Direct Deposit

I had a payroll deduction go astray years ago that totally screwed up my checking account, bounced checks, etc. The credit union wondered why I'd written checks when the money wasn't in my account. I wondered where my money was if it wasn't in my account, since my paycheck stub said it was. Bottom line? Someone had my money that Friday through Monday before it finally posted. Wasn't me. So the credit union paid the bounced check fees and wrote letters of apology on my behalf.

A friend of mine, married and with a newborn baby, had his check from the State of Texas disappear into the ether. The State of Texas, who pays employees once a month, said the money was sent to the bank. The bank said they didn't have it. It took them weeks to straighten it out. Meanwhile there was rent to pay, groceries to buy, car payments to make ...

I don't like or trust direct deposit.

So I was REALLY upset when my current employer decided that they would no longer issue paper paychecks after the beginning of 2008. Don't have direct deposit? Better get it set up and operational by December 31st. Don't want it? Too bad.

So I bit the bullet and set it up. Not at my credit union, 'cause they're not part of the program. I had to set up a brand new account at Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union. I'm sure they're real nice there, but I already had a credit union. Two weeks ago the process wasn't complete and I got my regular paper check. Today I got a receipt instead of a check. It's working. And I hate it.