Studios moving away from accepting checks for film rent payments

[Carsten Kurz]

It' weird how complicated simple money transfer seem to be in some developed parts of the word. I log into our company bank account using standard credentials. I choose 'new transfer', I type in the first letters of the studio I want to pay, the website autocompletes 'Warner Brothers Germany' and fills in all their account details. I am free to reuse the transaction data of my previous transfer or edit/add new data. I input the amount to transfer (which is the exact amount that will arrive on Warners account). I click 'transfer', and it's done. If I need one, I create or print a PDF of transaction details, or I can do so anytime afterwards. This whole thing takes not a minute to complete and the money is on Warners account the next day. This works across all European countries with every single receiving bank that exists.

[Allan Young]

I'm a tad bemused at how the US banking systems always seem to be a step behind Europe - the adoption of Chip and PIN is another example. The last time I had to deal with a cheque was two years ago, and I haven't written one in over ten.

[James Wyrembelski]

We only have one account that actually does an ACH payment, which I find out about it through an email from the customer. Then I get another email from the bank a couple of days later, saying the money's in actually the bank. .

I don't even get an email from mine! After spending more time at the bank, come to find out I can't even get a simple PDF download of the page that shows the transaction! I can print it and scan it and then send it, but even then its a bare page simply showing the name of the payee and the amount. Hardly looks official and I hope they accept it. Bank says that's the best I can get. Very advanced service in 2024.

[Frank Cox]

Install a print-to-pdf printer driver and print it directly to the pdf. You get a better looking copy, avoid having to scan it and even get to save a sheet of paper.

[James Wyrembelski]

There really isn't anything special that converting to PDF would make better. It's just such a basic "confirmation" I can't really think any distrib would consider it proof. It's rather laughable to me.

I might as well just type "Payment Sent" in Notepad and send it.