Has Paying for Things With Actual Money Become Passe?

[Cogidubnus]

Hi Rivkah

My life spans the whole transition between cash, cheques and cards. For my own part I feel the mix we have now is about right.

Cheques and Postal Orders are about dead...and that's good because they were a clumsy means to an end. BACS payroll, Direct Debit and Standing Order are great, because, as you imply, they take away all the repetitive transactions we used to sweat blood over.

Card Payment is on the whole great, but when things go wrong (eg your card stops working) then boy your in trouble. Fortunately my bank (actually a building society) were first rate in the efficiency stakes - they said I'd have a replacement in 3 to 5 working days and got said replacement to me on the morning of the third working day - but nonetheless not having the card over that particular weekend was bloody awkward for me - and things only worked out because I was able to visit my local branch, and make a withdrawal of....cash...so we still need the stuff.

The newer methods of payment, like phones, stun me...but thereagain, the propensity of the young to live all their life through a cell phone stuns me (I'm obviously getting old) - I was among the first with a PC, very early with bulletin boards (remember those?) and the Internet, quite early with a cell phone, but loathe and despise most of the social media, and can't understand why you'd want a cellphone to leave you accessible to all and sundry 24/7?

Checkouts to me are fun...If I'm on a big shop I actually like the contact and the interchange - it's fun - I'd tell the cashier what the batteries and vaseline might be for, just to watch his/her face...but yes there are times when I'm pushed (like lunchtimes) and the self checkout is handy....

Sadly (in my case) things won't remain static...which for humans on the whole is probably no bad thing..hark at me waxing lyrical on a Saturday night even before broaching the bottle!

Every good wish

Dave

[RivkahChaya]

If I were to lose my debit card, I have an ATM card that allows me to withdraw cash from my savings account, and I can transfer money back k and forth between savings and checking either online, or at the ATM. I also have two credit cards. One has a small limit, and I carry it with me. If my bank were ever down, or my debit card just not working, I could use the credit card. The other has a large limit, and it's for emergencies. I keep it in my underwear drawer. I also take it on trips. Both credit cards have PINs that allow me to get a cash advance, although there's a fee.

The fact that I have direct deposit makes my checking account free.

[Wickerman]

The fact that I have direct deposit makes my checking account free.

The fact my wife is retired means we don't pay Bank charges at all !


Whoopee

[Cogidubnus]

Good for you Jon!

Unfortunately in the UK it's more difficult to avoid charges with the major banks...

However, my wife and I each maintain accounts at the Nationwide Building Society (I think in the US you might see it as a form of mutual)...I get all the benefits of a bank account, and as long as I stay in credit there are absolutely no charges...(If I went for a credit card rather than a debit card it'd be different of course!).

My previous bankers (Lloyds) encouraged me profligately into debt...by contrast the Nationwide have, over the past ten years or more, rewarded me for prudence...You may draw your own conclusions from that...

All the best

Dave

[Fleetwood Mac]

I believe in money, not bits of plastic. Furthermore, I refuse to insert a card in a machine to get my money. Instead I go into the bank and talk to a human being.

I don't use those bloody supermarket automatic checkouts either. Why should I put someone out of a job?

In full agreement with you, Robert.

Give me a shop and a person to speak with, any day.

[Fleetwood Mac]

Practically speaking, what's the difference between bits of paper (money) and bits of plastic??

Tradition.

[Fleetwood Mac]

Hi Sally

I've a feeling that those checkout helpers will gradually be withdrawn. And of course, once they've got customers serving themselves, the next thing is the shoplifters will have to arrest themselves. What a cheek!

Ha!

Once they've drunk the stolen bottle of vodka they can wander down to see the polis half cut and with a sense of civil conscience.

[Robert]

FM, when I'm shopping I keep hearing "Unexpected item in baggage" - I look round expecting to see that someone's bought a crocodile...

Riv, it never would have occurred to me that a checkout assistant would scrutinise my purchases and draw conclusions therefrom. Amazing. Actually, they do have one rule : you're not allowed to buy more than two packets of paracetamol or aspirin. It's a Government ploy to try to cut down on suicides. No one must leave the Village.

[RivkahChaya]

Wow. Around here, no one cares how much Tylenol/paracetamol you buy, but there's a restriction on pseudoephedrine, because people use it to make meth. There's also an age restriction on anything anyone might s/sniff, or anything anyone was ever rumored to have sniffed. You have to be 18 to be rubber cement or Wite-Out.

[Limehouse]

I believe in money, not bits of plastic. Furthermore, I refuse to insert a card in a machine to get my money. Instead I go into the bank and talk to a human being.

I don't use those bloody supermarket automatic checkouts either. Why should I put someone out of a job?

I agree on all points. I can remember paying my first mortgage in cash at the building society every month. At that time, I was paid weekly in cash and I used to put money for my bills and mortgage in a box with divisions in it! I can't imagine any mortgage lender allowing that these days!

Many is the time I have been waiting in a shop queue and have been directed towards a self service checkout by a member of staff. More often than not, they look at me pityingly, put on a 'I'm dealing with a poor little old dear with a technology phobia' face and say very slowly 'don't worry dear, I'll help you, nothing will go wrong'. I have to muster a great deal of self control in order to respond with something like 'No, I don't use them. They are the route to unemployment for you' - but they never believe me.

[Robert]

It's got to the point now that if you don't have a bank account, you have to pay for the privilege of paying your bills! E.g. those who pay their BT bill by Paypoint get charged about £5 extra each quarter.

[Cogidubnus]

More to the point, BT are now going to charge you for the privilege of sending you a bill...If you don't go for online billing, they're going to charge you for the bill they send out...absolutely bloody outrageous...

Dave

[Robert]

Bad news for anyone without a computer, especially pensioners.

[RivkahChaya]

I have to muster a great deal of self control in order to respond with something like 'No, I don't use them. They are the route to unemployment for you' - but they never believe me.

And if it weren't for the greedy telephone companies, all those poor telegraph operators wouldn't be out of work.

Please. Jobs come and go. "Telephone operator" wasn't a job at all until the 1870s. By the 1930, thousands of women were employed to do this, and it was one of the most common jobs done by women. By the 1970s, a lot of telephone connections were automated, and now it is all electronic, and there are customer service people, but really, no more "operators," per se. That's just one of so many examples.

More to the point, BT are now going to charge you for the privilege of sending you a bill...If you don't go for online billing, they're going to charge you for the bill they send out...absolutely bloody outrageous...

Dave

Not sending out bills to people reduces the amount of paper trash. That's a good thing.

In the US, the postal service has cut costs by moving mail boxes in cities to single locations, instead of delivering to every single residence individually. Most people pass the block of boxes at some point on their way to or from work, but most people don't get critical mail everyday. I don't get any bills in the mail. I get packages, but they either come UPS, or I have to pick them up at the post office, because I have to sign. I get reminders from my vet, and the BMV, once a year, new debit cards every few years, and birthday cards. Most other stuff is junk, so I don't check the mail every day.

I think it's outrageous that my landlord can't run debit cards, and won't take cash. I'm not going to have checks printed for just the landlord. Usually we have a paycheck come soon enough that we can have the bank cut a check, but we need like a 12 day window, so once in a while, we have to go buy a money order.