Recently, I paid for a magazine subscription with a check. A few days later, a person from the magazine’s office phoned me to say that my check had been returned unpaid by my bank. I wondered what the reason could be, as I had enough money in my account.

When I phoned my bank, the bank rep verified my account details in their computer system but could find no apparent reason why my check should have been dishonored. The rep asked for some time to find out the reason.

A couple of days later, the bank told me, with some pride, that the reason was its new “improved” process with better “controls.”

I was irritated but also curious. What kind of “control” was this, I asked, that prevented me from making a legitimate payment with my own money? “You might not understand, sir,” said the bank rep. “It’s a technical reason.”

“Never mind,” I said. “Tell me anyway, and let me see if I understand.”

 …