A consortium of banks in the town of St Etienne, near Lyon, launched the country's third experiment with 'electronic cash'- terminals in shops that automatically debit a customer's bank account.

Alternatively, you can leave payment to us by electing to use either our Standing Order or Direct debit services, under which we will automatically debit your Account with the amounts due as required.

Passengers can also subscribe to La TRAM Postale which automatically debits the passenger's bank account or credit card and the sends the monthly pass by mail.

The checks also allow consumers to pay monthly bills by having them debited automatically out of their accounts, rather than having to write a new check each month.

But for many electronic accounts, the bank automatically debits your on-line account soon after you hit the button to instruct the bank to issue a check out of your account.

The card automatically debits the cost of the passenger's ride when placed on or near the Breeze Target at the fare gate.

Some businesses will also use the check strictly as an informational device to automatically debit funds from the account, and will return the item to the customer thereafter.

Also, while many DRIP's let investors buy shares with money beyond their dividend checks, some plans will now even automatically debit your bank account for purchases, much like a mutual fund.

"The computer automatically debits and credits the proper things, and all the bookkeeping is done at that time," Mr. Longo said.

The three services also promised to end the practice of automatically debiting customers' checking accounts for the cost of monthly service without obtaining advance approval.