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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While Millennials and Gen Z have adopted digital transactions for payments, there is still a generation that isn't interested in paying their bills online. Lucky for them, 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, until now.

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Careful Mailing Checks in Arizona

With every form of modern technology, there's someone who will find an angle to scam others. Checks are considered a relatively safe option for sending money through the mail, and safety checks have a printed pattern that makes them difficult to copy.

Despite that, there are bad actors who drive around neighborhoods to steal mail, and they're hoping to score a printed check. Criminals use chemicals to wash checks, in other words, to remove the ink and rewrite the check in their name so they can cash them, 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, mailing on these days is better because there's less mail to process. The post office delivers fewer packages and mail on those days, so items typically move through the system faster.

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

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 for a longer period of time, especially over the weekend, and the heavier mail volume could cause mail pick-up and delivery delays, especially around the holidays.

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 ]