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Huh ? How do they know you have written a check/cheque before it is cashed by whoever you gave it to ?

I'm referring to online bill payment. Using the Quicken interface, I can set you up as a "payee". If you happen to be my utility company, you can arrange for these sorts of payments to turn into wire transfers, transparently. If you happen to be, well, yourself (i.e., a private person), then Quicken will print a paper check, stuff it into an envelope, stamp it, and mail it to you. In this latter case, I can write you a check, dated into the future (for now, hypothetically, October 10). On October 2, Chase removes the money from my account and then they mail you the check. Even if you deposit the check the moment you receive it on October 10, the money will have been in neither your nor my account during the intervening eight days. I look on this as my bank stealing my rightful interest on my money. It's also annoying.