I can't help you with the first question but I have had some little experience with printed checks. There is one way to make sure that any bank will take a printed check without any whining. You would have to buy a laser printer and then buy special magnetic toner at a hefty price. This is not a great option unless you are printing hundreds of checks a month. On the other hand there is no legal reason that the banks can refuse to accept a legal check, but they will try. You see, banks make a lot of money selling checks and don't want to lose that income.What is Saul Steinberg still doing on this list? Can somebody cash a = Quicken check from a real bank?
Some banks and stores are still using magnetic scanners to read the bank code on the bottom of the check. Even though most are changing to the cheaper and more reliable optical scanners they will still try to tell you that it needs to be printed with magnetic ink knowing that it is just not an option for most people and forcing them to buy their overpriced checks. What happens at the bank when they come across a check that their scanners can't read, is that it has to be read by a real person. As you know people are one piece of equipment that banks are trying to do away with. Some stores also have magnetic scanners at the check out but I don't think there are too many as most stores can't afford them. You might have some problem passing a check at those stores but if you talk to the manager something could be worked out, after all, they want your business.
I'm still learning all this on the fly. I'm setting up a computer for a friend with CP who is unable to write a check by hand and would love to not have to rely on staff and friends to write them for him. I tried to explain this to the bank and tell them that this is an accessibility issue but they have no sympathy.
While I'm out of lurk mode I have a question. I know this has been answered many times but I need to know how to subscribe to this list so I can get my friend on here.
Jim Loveland