Checkwriter
Encyclopedia
check writer - The term defined
check writer - The person who physically writes a check or ChequeCheque
A cheque is a document/instrument See the negotiable cow—itself a fictional story—for discussions of cheques written on unusual surfaces. that orders a payment of money from a bank account...
is called the check writer in some cases. The check writer is also known as the "payor", "signer", "maker", or the "account holder". The signer or presenter of the check, or person who prints and authorizes the check.
Used in a sentence: "Mrs. Jones wrote a check at the grocery store, and when the manager told the cashier accepting the check that every check writer needed to produce photo identification, Mrs. Jones produced her driver's license."
At U.S. law, in Article 3 of the Uniform Commercial Code
Uniform Commercial Code
The Uniform Commercial Code , first published in 1952, is one of a number of uniform acts that have been promulgated in conjunction with efforts to harmonize the law of sales and other commercial transactions in all 50 states within the United States of America.The goal of harmonizing state law is...
, codified in most U.S. State statutes, a check
Check
Check may refer to* A small crack in the glass, also known as a check, in the glass container industry* Cheque , an order for transfer of money* Check box, a type of widget in computing...
is a form of negotiable instrument
Negotiable instrument
A negotiable instrument is a document guaranteeing the payment of a specific amount of money, either on demand, or at a set time. According to the Section 13 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 in India, a negotiable instrument means a promissory note, bill of exchange or cheque payable either...
evidencing an order (as opposed to a promise) to pay a fixed amount of money, according to §3-104(a).
§3-104(f) specifies that
Such an order is issued by the drawer.
§3-103(a)(3) specifies that
check writer - The physical machine
check writer - also known as "ribbon writer", "check signer" or "check embosser", is a physical device for protecting a check by preventing the monetary amount for which it was written from being raised or altered.Devices of this type that use various technologies are also known as check protectors, check punches, and check perforators. A check punch punches holes in the shapes of numerals. A check perforator punches small round holes that form numerals.
A check writer, or ribbon writer, leaves a numerical or written value impression
Impression
An impression is the overall effect of something.Impression may also refer to:* Material sciences, an indentation made by the pressure of an object into the surface of another object...
in the payment amount field of a check that is very difficult to alter. This is accomplished by the machine applying downward force on the check and leaving very small inked shreds in the paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
.
The first check protector was introduced in 1870. The best known check protectors in the early 1900s had the brand name Protectograph.
The person preparing a check positions the check in the check writer so its print-heads are centered over the field on the check where the amount of the check would otherwise be written out in words. Using a series of levers or buttons on the checkwriter's control panel, the operator enters the monetary amount of the check. This amount is then printed onto the check by the operator pulling a lever on the side of the unit (or by pressing a button on electric units). This brings the print-heads down upon a wide inked (usually multicolor) ribbon through which they print the selected amount on the check, with a prefix and suffix to prevent a fraudster from adding extra digits. Entering $6,762.64, for example, will produce text reading "TheSum6762dol's64cts".
There is a series of (usually) horizontal indentations on a pressure bar brought up underneath the check during this process, which matches similar indentations on the print-heads. This embosses the numeric amount through the paper of the check form, strongly discouraging any attempt to alter or raise this amount.
Because physical check writers and ribbon writers are now considered antique, businesses that still need this check protection technology such as a business, or organization which regularly prepares remittances by issuing high-amount checks can use a physical check writing device. Financial institutions regularly use them to prepare cashier's check
Cashier's check
A cashier's check is a check guaranteed by a bank. They are treated as guaranteed funds and are usually cleared the next day. It is the customer's right to request "next-day availability" when depositing a cashier's check in person...
s, and they are also used by issuers of money order
Money order
A money order is a payment order for a pre-specified amount of money. Because it is required that the funds be prepaid for the amount shown on it, it is a more trusted method of payment than a cheque.-History of money orders:...
s such as the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
. Newer versions are electronic, but many are still made by PayMaster.
CheckWriter - Brand Software
CheckWriter Brand Software - CheckWriter software is business software used to accept payments from customers, patients, members or subscribers. Unlike a physical device, the software facilitates check draft demand draftDemand draft
A demand draft, also known as a remotely created check, a tele-check, or check by phone, check by fax or echeck, is a check created by a merchant with a buyer's checking account number on it, but without the buyer's original signature....
technology, and Check 21 Act
Check 21 Act
The Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act is a United States federal law, , that was enacted on October 28, 2003 by the 108th Congress. The Check 21 Act took effect one year later on October 28, 2004...
regulations to emulate the check writer.
The software prints a physical draft of a customer's checks that a business can then deposit into any U.S. bank the same day. The software has been in circulation since 1996 and operates on a Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
PC platform.
Uses for CheckWriter software include bill payment acceptance by phone for insurance companies, hospitals, collections agencies, medical professionals, utilities, loan providers, telemarketers and almost any other industry that needs to take check payments from customers.
The company claims CheckWriter as their trademark since 1996 in the software industry, according to their publications, prosecution history, and public record.