Convenience Checks: Are They Really Convenient?

convenience

If you have a credit card, chances are you receive “convenience checks” in the mail from time to time from the associated card issuer. In fact, you probably receive them at least once a month. And though they may be tempting, like “free money,” they are far from it. So before you go cashing those checks, make sure you understand the terms and conditions that apply to their use.

How Convenience Checks Work

Convenience checks, also known as “balance transfer checks,” can be used like any other check you receive. You can make them out to whoever accepts checks as payment, including merchants, family, friends, or yourself if you wish, to deposit funds into your own checking or savings account.

Checks can be written in any amount up to your total available credit line, less fees and potential interest, and once posted, you will see a charge in your credit card transaction history. If you write a check for more than your credit line there is a good chance the check will bounce, so take note of your credit limit before proceeding.

Convenience Check Fees and APR

You should also understand that very few convenience checks come with no fee, though many will offer 0% APR for a few months as long as the checks are cashed by the date stated in the offer. These so-called convenience checks carry a fee that is typically 3% of the amount, usually with a minimum dollar amount such as $10 and no maximum, similar to the cost of a balance transfer fee.

Note: Watch out for some convenience checks that are treated as cash advances, often with APR of 20% or higher. These clearly aren’t convenient for anyone.

Convenience Checks are Fraudsters Favorites

Beware that convenience checks are also a favorite for fraudsters and criminals, as they require no signature verification, and can be stolen easily out of your mailbox or your trash can if you fail to shred them. And credit card issuers may hold you liable for the use of the checks, unlike credit card fraud, which is mostly covered by the issuer.

However, there’s a good chance you’ll get a phone call from your credit card issuer when attempting to cash one of these checks. It’s a standard fraud phone call to ensure it is the cardholder that is trying to use the check.

Convenience Checks are Convenient for Card Issuers

Credit card issuers send these checks as a means to get consumers to spend more money and pay more interest and associated fees. You’ll likely see a pitch such as, “Use these checks to pay your bills, go on that dream vacation, or to make a down payment on a car!”

But why make those purchases just because you received blank checks in the mail? You already have the same credit available without an associated fee, so why use a convenience check and get nailed for 3% of the transaction plus finance charges if you don’t pay it off before the introductory period expires?

Convenience checks are really only useful in the case of an emergency. Otherwise you’re probably just throwing your money away and getting a raw deal from the credit card issuers. Terms do vary amongst card issuers, so make sure you review the conditions carefully before considering their use.

Update: Some of these balance transfer checks now carry fees as low as 1% and offer 0% APR for over a year, which is actually a pretty good deal and nearly as good as a no fee balance transfer. So don’t throw them away without eyeballing them first, especially if you need to pay down high-cost debt.

Colin Robertson

2 comments

  1. I’ve been offered 1% fee on a 0% APR check from Barclaycard that is good until mid-2016. Seems like a great deal to me. I can deposit the money and even put it to work at better than 1%.

  2. Kay,

    Yes, it appears to be a pretty solid deal…I’ve actually considered it myself just to have more liquidity, but no sense in paying even 1% if I don’t need the cash at the moment. But if you need it the deals don’t get much better.

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