CHECK READER QUESTION

[westchurch]

We are considering the purchase of a Canon CR-55 Check Reader and were wondering if anyone has had experience with that model and PC+?
It has an automatic check feeder that holds 50 checks so my concern is that the program may not do the checks one at a time.
I talked to a technician and he dosen't see why it wouldn't work but had no experience with it.
Thanks.

[Zorak]

PowerChurch Plus does require that checks are entered one at a time, on the Check Reader screen. The scanned MICR information basically helps to look up the contributor's information. We also recall their last Contribution amount and fund distribution. Unless this machine has the ability to send one check through at a time, on demand, I don't think that it will work.

[NeilZ]

FWIW ... that reader sounds like overkill. I've had experience with the type of reader that Powerchurch recommends (I got it on eBay actually). We ran the checks through manually as this gave the operator time to scan the check, then look at the check to verify the name on the check, and the amount being given. Then the operator either updated the amount, changed the account since the names did not match, or hit the enter key since the name and the amount were the same.

Having an autofeed would only keep the operators from having to feed the check manually, it would not relieve them of having to manually review the info on the check. This is why I would recommend a manually fed check reader to anyone for two reasons:

1. Ease of use ... not having to figure out how to incorporate it (if even possible)
2. Lower cost ... better stewardship of the churches money.