Rick, If they force you to the EFT route, I suggest that you go to your bank and set up an account just for these transactions. Keep the minimum amount in the account and then transfer when the companies are going to request their payments. My employer forced everybody to direct deposit and I set up an account at my credit union where the money is sent. This is the only thing this account is for. If my employer gets hacked, and the hackers get the bank account information, there will be very little money for them to take.
There is another possibility and that is the company you are dealing with is losing your check on purpose. I have heard of companies doing this to ratchet up the frustration of the customer and he or she finally relents and goes the EFT route. The only way to know for sure is to send a payment by certified mail with a return receipt. Very expensive, but you may find out where the problem lies.