Originally Posted by adult-help

I would not put it in such a extreme words as Emil but checks really are obsolete! We used checks and get paid via checks in the communist times! The moment the first signs of free democracy showed the checks were gone and thankfully so. It is baffling to me that the supposedly the most advanced country in the world is still using this ancient form of payment..Even more ridiculous is paying with checks - I dont even remember the times when someone paid via check in the store..so can anyone explain why is this??I remember when I was a kid USA was light years ahead of everyone..Now the rest of the world is advancing but you still cling to old "habbits"...what gives?

About wires etc: I have no idea which bank (issuing or receiving) charges but yes,it usually costs around $50 per wire no matter the amount when I get wire from USA.

However I dont know how you call it but transfers between accounts of different banks in different countries all over EU cost just few euro if even that (might even be free). I think we use BIC or SWIFT code and that's it. The payment is done in matter of hours, maybe one day ...Wires take longer than this from USA to EU. All those non standard ways for transfers make additional cost probably when transferring from USA to EU..or there are some greedy bankers...

Cashing checks fee is different in different banks, some have %, some have fixed fee.I pay around 5? for any check.