Gotcha... I've just never used an echeck before. Not that it would be because of you but putting my account and routing number out there makes me a little uneasy.
It's no differnet than putting your cc info "out there", which you do every time you use a credit card. E-checks are protected against fraud just like cc's. Besides, unlike a cc, simply having someone's information doesn't allow someone to just take money out of your account. If they went to a bank and tried, they would need to present an ID, which is why no one has ever gotten away with this. Furthermore, if someone tried to purchase things online with your info, your bank would have to approve the transaction. This is not true for cc's, which approve basically everything, no matter what it is for or where the transaction takes place. Regardless, e-checks are protected against fraud just like cc's, so even if fraud was commited (highly unlikely) you would get your money back.
So, there really isn't any reason to be "uneasy". I understand a small percentage of people feel this way, but it all comes down to ignorance. They simply don't understand how e-checks work or the details surrounding their use.
The bottom line is that e-checks are used by literally MILLIONS of people every day...and by virtually every bank in America. They are even safer than paper checks (due to more limited exposure) and yet, no one complains about using paper checks. Actually, some people (usually old people who are still living in the 1940's) are afraid to use paper checks, even though they have been in use for decades with an awesome track record of safety.
The truth is that cc fraud is WAY more common than check fraud...and that includes both paper and electronic (e-check) checks. So, if someone is concerned about using e-checks, they shouldn't use cc's either...because they are even more likely to get ripped off when using a cc.
Once again, the only real risk of using an e-check that doesn't apply to cc's is that the business owner could rip you off. He could take your payment, never send the product, and your only recourse is court...because you would have to prove you never got what you ordered (his word against yours).
Now, if someone steals your e-check info and tries to take money out of your account (they are unlikely to succeed even if they try), it is a completely differnet situation than a company owner not sending you your order...because there is a clear and undeniable computer trail showing that you not only didn't buy anything yourself, but that you never gave permission for the sale. This is easy to prove...just like it is easy to prove with cc's...and which is why victoms of cc/e-check fraud end up getting their money back.
So, once again, it all comes down to whether or not the person trusts the company owner. At worst, if the company owner did rip you off, all you stand to lose is your order. I am pretty certain that everyone who has ever ordered from me with an e-check (many thousands) would vouch for me in this regard, especially being that not one single customer has ever reported a single problem in all the time I've offered e-checks as a payment option. Actually, one person has lost a lot of money because of MA Research e-checks. ME! Customers have stolen many thousands of dollars from me through bounced e-checks. Many, many times, after I've shipped orders, their e-checks bounced, and they never paid me. They flat-out stole from me. I am dealing with an asshole like this right now. After kissing my ass and begging me not to have the package sent back to myself (the package was still in transit to his home), he promised he would pay me. So, I allowed the package to be delivered the following day. He never paid me a single cent. So, if anyone has lost money because of e-checks, it is me. Oh, should I mention the thousands of dollars I have lost in bounced check fees as well? I have at least one every single day.
As for e-checks, they are super simple to use. Anyone who has a checking account can use one. You don't have to sign up for anything, download anything, or learn anything. All you do is enter your routing and account number (from your checking account) and that's it. It's basically just like writing a check (all paper checks already have their routing and checking numbers on the bottom of them). If you look at the bottom of one of your checks, you will see a series of numbers. They don't say"routing number" and "account number". Rather, there will just be a few sets of numbers (with a small space inbetween each set) all in a row. The routing number is always the first number in the series and is always 9 digits long. The account number follows the routing number and can vary in terms of how many number it contains based on the bank used, etc. You may see a 3rd set of numbers after the account number. Ignore that. It is just the check number and doesn't apply to e-checks.
After you send an e-check it works just like a regular check. Green Money (my e-check provider-bank) will contact your bank and make the withdrawal based on the routing and account numbers you provided...just like a regular check. The only difference between a regular check and e-check is that one is paper and the other is electronic. E-checks also have more privacy because only your bank and my bank sees the transaction, whereas when you write out a paper check everyone from the peron at the cash register to the bank employee can see it. E-checks are super common now. Millions use them daily without issue.
Please don't hesitate to ask me any questions. I am confident that if you give e-checks a try, you will see how easy and safe they really are. Their nationwide safety record speaks for itself...and my company's track record is perfect.
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