Conversation

Notices

1. Embed this notice
   Lauren Weinstein (lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org)'s status on Sunday, 07-Dec-2025 11:04:37 JST Lauren Weinstein

   Saying "Screw You" to anyone not using electronic payments, Fed considering banning writing checks

   https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/05/economy/fed-considers-ending-paper-checks

   https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/other20251204b.htm

   • Embed this notice
     Rich Felker (dalias@hachyderm.io)'s status on Sunday, 07-Dec-2025 11:04:28 JST Rich Felker

     in reply to

     • James Wells
     • Louise Auerhahn 🏳️‍🌈
     • Christian Huitema
     • Steve Bellovin

     @lauren @SteveBellovin @huitema @lauerhahn @nikatjef Checks as they exist now are just a gaping vulnerability for the ppl who use them. Most places process them electronically as ACH transactions now, and these are completely unauthenticated and have none of the fraud protection debit cards would have. If a rogue employee takes a photo of your check they can easily drain your account.

     Yes, we're screwing over many unbanked, rural, & elderly ppl by taking away checking without a viable nonpredatory alternative, but the system is already messed up and needs severe fixes that don't advantage new predators.

   • Embed this notice
     Steve Bellovin (stevebellovin@infosec.exchange)'s status on Sunday, 07-Dec-2025 11:04:29 JST Steve Bellovin

     in reply to

     • James Wells
     • Louise Auerhahn 🏳️‍🌈
     • Christian Huitema

     @huitema @lauerhahn @lauren @nikatjef In the UK, at least, checks are apparently all but extinct—everything seems to be done by EFT (or so I've been told by an American who lived there for about 10 years).

   • Embed this notice
     Lauren Weinstein (lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org)'s status on Sunday, 07-Dec-2025 11:04:29 JST Lauren Weinstein

     in reply to

     • James Wells
     • Louise Auerhahn 🏳️‍🌈
     • Christian Huitema
     • Steve Bellovin

     @SteveBellovin @huitema @lauerhahn @nikatjef Yeah, the UK is ahead of the curve even of the U.S. when it comes to fascist changes and screwing citizens.

   • Embed this notice
     Christian Huitema (huitema@social.secret-wg.org)'s status on Sunday, 07-Dec-2025 11:04:31 JST Christian Huitema

     in reply to

     • James Wells
     • Louise Auerhahn 🏳️‍🌈

     @lauerhahn @lauren @nikatjef Hey! I use checks regularly. Companies that don't want to pay wiring fees pay me by sending a check in the mail. This looks like another case of tech bros cozying up with the goverment and making sure that everybody pays *their* fees.

   • Embed this notice
     Louise Auerhahn 🏳️‍🌈 (lauerhahn@sfba.social)'s status on Sunday, 07-Dec-2025 11:04:32 JST Louise Auerhahn 🏳️‍🌈

     in reply to

     • James Wells

     @lauren @nikatjef Absolutely. And urban as well as rural areas. I'm not usually one to cry for landlords, but this could significantly impact the (relatively) more affordable end of the rental market made up of small scale landlords & subletters.

   • Embed this notice
     Lauren Weinstein (lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org)'s status on Sunday, 07-Dec-2025 11:04:33 JST Lauren Weinstein

     in reply to

     • James Wells
     • Louise Auerhahn 🏳️‍🌈

     @nikatjef @lauerhahn Millions of people don't even have bank accounts, much less debit or credit cards. Millions don't have smartphones or often any other computers. In many rural areas, checks are still the only form of payment accepted in many places other than cash, and carrying large amounts of cash is not a good idea. This is a SCREW YOU to a significant proportion of the population. And note that over 20% of the dollar value of transactions in the U.S. apparently is still paid by check.

   • Embed this notice
     Louise Auerhahn 🏳️‍🌈 (lauerhahn@sfba.social)'s status on Sunday, 07-Dec-2025 11:04:34 JST Louise Auerhahn 🏳️‍🌈

     in reply to

     @lauren they really have no idea how regular working people live. (And I'm solidly middle class... even worse for many people less well off.)

   • Embed this notice
     James Wells (nikatjef@mastodon.acm.org)'s status on Sunday, 07-Dec-2025 11:04:34 JST James Wells

     in reply to

     • Louise Auerhahn 🏳️‍🌈

     @lauerhahn
     Most Americans have credit and debit cards, so going electronic is less of an issue for them than you might realize. Having said that, yes there is a segment of society that eschews banks and instead waste their money with check cashing services... Those are the people who are being targeted with this BS proposal.
     @lauren

     Steve's Place repeated this.
   • Embed this notice
     Lauren Weinstein (lauren@mastodon.laurenweinstein.org)'s status on Sunday, 07-Dec-2025 11:04:35 JST Lauren Weinstein

     in reply to

     • Louise Auerhahn 🏳️‍🌈

     @lauerhahn Yes, everyone. You use electronic, or you got nuthin'.

   • Embed this notice
     Louise Auerhahn 🏳️‍🌈 (lauerhahn@sfba.social)'s status on Sunday, 07-Dec-2025 11:04:36 JST Louise Auerhahn 🏳️‍🌈

     in reply to

     @lauren Does this mean, like for everyone? So would we have to pull out cash every month to pay our rent? Yeah that sounds super safe 🤦