Aitchbee, yes I know 30 and 40 year old's who get confused easily too. As Terry Wogan used to mention often he graduated from the "School for the Bewildered". Probably the same one as me.

Along with the steady demise of local Post Offices and Banks, there is a new 'pressure' on people who receive benefits, to go online to manage their money. Many people [of a certain age] will be confused, as to how to go about handling their finances on a computer.

Ditto. I'm also another who progressed on from phone banking. I can't remember the last time I visited a branch, even though my local branch is only a mile from me, I have no need. I also can't remember the last cheque I wrote, I never liked them anyway, and I'm much happier to use debit card transactions as the balance is updated almost instantly and I don't have to wait for the recipient to cash it. I move money to and from my own accounts, my son's account and my partners in a matter of minutes from wherever I happen to be at the time. I find it extremely convenient and would find it very unpleasant to be without it.

Bing.alau - I know where you are coming from ;0)

Having been involved in a "society" for over 20 years we are trying to address the fact that most people, including myself, couldn't put their hands on a checkbook - can't remember when I last sent one or where it is.

We have had to address the fact that the vast majority of people now use online methods of payment and as a result we have to track those payments. Banks no longer issue Cheque Books to new customers unless they ask for them apparrently. We still have Direct Debits credited to our redundant Membership Account for £3 a year which dates back to pre-2000. We have few records to identify them and despite writing to the last known address they continue.

I can't see how I can do without a cheque book. I have just this minute posted one for £120 to someone to book a table for ten at an occasion which is happening in Liverpool. The application form asked for cheques to be made out to ..... etc. There was no alternative.

I also often pass on money I collect as membership fees by individuals. I put this in my bank and then pay our treasurer the total by cheque, I then have proof that I have paid it in. It seems more sensible to me than carrying the cash around until I meet our treasurer.

I use First Direct for my banking, and was one of their first 1,000 customers, so I've been using telephone banking since 1990.

They introduced "online" banking quite early, you had to dial into their computer system and use two passwords for access. I didn't use this facility much, as it was terribly slow, and didn't have any clear advantage to using their telephone banking, which is answered day & night within a couple of rings.

As soon as I got broadband I switched to mostly online, with just an occasional call to check on pending payments and charges etc.

If I have to pay checks in I can use HSBC branches, but it's a couple of years since I had to do this.

One thing I'm really impressed with is the speed of response when someone cloned my card. I'd used it in Rochdale one day, and 10 minutes later I got a phone call from HSBC security to check the transaction because my card had been used in Manchester a few minutes before. My card was cancelled on the spot and I got a fresh one two days later.

Although I voted "ATM or branch", I only ever use the branch and never use ATMs.

I have never used online banking , as my banks authorisation system is too weak and easy for criminals to use . But I am an ATM engineer , so I am at a bank somewhere every day !

Nice one Jock1e, I use online banking a lot but it does concern me that something could go horribly wrong as technology seems to do from time to time. Even if you use a High Street bank things can go wrong. Short of having a safety deposit box (even that is not 100% secure) or having no money I don't know the answer. What happens if your money vanishes and no one cares or accepts responsibility.

I'm also a banking dinosaur ... having never even used a credit card; but after reading the majority of posts in this thread ... in favour of online computer banking ... I will be 'Reviewing The Situation.'

I used Telephone Banking when it first came out in 1990, and since then, I still occasionally use that facility, but really all my banking work is done via the internet and has been for some years now.

Since these days, Bank Managers seem not to be available to Joe Public or indeed businesses, since they seem to be miles away in a call centre somewhere with all the associated problems that that brings. i.e. If you want to get something sorted, and go to your local branch, 9 out of 10 times you are told you must speak to your Agent who happens to be in Birmingham or some such other place, and if the Branch do deem to send a form off for you, the chances are it will get lost en route and you then end up spending an eternity trying to get them to locate it. I am the treasurer of the company that runs the block of flats I live in, and I was told, when I took over the position, that there was no one in the branch who could deal with me but they would give me the forms to be filled in so that they could send them off to Birmingham where my "Business Agent" was. This got lost by the bank, and it took something like 3 months to get a new cheque book from them because of route one had to go through.

I give up!!

I rarely now go to a branch except to draw money out. It is much easier to deal with my account via the internet.

TonyV

fourm member

I am pleased it went smoothly for you, but in my case it wasn't as easy.

Having made these type of transactions, I always check my bank account straight-away or earliest time permitting. There was no way that I could reverse the transaction, and even calling in at the local bank the next day for further advice, gave negative results.

Eventually by contacting the other bank whose system had taken the multi payments, it appeared to be of very little concern to them, even though they had admitted error. They even suggested that it might take 5 days to reverse the transaction and return the funds they had taken in error?.

I was not a very happy bunny.

john bunyan. If I can do it I am sure you can. Saves me an awful lot of trips to the bank. Plus I can keep a closed eye on how the balance is going. I do that at least three times a week sometimes more.

I am a dinosaur who has yet to adopt on line banking (I know, but if a 12 year old can hack the CIA...). I may switch soon!

Mainly through my laptop online. The only exception is an ATM for cash and the occasional cheque which I have to bank at a High Street Branch but I rarely use the counter, normally an automated paying in machine.

Cheques are a problem to me. Making a special trip to a branch just to pay in an odd cheque is a major hassle. They are usually for less than £50 and it takes me about an hour of my day if I have to make a special trip. Plus of course the cost of travel and the bank charging me for the pleasure! The vast majority of my clients pay online with instant transfers - no waiting for a cheque to clear. It is far less hassle to accept cash for a small job and save a trip to the ATM.

fourm member. Why are you asking your milk man for a handout?

I access my account using my computer but I also use an ATM to withdraw cash and sometimes call in to do such things as putting in cheques. So the last option seems a bit weird to me as it implies I can't tick that option and click option one, (via my computer). However I have ticked both option one and the last option. Hope I haven't messed up the system.