Custom Personal Bank Checks | Custom Business Bank Checks | CUSTOM PERSONAL CHECKS & LABELS

: Can I use someone else's photos or images?
: Not without permission. Generally, if you took the photo or did the drawing, or paid someone to design it for you, you own the copyright and can do with it whatever you wish. If someone else did it, then they own it (even a professional photographer you paid), and the rights. You must get permission from the owner to use it. There are certain "fair use doctrine" exceptions, discuss these with a lawyer, or decide for yourself if you understand these areas of copyright law. We are not selling you the image, but selling you a product and placing your image on that product, except for the posted images which are properly licensed from the owners.

Checks Your Way Inc. reserves the right to refuse to print any photo, image or artwork for any reason.
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: What types of checks do you offer?
: Presently, we offer the top tear personal size "wallet" style, in both the single and duplicate style; and the 3-on-a-page, left hand stub General Purpose Business Checks fitting the standard 7 ring binder; and Top position single check on 8.5 x 11 for QuickBooks/Quicken Financial Software. We are one of the few companies to print your full color, full bleed photos or other images on your personal or business checks.
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: How long will it take to receive my checks?
: Typical shipment is 7 - 10 days from the date we receive your payment, voided check, deposit slip and images. Checks are shipped USPS Priority Mail, with usual delivery in 2 - 3 days, Labels are shipped First Class Mail, with delivery also in two to three days. These items are not produced together therefore may not be shipped together.
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: I am out of checks. What can I send in place of a voided check?
: Banks provide a MICR Specification Sheet, or form with a substantially similar name. It is usually designed to be completed by the bank staff, with all of the information as it will be printed on the checks. Most of the major banks include in the instructions that a new Spec sheet should be obtained each time checks are re-ordered. This is because banks do change their routing numbers and account number layout from time to time. Check carefully, we may be able to use the Reorder Form from your previous check order. EXAMINE THIS CLOSELY. At least one check printer changes the layout of the MICR line (numbers across the bottom of the check) so it cannot be used by another check company. Also examine the Deposit slip: if there is any difference between it and the check other then absence of the four digit serial # we need one of these too. Most common differences include different routing number (first nine numbers), Added 1 to five digit number (transaction code) and account number in a different position from on the check. Also a Canceled or Voided check that was never used or returned from the bank or electronic transfer will also work. We have never had Faxes speed things up: the quality is poor and the small type cannot be read. Numbers and Letters that are unmistakably one thing are really something else. Please, original documents only! Then we can stand behind our work and speed up the process for you and everyone else.
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: What payment methods do you accept?
: You may pay by credit card (MasterCard or Visa), at the time you order or by phone later. (This is on a highly secure connection with the credit card company. We receive notice that you paid, but not your credit card information). We also accept Pay Pal or you may mail a check.
Checks Your Way Inc. is PayPal Verified
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: Can I order more than one image for the same order?
: YES, and your multiple images (up to four will alternate throughout your order (we pioneered this service in 1999). One image comes with your order, so 1, 2, and 3 EXTRA ALTERNATING IMAGES are actually 2, 3, or 4 alternating images. The cost for extra images is a one time charge. Click on "Reorder without changes.".
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: How dark can my pictures be printed?
: We usually must lighten an image about 50 to 70 percent. This is determined by the federal banking guidelines, based on reflectivity standards. This tells how much the background will interfere with the optical scanning of the check. The scan is monochrome (Black and White), with no grays. Anything dark enough to scan is black, as are your written words and numbers and the MICR line. If it is dark enough to interfere with these aspects of a check, it is not acceptable. It MUST be readable after scanning. We realize that you want to see your photo, and print it as dark as possible.
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: What size picture should I send and how do I send it?
: To e-mail an image, send it to submit@checksyourway.com. If submitting your image digitally, it should be a JPEG saved at 225 dpi and at least 1600 X 800 pixels. If mailing your image, we can scan up to 8.5" x 11." Please include your Invoice Number when sending your image by email or mail — we must be able to associate it with your order, and there may be more than one "Jane Pearson" pending..
Ideal photographs or images are horizontally aligned with a light-colored background. Vertically-oriented (portrait) photos require cropping to fit your checks. See our image pages: the smaller, darker photo is the original and the larger is the finished check image. Be safe, send us a copy, not an irreplaceable original, we will return your photo if a SASE is included.
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: What dimensions should I crop my image to?
: Please DO NOT CROP your image! If you think we may not know exactly how you want your image to be, send us a 6" x 2¾" image to show your finished check. Send us the original also so that we can print it with extra margins and trim it to your desired finished image! (View example)
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: Can I submit vertically-aligned photographs?
: Yes. However, keep in mind that a check is a rectangle of a specific size. If the photo is 4 x 6, we will reduce the height of the central subject to fit on the 2¾ check, and add a complementary background to both sides (if possible, extend the sides of the photo through Photoshop magic).(View example).
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: How do I place an Order?
: Go to our website and complete and submit our online order form. If you are going to print the form and mail it, be sure to fill it in so we can tell what you want! It is not really designed for that, so several default entries are marked! And some information is on other pages, so we will have to call/email you after we receive it... If you complete it online, you will receive a copy of the Order Summary which contains a link to the invoice (a user name and password are included in the email order summary, and are required to access your online Invoice: this is to protect your privacy, while allowing you to see exactly what we received and are going to print from). Be sure to mail us a Voided Check and Deposit slip for the account for which you are ordering checks.
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: Can you make the changes on my new checks?
: Yes. You can mark out any information that is obsolete, and Specify Changes on the Face of the Check. Or you can mark out the obsolete information on the check and include a separate sheet of paper indicating changes. Or you may complete the section titled Change in Check Imprinting Requested, being sure to mark out obsolete information on the Voided Check. Please include any changes in bank name, routing/account numbers if applicable. Make sure to list any changes in the MICR line or provide a new Specification Sheet if necessary.
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: What is the cost for shipping and handling?
: We ship USPS Priority Mail for average delivery time of 2-3 days. The cost of postage only for this service is currently $4.60. However this is not the only direct shipping and handling cost in the current charge, which is $6.25 per box.
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: Why should I mail my Voided check or deposit slip?
: 100% Accuracy on the MICR Line and Fractional Number is imperative. Only the original document (or the MICR Specification Sheet) can insure what we see is what you sent. A Fax or emailed scan is particularly bad because in not only shifts the size, but random black spots render some areas unreadable and, worse make some characters perfect representations of others. We will do our best if you insist, but we cannot stand behind errors caused by our misreading faxes or scans. We have never seen the process speeded up, and almost always slows it down for everyone as we play phone tag instead of production work. If you are running out of checks, and you are paying by check, we can use the payment check for the information if it is the same account. In any case, please perform the following actions:

Please make address and personal information changes directly on the voided or payment check, if there is too much to write legibly on the face of the check, make them on separate sheet of paper or in the Requested Changes in Imprint section of the order form. The check is in our hand entering this information; the order form is two sheets down in the stack. Unless you have lined through information on the check, we may not notice that you requested changes. Information should be copied from a single check.
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: What's included with my Order?
: Each box contains 200 single checks (150 if duplicates), forty deposit slips, each order further contains one Vinyl Cover and one Check Register. Each box of General Purpose 3-on-a-Page Business Checks contains 300 left stub checks, fits 7-ring binder.
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: What is the cost for Checks and/or Labels?
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New Account Setup Fee (includes first image): $4.95.
If check information and image remain unchanged there is no re-order setup fee.
Box of 200 Single Checks (150 if ordering duplicates): $32.95.
Box of 300 3-on-a-Page Business Checks: $119.95
Duplicate Personal Checks: $39.90 per box (Carbonless copies).
EXTRA Alternating Images: $9.95 each (up to 3) (1st image included with your order) (charged each time you reorder) Up to four images (3 extra) alternate throughout your order (we pioneered this service in 1999).
Special Message: Add $3.95 (one time charge unless changed)
A SPECIAL MESSAGE is placed above the Signature Line of your Custom Personal Bank Checks.
Shipping and Handling: $6.25 per box (Not charged for orders totally over $65.00)
For Labels, 180 Full Color, same image(s) as checks: $14.95 Shipping and Handling $2.25 per order (NC Orders over $65) New Account setup Fee: $3.95 if only labels are ordered.

: What Security Features are on your checks?
: Security Features include (as of July 2007, but are not limited to, and are subject to change without notice) the following:
1) Border on the reverse of the check contains MICRO-PRINT, and may be seen under magnification.
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2) An EPA-approved Water-mark-certified-seal that cannot be photocopied is located on the endorsement area of each check.
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3) Original Document screen on the back of each check. Cannot be photocopied.
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4) MICRO-PRINT signature line on face of check.
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5) The Padlock logo on the face indicates security features meet or exceed industry standards.
Absence of the above listed security features may indicate that the check may be altered or forged. The listed features are subject to change.
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: Where do I mail my Voided Check, Deposit Slip, and Payment?
: Mail Your Voided Check, Deposit Slip (if applicable), Image, and Payment (if paying by check) to:

Checks Your Way Inc.
621 North Ohio Avenue
Live Oak, FL 32064
1-386-362-4044
Info@ChecksYourWay.com

Image only, may be mailed or sent to submit@checksyourway.com
PLEASE DO NOT send these items by FAX or scan and email (other than your photo). Accurate representation of the original document size is critical. Some layouts cannot be reproduced from an over/under-sized scan/fax. Also, since the lettering and numbers cannot usually be discerned, you usually delay rather than speed up by attempting this first. We will do our best from these documents, but our satisfaction guarantee applies to orders produced from original documents only.
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: There was a color change from one order to the next; I prefer one over the other. What can you do about it?
: We are constantly upgrading, maintaining, replacing and repairing our entire line of production, preproduction and post production equipment, printers, computers, software and hardware. From one printing to the next, it is unlikely that the same process is used to produce your checks, therefore there will be differences. There are basically two color standards in the printing business, critical color and pleasing color. The equipment used for these are quite different, and the costs associated with their use are vastly different. No one would realistically attempt to use equipment suitable for critical color work for preparing checks. It would be cost prohibitive. It is used primarily for such things as high end magazine covers and high quality art print reproductions. Each copy is largely indistinguishable from the next. Even here, in a run of several hundred, there are distinguishable differences from the start to the finish and usually several stages in between. Pleasing color focuses on realistic shades of flesh tones and other such easily noticed areas, but cannot realistically color match between original and copy nor between runs several months apart. A large organization which prints hundreds of thousands of checks at a time may choose to pay substantially extra for the color matching service available in critical color so that one printing is a virtual match to the last, but even there it is uncommon.
Further, Federal banking standards are progressively tighter on the reflectivity standard that controls how dark we can print your photo. The scanners used can only detect white or black. If a portion of the photo exceeds the threshold, it is a black blob. If it does not interfere with the data, it is ok; if it interferes with anything that needs to be recorded, the check must be processed by hand, and then cannot be photocopied for electronic retrieval. Banks object to this! We are printing checks lighter than we used to, but are still on the dark edge of the industry. Look at our checks against a group from various printers, and ours are among the darkest.
We are sorry, but since we cannot match color from printing to printing, we wanted you to be aware.

: Why did you take out payment before I was ready (or you took out the payment twice)?
: We do not have access to your account information at any time, therefore we cannot "take out payment". When you CHOOSE to pay by credit card, you are doing just that - going to a secure credit card site (Authorize.net), and telling them to charge your account for the amount of the invoice, and transfer the funds to our account. We are not in this actively at any point. We do not receive your card number. If a glitch occurs, we notify you that the transaction did not complete and ask you what you want to do. Multiple charges have always been associated with multiple orders and multiple entries of your credit card information by yourself. We, of course credit any of these as soon as possible; but as with the charge (your account is debited instantly, but we do not receive it for 48-72 hours), your refund is instantly deducted from our account, but you do not receive it for 48-72 hours. This delay is the credit card company and bank policy, we have no influence here. If notified before the transaction is finalized, we can VOID the transaction and you are credited in less than 24 hours.

: My original voided check was all caps for my personal information and not all of the information for my bank was included, why?
: We do not use all capitals for several reasons. First it is not standard English, and secondly it takes up more space, so you have fewer characters. The routing number gives all of the required banking information. We have three lines to use with limited characters. When the bank is a primary party to the transaction, they sometimes place incredible amounts of extraneous materials here. but the name of the bank (the norm with larger banks) only is adequate and even that is not required but for courtesy.

: What personalization is provided?
: Basically we will put the information you want. Typically, it is the name, address and phone number. Depending on your primary shopping locations, you MAY desire more, such as email, SSAN or Driver License. We urge caution and minimal information here for the sake of security and safety. We provide up to 5 lines and do not limit the number of characters here, but modify the font size for long lines. All lines are the same size, our program does not allow changes. If your desire does not fit these parameters, we can place the info on the image, BUT it will not be quite as sharp as the rest of the text; and since this is done on a MAC, your favorite PC based font may not be available.

: What is a MICR Specification Sheet?
: This MICR (or Check Printing, or E13B Common Machine Language) Specification Sheet is a layout diagram to allow the bank to "specify" its requirements to any printer. They have already provided this to the printers they contract with for most of the checks for their customers, and update it when changes are made. It is a grid that allows each digit, special character, and space to be represented so that the check can be read by the scanners in the Federal Reserve System. There are a few fast rules on this, and the variables can approach infinity. Banks are required to provide this information to customers who want to use another printer, or print their own checks with a program such as QuickBooks, Quicken or MSMoney.

: Can I use your checks instead of the ones ordered through my bank?
: Yes, we print to the same specifications all check printers are required to use. If the information you provided is correct (current specification sheet or voided check and deposit slip from the account the ordered checks are for), we guarantee that they will work. The bank is not allowed to restrict your choice of printer. Some banks will stone-wall you since they do receive a commission on check orders sold through the contract printer. Have them call us with you present if there is a problem. Many will not talk to us otherwise.

: What are the fractional number and the padlock icon?
: The 'fractional number is usually in the upper left portion of the check. It is two digits followed by a dash; followed by 1-4 digits: traditionally there was then a slash or line under these digits and another set of 1 - 4 digits. This formed a fraction hence the name fractional number. It consists of the 2 digit location code for the state, and the other digits are constructed from the bank routing number. Initial "Zeros" may be present or omitted by the printer, (52-0023/0765; 52-32-765;52-32 765; and 52-0032 0765) are all correct forms of a single bank fractional number. Different branches may have the same or different routing number. The padlock icon is the trademark of a private organization dedicated to improving check security. Its presence indicates that the user is a member and certifies its product to meet security standards beyond the requirements of the federal banking regulations and laws.

: My bank changed names, what do I need to do to make sure my checks work?
: When the name changed (you may have simply received a letter stating that ONLY the name had changed), if anything else changed, you received a packet telling you what had or was going to change and the time limits for phasing in documents such as checks reflecting the changed information. Check with your bank to verify that the numbers across the bottom of your check are correct, that the position and spacing have not changed; and especially if they have the old name on them verify that this is not about to expire from a previously announced grace period.

: I am having trouble placing my order online; Why?
: Usually, it is your cookie setting. You must accept cookies from the host site for our order form to work. Our server could be down for repair or upgrade (about 10 hours in eight years). If it is in the payment area, the required server could be down. We are open from 8am - 5pm Eastern Standard (daylight savings). Try again in 15 to 30 minutes or call us and we will take your order.

: What is your Privacy Policy?
: All information collected is solely for our use in producing your order, and communications required in regards to your order. This information is NEVER sold, traded, loaned, leased or otherwise transferred to any third party for any reason! Further, sensitive information such as name, address, phone number, bank information to include account number and name of bank are isolated from the web. Critical information such as bank account numbers are mailed; not exposed on the internet. Critical actions such as payment by credit card and PayPal are conducted on those companies' secure websites designed for ecommerce. We never have access to account number, just the notification that you transferred funds to us in payment of Invoice #XXXX.

: What are your terms and conditions?
: Due to the nature of our product, we require payment prior to beginning work. We provide checks only on the condition that our liability is limited to reprinting of an incorrectly printed order. We are not responsible for incidental damage or charges. You should carefully examine the checks for accuracy prior to use. Images you provide either your own, or you have the owners permission to use them, in compliance with the US and International copyright laws. Images we provide are legally licensed from the copyright owner.

: Is it safe to order checks online?
: Yes. Virtually any purchase can be done online today and it is as safe as purchasing at a local store. You should, of course, be certain of whom you are dealing with, but this is true even with local face to face transactions. We have been in business in the same location (Live Oak, Florida) since 1999. Check us out with Dun and Bradstreet in regards to our history; and with the North Florida Better Business Bureau in Jacksonville Florida regarding any complaints. Our website is secure, but credit card transactions and PayPal are handled off of our site at sites designed for and by the credit card companies for security during ecommerce. Your check and bank account information are isolated from the web, and transferred to us by US Mail. See our Privacy Policy above.

Our business hours are 8:00-5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday thru Friday.
Telephone: 1-386-362-4044 | 1-386-362-4066 (FAX).

Orders are processed from date we receive your voided check, a deposit slip and your image(s). RE-ORDERS may show a slight difference from the original order because of inconsistencies in the ink.