Random Rants LXXII - What is wrong with us?

[The_J]

I've tried to get one for that reason (travel), but during my PhD I didnt bother, and right now my bank will not give me one, because I was unemployed n between, and apparently you only get one after 2 years of working.

Makes sense to me, but I really dislike that atm. Especially bc I will change job after my contract ends, sO I'll have the same problem again.
An actual rant ^^

 

[GoodSarmatian]

It's unbearably hot here. Drinking cold beer only brings short term relief and then makes it worse.
No football watching weather. Not at all.

 

[Cutlass]

I've tried to get one for that reason (travel), but during my PhD I didnt bother, and right now my bank will not give me one, because I was unemployed n between, and apparently you only get one after 2 years of working.

Makes sense to me, but I really dislike that atm. Especially bc I will change job after my contract ends, sO I'll have the same problem again.
An actual rant ^^

Here being a student means you qualify to get one. So no employment necessary.

 

[Synobun]

Here being a student means you qualify to get one. So no employment necessary.

Same in Canada if you already have a youth account with the bank. I got a credit card the second I turned 18. No annual fees, 19.99%.

 

[The_J]

There might be a cultural component to this.
In the US and Canada you apparently use your credit cards a lot, more like the Europeans use their debit cards.
So debit card is not a problem, but a credit card is more something special here, because it's less of the norm to have one.
I'm sure if they'd use the same checking and restrictions from here in the US, you'd have riots break out, or something like that.

tl;dr: I think it's culturally seen not the same .

 

[Cutlass]

Same in Canada if you already have a youth account with the bank. I got a credit card the second I turned 18. No annual fees, 19.99%.

You don't need an account with the bank. As a student you'll be flooded with offers from all the national credit card companies. This was true even over 30 years ago when I was in school.

There might be a cultural component to this.
In the US and Canada you apparently use your credit cards a lot, more like the Europeans use their debit cards.
So debit card is not a problem, but a credit card is more something special here, because it's less of the norm to have one.
I'm sure if they'd use the same checking and restrictions from here in the US, you'd have riots break out, or something like that.

tl;dr: I think it's culturally seen not the same .

More that your banks are regulated, and ours are not.

 

[MagisterCultuum]

It is a lot easier to have you identity stolen if you are using Debit cards in the US, and if you accidentally spend more than is in the debit account the bank will charge something like a $40 fine for each additional purchase rather than simply not having the payment go through. A decade or so ago they also had a common practice (which I think is illegal now) of rearranging your purchases so that they can charge more overdraft fees. Charges made days before you depleted your account were listed as 'pending' for several days and then posted with a date after the account was empty.

Credit card companies tend to be much better about reversing disputed charges and helping you get refunds in cases of fraud.

Also, credit cards often give rewards like 1% cash back on all purchases, with 2%, 3%, or 5% percent back in special categories.

 

[Takhisis]

It's unbearably hot here. Drinking cold beer only brings short term relief and then makes it worse.
No football watching weather. Not at all.

This is no excuse. All weather is football-watching weather.

There might be a cultural component to this.
In the US and Canada you apparently use your credit cards a lot, more like the Europeans use their debit cards.

How do Europeans use debit cards? Cutlass has a strong aversion to them.

 

[Cutlass]

This is no excuse. All weather is football-watching weather.

How do Europeans use debit cards? Cutlass has a strong aversion to them.

I have never used a debit card, and I have no intention of ever using one. I can see nothing to be gained from doing so.

 

[Takhisis]

I know that, but I don't know how Europeans are supposed to use them. Possibly they are better regulated in Europe, too?

 

[Synobun]

In the US, you can take any debit card and freely use it without knowing anything about its owner. They don't ask for a PIN code. Most don't have chips either, and the ones that do rarely work.

So, suffice to say, debit is pretty crap in Amerikaland.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

In the US, you can take any debit card and freely use it without knowing anything about its owner. They don't ask for a PIN code. Most don't have chips either, and the ones that do rarely work.

No PIN?

That's insane.

I read an article awhile back that says Canadians are among the most frequent users of debit cards in the world. I've certainly found it handy.

 

[cardgame]

That's heavily exaggerated, but still true. The majority of any places will require a PIN, but at the same time, it's not really difficult to find places that won't ask for the PIN.

 

[Takhisis]

Hjälp! My smother has found a radio station that plays Enya!

 

[Lemon Merchant]

You have an issue with Irish warblers?

 

[Synobun]

That's heavily exaggerated, but still true. The majority of any places will require a PIN, but at the same time, it's not really difficult to find places that won't ask for the PIN.

I dunno, I've never been asked for a PIN in Seattle, Everett, Mount Vernon, Bellingham, and Blaine. All in WA. Costco, convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, attractions.

 

[cardgame]

that's strange, I can't go grocery shopping anywhere without a PIN

 

[Commodore]

Most don't have chips either, and the ones that do rarely work.

This is starting to change. Last year my bank switched to chipped debit cards and at first they made it voluntary as to whether or not people wanted to switch, but then a few months later they just sent everyone new chipped cards with a letter saying you had to use the new card.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

That's heavily exaggerated, but still true. The majority of any places will require a PIN, but at the same time, it's not really difficult to find places that won't ask for the PIN.

How does that even work? My card won't work without me punching the PIN into the debit machine. It doesn't matter where I'm making the purchase - at a department store, a restaurant, the food court in the mall, when the Chinese food or pizza guy delivers my food, or when I pay my rent and electricity. And if I'm at the bank, either making a deposit, withdrawal, or checking on something with my account, I have to use the PIN number... whether using the ATM or talking to a real person.

Hjälp! My smother has found a radio station that plays Enya!

And that's a problem because...?

I got an email from Amazon, reminding me that I hadn't yet used one of the services I get with my Prime membership... the music. So I decided to check it out and found lots of Enya there. That's a good thing, since I recently met someone on another forum who was telling me about a lot of Enya's songs I'd never heard of. So maybe now I can catch up.

 

[Commodore]

How does that even work?

In the US a lot of places will give the option to use your debit card as a debit card or as a credit card. If you choose credit, then the machine usually won't ask you for a PIN.