writing competition payments

There is a lot of controversey over methods of payments in writing competitions.
Many of the sponsors require payment by cheque.  Unfortunately cheques are being phased out and in fact my bank now charges £10 per cheque.  So for an entry fee of £3 - £5 it get expensive. 
The alternative is to use your credit card details. Writing your personal details on an entry form and sending them in the post is not very secure in my opinion.  Dishonest people will have a field day collecting all these bits of paper and creaming all your hard earned....
Something needs to be done.  A few sponsors are now allowing you to pay through Paypal which is indeed secure but not everyone has a credit card or internet to be able to do this.
The writing community needs to get their heads together and come to an amicable solution or interest in entering competitions will wane and that is something we cannot have.