Borrowers are also locked into bigger payments each month.

"We've broken this down into small, easy-to-afford weekly payments," the man on the phone continued.

Now banks and billers are beginning to turn some of those checks into electronic payments automatically.

He is also facing charges of obstructing a 1997 tribunal looking into payments to politicians.

Multimillion-dollar advances are typically broken up into several smaller payments over the course of a book's publication.

Then, set up an automatic monthly transfer so you can't talk yourself into smaller payments.

A police spokeswoman said the raid was not linked to the recent inquiry into transfers and payments to agents.

The prize money received by the clubs participating was divided into fixed payments based on participation and results.

Substitute check - the act of scanning paper cheques and turning them into electronic payments.

Buying a similar apartment costs around $1.1 million, which can translate into monthly payments of $6,000 or so.