Experts Warn Arizona Residents: Don’t Mail a Check on THIS Day

A few weeks ago, my friend's daughter graduated from high school. I bought the requisite congratulatory card and wrote her a check, which I tucked inside. When she opened the card, she looked a bit confused.

"What's this?" she asked, in all seriousness.

"It's a check," her mom replied. "You take it to the bank and cash it. It's a way to give money."

"Oh." She said, processing this new information. "Why didn't you just Zelle me?"

Boy, did I feel like an antique! It would be like my grandma sending me a telegram to let me know a postcard would be arriving via pony express.

READ: Arizona: The Post Office Wants You to Get a Larger Mailbox

Do You Even Write a Check, Arizona?

In an age when many people use payment systems like Zelle, PayPal, Apple Pay, and other cashless and documentless forms of payment, writing a check must seem like driving a horse and buggy to market.

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There is a generation that is not interested in paying bills online, and thankfully, they still have options. They've pulled out their bills and checkbooks every month and sent the payments off through the mail, and it's worked fine.

READ: Sierra Vista Mail Carrier Saves Elderly Man

Careful Mailing Checks in Arizona

Even with new technology, there's always someone who has an angle to scam others. We consider checks a relatively safe way to send money through the mail. Safety checks have a printed pattern that makes them difficult to copy.

Despite that, some people drive around neighborhoods to steal your mail. They can use chemicals to wash checks to remove the ink and rewrite them in their own name, effectively stealing your money.

Some crooks are so skilled at this process that even experts have trouble telling the difference between the original and the forgery.

Mailing Checks in Arizona

Experts say Monday through Thursday is the best time to mail financial documents, checks, money orders, and tax returns.

First, delivery times are faster because there's less mail traffic. The post office processes fewer packages and mail on those days, so items move through the system faster.

Second, don't let your outgoing mail sit in your mailbox too long. It's better to drop it off at the post office in secure, outgoing boxes so thieves can't take the mail out of your box.

Third, experts advise using a gel pen to fill out your checks and financial documents. The ink bonds with the paper, making it harder to remove.

Don't Mail Checks on This Day of the Week

Experts warn against mailing checks or financials Friday through Sunday. Documents are more likely to sit in the mailbox longer, especially during the weekend, and the heavier mail volume could cause mail pick-up and delivery delays, especially around holidays.

READ: Find a Paw Print Sticker on Your Mailbox? Leave It There!

Even if you've got apps like Zelle installed on your device, pass this information on to family and friends who might still send checks through the mail.

[ Sources: Go Banking Rates | al.com | namespilot.com | ABC7NY.com ]