How To Pay by Check Online?

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How to Pay by Check Online to Reduce Friction and Secure Payments

Do you want to send paper checks to pay a bill? 

Or does a client always request that you write checks instead of making online transfers? 

Situations like these make you think: Are paper checks still in use?

The answer is yes, they are!

Though digital payments seem more flexible and quick, many businesses and individuals still use checks for better security.

They can pay by check online if they don’t have adequate time or resources to complete the task.

But how can you use offline payment instruments like checks online?

We are sure you have many questions like this!

The trick is to pay with a check online using a print and mail API like PostGrid! It automates all mailing-related activities, allowing you to free up resources and boost efficiency.

Read on to explore more about how to pay by check online and its benefits! Also, we will take you through other details like how secure paper checks are, when to use them, and more.

What Is a Check, and What Happens When You Pay by Check?

Checks are payment documents instructing your bank to transfer funds from your account to your payee’s account.

Let us break it down:

It comprises many details, like your name, account number, payment amount, payee’s name, routing number, signature, and date. Banks pre-print most of the information to help you write checks faster by filling out minimal fields.

You may use your checkbook to pay every vendor or client or opt for paying by check online via print and mail automation.

The first option is time-consuming and hampers your productivity.

Without a solution to pay by check online, you complete the below steps in-house:

• Manually writing the payee’s name and amount on all checks,
• Signing every check,
• Inserting checks in envelopes and adding labels,
• Sealing and assembling,
• Adding postage stamps, and
• Taking the envelopes to the Post Office for shipping to payees.

But can you complete these steps online with a few clicks? 

Luckily, if you opt for paying by check online, you can automate your check print and mail tasks.

It lets you auto-fill your bank account and payee details for check printing with native and zero-code API integrations. PostGrid’s print and mail API fetches data for variable data printing through your CRM.

Then, it sends your checks on your behalf to complete the mailing fulfillment process.

Our all-in-one solutions assist you in paying by check online—to save time, money, and effort!

What happens next when you pay by check?

The payee receives your check and deposits it into their bank account.

Their bank communicates with the bank you have a checking account with using the mentioned details.

This information instructs the institution how much you want to pay and to whom, and the process is complete in two to five business days. Providing accurate information and sending checks in secure envelopes are vital for avoiding fraud.

When you pay by check online, you can ensure safety, accuracy, and efficiency!

Your payees can deposit the check by visiting their bank, using a nearby ATM, or via mobile scanning. If you are using an active online pay-by-check solution to automate offline mailings, you can receive payments more quickly.

What Happens if You Don't Have Enough Cash to Pay a Check?

The bank reviews whether you have adequate funds in your checking account to complete a check payment. If not, it can reject the check when the payee deposits or presents it.

To avoid these issues, use online pay-by-check only when you have the funds to cover it. Otherwise, you can pay using another bank account.

Most clients or vendors don’t mind getting checks from different bank accounts.

Hence, you can also break down a payment into two or three checks from separate banks.

Your bank charges a small fee on every bounced check. You may need to pay this amount to the payee because the institution debits it from their bank account.

Thus, each time a check bounces, your interest increases. Adding multiple bank accounts to pay by check online can help prevent such scenarios.

It’s crucial to send your checks on time so that they reach your intended recipients before the due date. Please note that USPS may face delivery issues or cause delays because of weather conditions, road accidents, or federal holidays.

You can use our print and mail solutions to pay online with a check a few days in advance. If you want to avoid remembering dates, plan the campaign, and PostGrid can send your checks on the selected days.

How to Use Pay Online With Check Solutions to Complete Bill Payments?

In 2022, nearly 55% of Americans wrote a check to make payments.

Also, 81% of companies use paper checks, making it evident this offline payment method is still popular!

Paying bills by check can be as simple and quick as online payments.

You may use PostGrid’s print and mail service to create and send checks to the correct addresses without hassles! Our solutions let you pay by check online without compromising on quality or security.

Use our dependable APIs to send all checks in a timely and personalized manner. You may connect PostGrid with your QuickBooks or other accounting CRM to pay by check online from your existing systems.

How to Pay Vendors With Checks?

You can efficiently manage accounts payable (AP) by paying vendors with checks.

And automated services to pay with checks online can help you never miss a payment again. You can set pre-set events, like payment due dates or renewal reminders, to automatically create and ship checks to vendors on the correct dates.

It enables both B2B and B2C companies to strengthen their relationships with clients, partners, and other stakeholders.

For example, one of our clients wanted to use the online pay-by-check feature to allow its users to make speedy payments.

It is a leading real estate company in Nevada that runs an app to connect homeowners and renters. They incorporated our print and mail API into their app, allowing tenants to pay online with a check within minutes.

The plan was a huge success because many homeowners had asked for check payments. Tenants no longer needed to manually write checks or go anywhere to drop off the envelopes.

Why Print and Mail Is the Best Way to Send Your Checks?

The pay-by-check online stores help you print and ship your mailers via postal services.

But is using snail mail the best solution for shipping checks? Are there other better alternatives?

Here are the main reasons why you should pay by check online using automated printing and shipping:

• Digital payment fraud is on the rise! US banks received claims for online scams of nearly $225 million last year. Sending checks by post is the best way to ensure no one other than the payee accesses your bank account details.
• Learning how to pay by check online allows you to manage all payments in one place. You no longer need to have a separate checkbook for every bank or review different account statements. PostGrid lets you add multiple accounts, allowing you to complete quick payments using our API or dashboard.
• People like getting mailers. One of the main reasons to use online pay-by-check services is clients or vendors pay more attention to it.

Using the USPS delivery options to send checks allows you to follow federal and state

regulations. The Post Office records all mailing details to help you track your mail. Also, these official records serve as evidence during legal disputes.

USPS mail has evolved over the years! It uses presorting, intelligent mail barcodes (IMBs), metered stamps, and other advanced features.

You can pay by check online via USPS with PostGrid print and mail solutions, combining traditional mail with technology to ensure maximum efficiency.

Are Checks Safe and Widely Accepted?

Individuals make check payments almost anywhere, from gas stations or grocery stores to cable providers. 

Vendors also accept checks from businesses without trouble. Unless they don’t have an explicit agreement stating an alternative payment method, they cannot deny receiving the payment via check. Hence, paying by check online is one of the most commonly used methods to honor bills and invoices.

Checks are still a prominent payment instrument because many retailers prefer them, primarily if the amount runs in hundreds or thousands of dollars. 

Another reason most places accept checks is the rising debit and credit card transaction fees. Using the online pay-by-check feature is simple, affordable, and effective!

But people may have security concerns about using paper checks. Thus, they try several alternative payment methods for better convenience and ease.

Alternatives to Writing Paper Checks

You have multiple online payment options if you want to avoid writing and sending checks, like

• Payment apps: Cashapp, Venmo, PayPal, and other third-party apps are versatile digital options. They are also handy, helping you speedily pay vendors to avoid the pay-by-check online method. But your payee must also have an account with the same app to receive the payment. 
• Autopay: Set up your autopay account with your bank or merchant to make regular payments. It is an excellent choice to pay ongoing bills, like internet fees, rent, and more. 
• eChecks: Another alternative to paying by check online is using electronic checks. You can pay your water source, power provider, or other vendors using eChecks. They work the same way as paper checks, but you enter the routing and account information on the merchant’s platform. You can also save the details for repaying in the future without typing the details each time. 
• Credit cards: Using credit cards instead of paying by check online is ideal for people who have signed up for rewards programs. They can flexibly make payments and reap extra monetary benefits. 

Check Printing and Mailing Services

Though digital payment apps and platforms perform well, they do not pose a question about check security. 

Checks have several safety features, retaining the relevance and popularity of pay-by-check online solutions!

Here are some examples: 

• MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition): Banks print the MICR line on checks to identify faux items, incorrect bank information, or other issues. When you pay by check online with a reliable automated solution like PostGrid, you need not worry about confidentiality or security. 
• HIPAA compliance: Our HIPAA-compliant print and mail services allow you to prepare and ship checks under legal regulations. Your records are safe and private, protecting your company’s and client’s information. 
• Comprehensive PDN: PostGrid simplifies online pay-by-check using automated tools. It integrates into your tech stack and lets you print and send checks from your system.

Our reputed PDN can prepare your checks in high quality with the MICR line and ship them to the intended recipients. You can stay informed with timely campaign reports and insights to guarantee precise deliveries!

The pay-by-check online feature is one of the most secure payment options, even with multiple alternatives. With digital payments, you involve many third parties, risking data security.

You can avoid sharing your credentials or take other safety measures. Yet, digital identity theft and payment scams are common!

Understanding how to pay by check online allows you to eradicate these issues beforehand. Mailing checks with PostGrid’s secure and compliant solutions let you guarantee your mailers don’t end up in the wrong hands.

Also, postal mailers are legally protected, ensuring better safety than other options.

How to Safely Send Checks With PostGrid?

Postal mail is the safest way to send checks offline. You can follow a few tips and tricks to prevent mail returns. It ensures your mailers reach payees when paying by check online using an API.

Never Leave Blank Fields

Always fill out the payee’s name and amount before signing a check.

It safeguards against fraud by preventing a third person from writing their name on the check and cashing it.

Also, avoid writing “payable to cash” on the payee line. It lets anyone who has your check visit the bank and cash the mentioned amount.

As a result, use pay with check online solutions to enter the correct information in all fields and prevent unauthorized access.

Use Certified or Registered Mailing Options

Companies can use First-Class Mail to pay by check online with a three- to five-day delivery frame.

Please keep in mind that you cannot send checks or documents containing sensitive information using Marketing Mail or other similar mailing classes.

You can buy Certified or Registered Mail to get a tracking number, a signature on delivery, and other features. It adds an extra security layer to online pay-by-check services to ship checks via direct mail!

Send Checks in Secure Envelopes

Make your check envelope look regular to avoid getting unwanted attention.

You may place a small piece of paper inside to conceal the check or add a postcard.

Also, use secure and sturdy envelopes to cover your data and avoid tears during transit. These small steps help make your pay-by-check online tasks effective and confidential.

Track Your Mailings

Certified Mail passes through several checkpoints, allowing you to track your mailers after each scan.

Tracking your checks as they pass through the USPS network lets you stay updated and creates confidence in paying by check online.

Thus, PostGrid’s print and mail API allows you to monitor your campaign progress—from start to finish. You can also check the delivery status of individual items with their tracking numbers.

Safely Paying by Check Online Via PostGrid’s Print and Mail Dashboard

Our print and mail API assists you throughout your mailing process to ensure you can send customized checks to the correct destinations.

PostGrid follows HIPAA, PIPEDA, SOC-2, GDPR, and other data privacy laws to protect your information and help you safely use the pay-by-check online feature.

Here is how you can get started:

1. Once you sign up and log into your account, you see the Overview page.

2. Your first step can be creating contacts—to whom you want to pay by check online through PostGrid.

3. You can visit the ‘Bank Accounts’ section to add your bank account details, like name, account number, and transit number. It helps PostGrid auto-fill the information on your checks, saving you the trouble of entering it each time.

Click on the bank account you want to use for paying by check online, view the information, and get a preview.

4. If you want to attach a letter with your check, you can create a template or upload a PDF (if you already have a file ready).

5. To complete online pay-by-check, create a check and enter the details.

After clicking the Create button, you will see the following page:

You created or uploaded your contact lists, bank accounts, and optionally letter in the above steps. Hence, you may quickly make the selections.

 

Choose other elements, like the amount, mailing class, data, and more, and you are ready to pay by check online without manually doing anything!

6. You may track your checks through your dashboard whenever needed. There are four campaign stages:

1. 1. Ready
   2. Printing
   3. Processed
   4. Completed

You can cancel the pay-with-check online order if it hasn’t reached the printing stage.

How Does It Take to Ship a Check?

The execution and shipping times of your mailings are essential because the majority of financial correspondence is time-sensitive.

So how long does it take the USPS to deliver your check to the addressed recipients?

It depends on the mailing class you select to pay online by check, like First-Class Mail, Express Mail, and more.

First-class mail takes up to five business days to deliver envelopes. It is eligible for tracking if you purchase add-ons like Certified Mail.

Also, it is the most affordable option to pay with a check online via USPS mailing services.

First-class mail is always a safe choice to ensure safe and timely delivery.

You may also check the “Express Delivery” box when sending your checks with PostGrid if you want to pay with a check online faster.

Also, please note that we provide the industry-best SLAs, enabling you to create and print your checks within two business days.

Our Enterprise plan allows you to add Certified or Registered Mail to your mailings. Thus, you can get a copy of the recipient’s signature on delivery and end-to-end USPS tracking.

PostGrid helps you use state-of-the-art technology and equipment to pay by check online at affordable rates! You can contact us to learn more.

Also Read: Letter Printing & Mailing

What Other Check Payments Can You Complete Online With PostGrid?

Our automated print and mail solutions let you send rent checks, rebate checks, settlements, and more.

But we get many questions, like, “Where else can we use paper checks?”

You can use them anywhere if the vendor or organization accepts this payment form.

And our pay-by-check online services make your job easier and faster.

• Most companies use our print and mail API for paying by check online to their suppliers or vendors. The payee can be a person or a company.
• Some businesses also use this service to donate to charitable organizations or nonprofits. It helps them complete their CSR (corporate social responsibility) without putting extra effort into writing checks and taking the envelopes to the Post Office.

Automate Your Check Payments With PostGrid’s Print and Mail API

Healthcare, real estate, financial services, retail, insurance, and many other industries pay by check online using our print and mail automation services.

They don’t have to invest in a high-end printer or buy stamps. Also, they can save thousands of hours in preparation and processing time.

Most clients use our API to automate invoices, checks, account statements, and other financial documents.

They pay with a check online by pushing a few buttons on their device to

• Improve mailing quality. 
• Customize checks by adding their brand logos. 
• Become timely and proactive. 
• Cut unnecessary stamps, envelopes, ink, and printing expenses. 

QuickBooks and PostGrid Integration

PostGrid makes paying with a check online as easy as using credit cards or autopay options. You can integrate our API into your Quickbooks account to send invoices, bills, statements, and more!

• Detailed API docs: Use our API documentation for quick and seamless integration within minutes. We also offer dedicated dev support to assist clients. 
• Print and mail fulfillment: The integration allows you to complete actions, like paying with a check online or sending renewal contracts. You can automate mailings from within your Quickbooks account, saving time and simplifying offline communications. 
• Triggers: Use events, like renewals, due invoices, and pending payments, to pay online with checks using triggers.
• Analytics and reporting: Track your campaign status and helpful metrics, like delivery status. 

Click here or drop an email at sales@postgrid.com to connect with us and discuss more – How to pay by check online?

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