giganews.com...
> In article <j6d8d19ig2rrppl16uu2ma033e2biaoina@4ax.com>,
> jj@unspameljefe.net wrote:
>
> > Is there any place that prints custom checks for photographers? I'm
> > tired of the usual selections from banks and check printers. I'd like
> > to see my own photos on my checks. I statred asking about this more
> > than 20 years ago, but they always wanted an arm and half a leg to do
> > the set up and printing. Maybe things have changed.
> >
> > I suppose there's also the option of getting MICR ink for my laser
> > printer, but how feasible is that?
>
> Checks? You mean, people still use those things? Try online bill paying.
> You'll make life a lot easier for yourself and you'll save on postage
> and check-printing costs.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

In article <qcodd114oj3a8u7j73r885rppkvpdactf4@4ax.com>,
Owamanga <owamanga-not-this-bit@hotmail.com> wrote:

> On Thu, 14 Jul 2005 17:46:07 -0400, Stan Horwitz <stan@temple.edu>
> wrote:
>
> >In article <j6d8d19ig2rrppl16uu2ma033e2biaoina@4ax.com>,
> > jj@unspameljefe.net wrote:
> >
> >> Is there any place that prints custom checks for photographers? I'm
> >> tired of the usual selections from banks and check printers. I'd like
> >> to see my own photos on my checks. I statred asking about this more
> >> than 20 years ago, but they always wanted an arm and half a leg to do
> >> the set up and printing. Maybe things have changed.
> >>
> >> I suppose there's also the option of getting MICR ink for my laser
> >> printer, but how feasible is that?
> >
> >Checks? You mean, people still use those things? Try online bill paying.
> >You'll make life a lot easier for yourself and you'll save on postage
> >and check-printing costs.
>
> Can you send little jpegs alongside your online bill paying?

Hah! Why would I want to? My only interest in paying any bill is to make
sure the payee receives the payment on time. Including a cute graphic on
the check or electronic payment does not help me achieve that goal and
it would be a waste of my time when I could spend it in other ways.

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Stan Horwitz wrote:
> In article <j6d8d19ig2rrppl16uu2ma033e2biaoina@4ax.com>,
> jj@unspameljefe.net wrote:
>
>
>>Is there any place that prints custom checks for photographers? I'm
>>tired of the usual selections from banks and check printers. I'd like
>>to see my own photos on my checks. I statred asking about this more
>>than 20 years ago, but they always wanted an arm and half a leg to do
>>the set up and printing. Maybe things have changed.
>>
>>I suppose there's also the option of getting MICR ink for my laser
>>printer, but how feasible is that?
>
>
> Checks? You mean, people still use those things? Try online bill paying.
> You'll make life a lot easier for yourself and you'll save on postage
> and check-printing costs.

I use electronic payments whenever I can, but some payees aren't set up for it. Even for
some of those, I let the bank write and mail the check. But there are still some that
need to have their own form included with the check, so that the payment will be properly
logged in. And there are some stores that accept only cash and check.

Similarly, there are still people and business that don't let me send documents as e-mail
attachments, so I have to fall back on fax. Old technologies hang on.
c

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Stan Horwitz <stan@temple.edu> writes:

>Checks? You mean, people still use those things? Try online bill paying.
>You'll make life a lot easier for yourself and you'll save on postage
>and check-printing costs.

I pay everyone I can that way, but that basically means large companies
who bill me regularly and who are set up to receive electronic payments.

But I can't pay my rent that way. The landlady doesn't take credit
cards or PayPal either. :-)

Dave

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

On Tue, 12 Jul 2005 21:28:51 GMT, jj@unspameljefe.net wrote:

>Is there any place that prints custom checks for photographers? I'm
>tired of the usual selections from banks and check printers. I'd like
>to see my own photos on my checks. I statred asking about this more
>than 20 years ago, but they always wanted an arm and half a leg to do
>the set up and printing. Maybe things have changed.
>
>I suppose there's also the option of getting MICR ink for my laser
>printer, but how feasible is that?
>
>JJ

Years ago, some banks used to let you submit a photo for your
checks. One guy opened a separate account and had the checks imprinted
with a shot of him kissing his new wife. He used them only for paying
alimony to his ex.

Try Google.

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