Google Adsense and annoying checks

Why use checks when you can transfer money electoronically?

[matsbe]

I received a couple of checks from Google Adsense but as I'm living in Sweden I'm having trouble converting the checks to money. When I go to the bank they look at me as if I were from the 80s or something. Why should it be so hard to get the money by just transferring it to my bank account? One bank wantet to charge me US$130 for converting the checks to cash! They had to check that Google really had the money to pay them the amount on the checks (US$128 and US$62). What's the big deal about checks? I don't get it! Why is it so popular to use checks in the US? It's destroying my business!

[tombola]

Before you start whining about "annoying checks" (or other things that you don't like about Adsense), read
this thread [webmasterworld.com] and be thankful that Google offers us this exciting money-generating tool.

[freitasm]

I'm in New Zealand and managed to get an account with no deposit fees. There's a clearing period for cheques that depends on country, but I can live with waiting a while to get my money.

I use BNZ and they don't charge either. Also the cheque clears in two days. Up to a limit. My Google and Tribal Fusion follow this rule. But when I tried to deposit the cheque from my main affiliate account... I had to go through a different process, because the amount was way over the limit.

The process involving send the cheque for clearing in a clearing house, and wait until the OK comes back from the original back. That's because for low amounts the BNZ actually frees the money before it's actually cleared on the other end. Pretty good actually.

[matsbe]

OK tombola, Google Adsense is a great money-generating tool, but it's not much worth to us that can't get hold of the money we earn. Anyway I mailed Google support and they replyed that they're goning to offer additional payment options in the coming months. I hope we don't have to wait too long:

-------------
Hello Mats,

Thank you for you email.

Unfortunately at this time we do not offer alternative payment methods or currencies. We hope to add additional payment options in the coming months. Thank you for your patience as we expand our program.

However, we will be happy to hold your earnings on a month-by-month basis. This will allow your payment balance to accumulate before a check is issued. To allow us to do so, please send an email to [e-mail] before the 5th of each month following the month for which you would like payment to be held. For example, to have payment held for June earnings, please email us before July 5th. We unfortunately cannot accept requests for indefinite holds, or for holds until specific balances have been reached.

To have your payment held for this month, please send us a separate email with your request.

Please feel free to email us at [e-mail] if you have additional questions or concerns. For technical support, please email
[e-mail].

Sincerely,

Suzie
The Google Team