(Wouldn't it be nice if we could all just send a copy of a check we're going to pay instead of the actual check to pay creditors!)

Thanks to the miracle of modern technology, anyone with a smartphone can do just that.  Chase Bank, PNC Bank and a handful of others have begun to roll out apps that will let a customer deposit checks right to their account by simply taking a photo.  

You know, an enterprising abstractor may someday even devise a way to use this technology to their advantage.  I’m thinking a conversation between the vendor and client would go something like this:

VENDOR: This is Joe Blow from Joe’s Abstracts.  We were just going over our receivables and we show you to be $1,500 in arrears.  When do you think you’ll be able to bring this account current?

CLIENT:  Gee, I dunno, accounting must’ve overlooked it.  By the way, what’s the status of that full search we ordered from you last week?

VENDOR:  It’s done and ready to go, but several of your invoices are aged past 90 days.  I’m afraid I won’t be able to release the work until your account is brought up-to-date. 

CLIENT: Well, since you put it that way, we’ll get a check out to you immediately!

VENDOR: OK, we’ll send your search as soon as your payment clears.

CLIENT:  But I need that one right away.  It’s a new customer (it’s ALWAYS a new customer), and if we can turn this one around for them quickly, it’ll impress them SO MUCH they’ll start sending TONS & TONS of work our way! (Translation: I REALLY need that search, but have no intention of actually paying you, so by dangling that $1,500 carrot on the end of a stick and promising you the moon, I’m hoping that I can cajole you into sending me the @#$%^&* thing so I can get MY client off my back!)  If you like, I could fax or email you a copy of the check we’ll be sending.

VENDOR: Sweet!  Say, tell you what, instead of you having to go to the trouble and expense of mailing it, just send it to my smartphone instead of faxing it.  That way, it’ll go directly into my account, I can release your search and everyone is happy!  Fair enough?

CLIENT: Ahem, well then, ah--that is, um--I mean--uh, I think I hear my other line ringing, can I get back to you? *click*


Regards,
Scott Perry