Man, that's some hyperbole. Ain't nobody believing you haven't seen a check in 40 years.

Late 80s is only 35 years ago, but other than that believe it. It’s true. In 1991 Maestro launched and everyone moved over to debit card payments.

The cheques only really disappeared in 2002 when the bank guarantees stopped, but I haven’t seen one in the wild since I was a little little lad. I have never ever ever had a checkbook in my own name.

More info on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocheque

It's not for every day use but there's always something that needs a check for some dumb reason, like setting up direct deposit or paying the emergency plumber.

My last emergency plumber was a kid in his twenties. I don’t think he even knows what a check is. But he definitely knows what a debit card is, and has a portable terminal.

I'm not American, but

I've literally never seen a check in my life, and I've been around since the late 80s.

I got paid by check for a gig on Christmas Eve.

Believe it, bub. In backwater places like Brazil people have moved on from credit and debit cards to fully digital systems like Pix. Meanwhile my town in Tennessee will take only cash or cheque for taxes.

Other than getting paid for a few labor jobs out of high school, I haven't seen a cheque used ever, so I can believe it. Banks give sheets with direct deposit info, and any tradespeople I've hired have taken various other forms of payment.

For reference, this is in Canada though, so not the default.