If you’ve just realized that you’re running low on checks, you may be looking for alternatives to your bank for buying some more. But your issue with those alternatives may involve you wondering if it’s safe to order checks online.
Fortunately, you’re about to see that not only is it safe to order checks online – it can actually be better than when you have to order checks through your bank.
That is, by taking a few key steps, you’ll see exactly how to be sure that you’re buying from the best place to order checks online in terms of both the security of your payment and the check itself.
Plus you can save a ton of money compared to if you order checks through more traditional avenues.
Is it safe to order checks online?
It is safe to order checks online as long as you take a few steps to make sure you stay secure. It’s also worth keeping in mind that even banks order checks, so ordering your checks online has exactly the same outcome, just without involving your bank.
Some easy precautions you should take include:
1. Only order checks online through a reputable company
There are a ton of sites out there that let you order checks online, so it can be hard to narrow them down.
One way to do this is to check that the site address (including the payment page) in your browser window has a lock next to it, indicating the site address starts with “https” meaning that it’s secure.
Related: Can I Use a Check With an Old Address?
2. Review the safety features on the site’s checks
Any legit site where it’s safe to order checks online will be very clear about the security features that each of their checks have.
Checks In The Mail is one site that’s a great example of this. If you go to their Security page (the link is down the bottom here), you can see all their security features in one place. This includes:
- Chemically sensitive paper, which provides protection against anything written on the check being altered by chemicals
- Microprint signature line, to show you if the check has been photocopied
- Protections on the back of the check to help prevent it being copied
- The padlock icon to show you that the CPSA security guidelines are being followed (see below for what this is about)
FYI: Click here to get 20% off when you order checks online through Checks In The Mail.
3. Make sure that the site’s checks have a padlock icon on the front and back
The padlock icon is actually known as the Enhanced Security Features Padlock Icon. It shows that the checks have additional security features in things like:
- The design of the check
- Its production process
- The materials used to produce the check
These are based on requirements set by the Check Payment Systems Association (CPSA) and can help to show you whether it’s safe to order checks online through a specific site.
4. Make sure they have contact details for their customer service team
If something goes wrong when ordering checks online, you’ll want to make sure that you can speak with an actual person quickly.
This is why it’s a good idea to avoid any sites that don’t have a clearly listed phone number for their customer service team – including, ideally, their hours of operation.
What is the best place to order checks online?
My pick for the best place to order checks online is Checks In The Mail. Not only is it highly reputable with a strong track record, but its prices are very reasonable, it has all the check designs you could possibly want and has some of the best security features in the business.
In fact, a lot of people seem to consider this as being the best company to order checks, given that they distribute over one billion checks every year and have been in business since 1922.
They also have over 200 check designs, checkbook covers and address labels that you can personalize, whether you plan to use them for personal or business purposes.
And you can grab 20% off on your Checks In The Mail order by clicking this link!
While most checks you order through them start in books of 100 checks, some of the designs are available in books of only 25 checks. This could be just what you need if you only use checks occasionally but want to have some available, just in case.
How to order checks online
Ordering checks online is very straightforward. That is, once you’ve selected your check design, you’ll simply have to follow the prompts on whichever site you’ve chosen as being safe to order checks online.
This generally involves you doing the following:
- Enter your bank account information and your address
- Provide any customized details offered by the site
- Submit your contact details for the purposes of completing the order
- Pay for your order using your bank card or, in some cases, PayPal
Where to get checks in the mail by ordering online
There are a bunch of sites where you can get checks in the mail by ordering online, whether you’re looking for personal checks, business checks or other related accessories.
Examples include sites that are specifically dedicated to doing this, like Checks In The Mail. However, you can also do this through other sites that have a wider range of products on offer, like Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club and Super Value.
Is it safe to order checks online from Checks In The Mail?
Yes, it’s definitely safe to order checks online from Checks In The Mail. As outlined above, their checks have all the security features you could want to feel secure in using the checks you order from them.
Their site also meets the various security requirements needed to assure you that your payments will be secure.
How much are checks from Checks In The Mail?
The cost of checks from Checks In The Mail varies depending on the design and the number of checks you order.
For example, packs of 100 personal checks are generally around $21, although you can find some for $17 or even less. You also have the option of ordering smaller packs of 25 checks for $5.25 in the case of certain designs. From there, depending on the type of design, you can go all the way up to 4,000 checks if you need it.
However, you can also lock in a 20% discount by using the discount code available at this link.
Is it safe to order checks from Walmart?
Yes, Walmart checks are very safe to order online. Walmart’s site is secure, so you should feel safe making a payment through there. The checks themselves also have the various security features you should be looking for, including the padlock icon that we mentioned a bit earlier, which shows that they follow CSPA security guidelines.
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How much are Walmart checks?
Walmart checks are very cheap, as you can get a pack of 150 checks for only around $8.50 as a starting point. However, if you want to really up your game, Walmart lets you upload your own photo or other design, including a company logo, with the price for this starting at around $17.
It’s worth mentioning that there are some complaints on sites like Reddit and other consumer review sites about ordering Walmart checks online. Various people mention that the quality of the checks isn’t great, so there’s a risk of tearing them.
In addition, there are a lot of complaints about Walmart not being upfront about the price, with a fairly steep “processing fee” often being added during the last step, just before payment. This fee can be anywhere between $6 and $20, which is often a significant portion of what you’re paying just for the checks
This means that it’s worth making sure that the good deal you think you’re getting with your Walmart checks is actually as good as it looks.
Is it safe to order checks online from Costco?
Yes, it’s completely safe to order checks online from Costco, both based on their site and the checks’ security features. To be extra safe, you’re also able to order Costco High Security Checks. These come with extra features to prevent check fraud, including a holographic bar and a heat reactive ink circle.
Costco checks are available through its partnership with Harland Clarke Check Printing, so have quite a wide variety of designs.
How much are Costco checks?
Because it’s Costco, you can only order in larger packs, with most designs starting at two packs of 200 checks. Prices are reasonable though and you’ll save even more if you’re a Costco Executive Member.
As an example, 400 checks of the High Security Check costs just over $28 if you’re a Costco Executive Member and just over $35 if you’re a Gold Start or Business Member.
Is it safe to order checks online from Sam’s Club?
Yes, it’s safe to order checks online from Sam’s Club as they come with all the standard security features. Not only is their site secure, but the checks themselves have the padlock icon, a microprint signature line, security for the reverse side of your check as well as chemically sensitive paper.
How much are Sam’s Club checks?
Sam’s Club checks are going to be better for those who need checks in bulk, so are probably best suited for businesses rather than anyone looking for personal checks.
Of course, you can get personal checks if you like. And while the designs don’t vary as much as other sites where you can order checks online, this may not matter to you if you need a simple personal or business check.
As an example of how much they cost, you’re looking at spending just over $30 on 600 checks.
Is it safe to order checks online from Checks Unlimited?
Yes, it’s generally considered safe to order checks online from Checks Unlimited. They are a well-established company with a long history of providing checks to customers. They take security seriously and have implemented various safety measures to protect your personal and financial information.
Some of the security features they offer include:
- Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology: This encrypts your information during the online ordering process, ensuring that your data is safe from interception.
- EZShield Check Fraud Protection Program: This service helps protect you against check fraud by monitoring your account for unusual activity and offering assistance in resolving fraud-related issues.
- Verification of new accounts: Checks Unlimited verifies new accounts and orders to prevent unauthorized access to your account and reduce the risk of fraud.
While Checks Unlimited is a reliable option, it’s always a good idea to do your own research and read customer reviews to ensure that you’re comfortable with your choice. As long as you take the necessary precautions and verify the security measures in place, ordering checks online from Checks Unlimited should be a safe and convenient option for you.
Is it safe to order checks from OrderMyChecks com?
Yes, OrderMyChecks.com takes security seriously and has implemented a variety of safety measures to protect your personal and financial information. These include SSL technology during the ordering process, fraud protection and identity verification.
In fact, OrderMyChecks.com is a website operated by Harland Clarke, a well-known and reputable check-printing company that has been in business for many years – just to further add to their legitimacy.
Is it safe to order checks from the Bradford Exchange?
Yes, it’s safe to order checks from the Bradford Exchange. It’s a reputable company known for providing various collectibles, including checks, and they have a number of security measures in place to protect their customers’ personal and financial information.
These are similar to the other legit companies mentioned here, with things like data encryption while ordering, security features on each check and identity confirmation to reduce the risk of fraud.
As such, you should feel fairly confident that the Bradford Exchange is a reliable option for ordering your checks online.
Do I have to order checks from my bank?
No, you don’t have to order checks through your bank. Instead, it’s just as secure and often much cheaper to order checks through other companies. There’s also no difference in the process involved in paying for something with a check ordered online compared to a check ordered through your bank.
From the point of view of the person or company receiving your check, they’ll process your payment in exactly the same way. In fact, it’s likely that they won’t even know where you got your check from.
The one benefit in ordering checks through your bank is that you’ll be absolutely sure that the check is secure. That said, as we’ve covered above, it’s also very safe to order checks online as long as you follow the various precautions.
This means that it will likely come down to a question of cost – and, as mentioned, the online companies usually win this battle hands down.
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How much do checks cost if you order through your bank?
Most banks will give you an initial checkbook for free but, when you need to order more, the price suddenly won’t be quite as generous. In terms of finding out just what this price is, most banks will simply refer you to your Schedule of Fees instead of stating the cost upfront on their website.
This is because it’s going to vary depending on the type of account you have. Some could also charge you a different fee if you order a certified check.
You should also be aware of any surprise shipping fees that can get added on to the cost of the checks sent from your bank. These can often massively increase the price and will suddenly make it far less worthwhile ordering your check through your bank compared to other places that offer this.
You may also be interested in: Can Someone Else Deposit a Check For Me?
Can I order checks from anywhere?
Yes, you can order checks from a variety of places, not just your bank. However, it’s essential to ensure that the company you choose has robust security precautions in place to protect your personal and financial information.
When shopping around, look for check providers that have a reputation for excellent security measures, such as secure online ordering, encrypted data transmission, and fraud protection. A little research goes a long way in keeping your information safe.
So, feel free to explore your options and find a provider that suits your needs, but always remember to prioritize security when making your choice.
Final thoughts on whether it’s safe to order checks online
You should have no concerns in wondering if it’s safe to order checks online compared to ordering through your bank, as long as you take a few moments to make sure that the site you’re looking at using has all the security features you need.
This should only take a few seconds to do, but is great for your peace of mind in knowing that your money is secure.
It also helps you to be absolutely comfortable in using a site other than your bank for ordering checks. A lot of people have the impression that ordering through your bank is the safest thing you can do when it comes to buying checks, but it’s simply not the case anymore.
The person receiving your check won’t even know the difference and will process your payment in exactly the same way, no matter where you ordered your check from.
This means that if it’s just as safe to order checks online and much cheaper than ordering them through your bank, the decision should be a very easy one to make.
