GRIPES

[red750]

Yes, I use online banking and payment by card all the time, but it bugs me that on so many occasions when I tap the card, a surcharge is added. Order the fish and chips - $39.00, tap the card, $39.50. Buy a lotto ticket, buy a pizza, surcharge added.

 

I don't use a banking app on my phone, and many older people don't have phones that can handle apps. But now, you are being forced to use this technology. Going on public transport? Tap your phone. Buying a coffee? Tap your phone. Granny, 90+, is totally lost. And these apps use up your phone battery and data allowance on your phone.

 

I need another haircut. I'm a cheapskate, I go to a booth in the mall where you pay by cash into a machine which issues a voucher. A buzz cut is $15. The machine does not give change, So you need 1 x $10 and 1 x $5. ATM's don't issue $5 notes. So I need to go to the default bank, Coles or Woolies and get cash out at the checkout. But you have to buy something you may not need just to go through the checkout. You are being manipulated all the time. Customer service is dead.

[old man emu]

7 hours ago, Jerry_Atrick said:

The only thing you can't do online is bank in cash. But, I guess there isn't the demand for it that there was. 

Cash is still used by small retailers. I work at an Op Shop and the majority of our transactions are in cash since most purchases are under $10. We do have EFPOS facilities. We have one bank in town. It is part of that Bendigo Bank system. All the other major banks are 60 kms away in Dubbo. Because my banking is through a credit union in Sydney, I can't exchange my own small change for notes at either the bank or the post office in my town. 

 

The banks going over to all digital is a move for which they have not considered the unintentional consequences, especially as they affect rural communities.

[onetrack]

There's a lot of small businesses asking for cash as a preferred payment system today - and I'm happy to oblige. I also detest the payment surcharges, and when I see a sign saying the business adds a surcharge, I always pay in cash. A local Japanese restaurant actually offers a 5% discount if you pay by cash.

I always have a good amount of cash on hand, one never knows when the electronic transaction system is going to go down for an extended period.

[facthunter]

I'd like to see the Senate CASHLESS. Nev

[Jerry_Atrick]

7 hours ago, onetrack said:

There's a lot of small businesses asking for cash as a preferred payment system today - and I'm happy to oblige. I also detest the payment surcharges, and when I see a sign saying the business adds a surcharge, I always pay in cash. A local Japanese restaurant actually offers a 5% discount if you pay by cash.

I always have a good amount of cash on hand, one never knows when the electronic transaction system is going to go down for an extended period.

There's a Chinese takeaway here that only does cash. No competition in the village, and while they aren't that good, they do a thriving business. However, I feel it has more to do with how much they put through the til rather than the costs of eftpos (they just call it cashless here). There is a farm shop that put in a minimum amount for eftpos transactions - £5; I think. This is illegal under EU law, but as we are no longer in the EU, they can apply it now. And there is a fish and chip shop that prefer to take cash, but will take cards willingly and don't have a minimum fee. 

 

Most banks are getting around the cash thing by contracting the post office to handle it on their behalf as well as provide customer facing services that may still be required. We are also undergoing branch closures and new e-banks are always starting up at the moment., 

 

The UK banking industry is much bigger than Australia's, but on a rate of return basis, Australian big banks are close to the top of the pack for margins and rate of proftibility - especially their retail and commercial francihses (I think thei investment or coorporate/institutional arms  have taken a hit lately, but have to check). 

 

Here, there is no direct charge to the consumer for any transactions on your personal bank accounts. Most small businesses also have no charges, except if they exceed a number of times per month physically depositing or withdrawing cash at a counter (there are electronic versions of the old night night deposit boxes they can use for free - and ATMs owned by the banks are also free at use across the network, only some specialist ATM operators charge).  You could, although I am not sure now, withdraw small amounts from a supermarket or other major retailer without charge and without having to purchase anything, but I think it was voluntary as they had refused me once when their cash draw was looking thin and were worried they couldn't service their customer. 

 

I have been into a branch only a few times this year - once to deposit cash given to me to buy something for my son's birthday; and once to withdraw a significant amount of cash for a scaffolder.. enough said. Mostly, bank transfers pay tradies (even when enough is said). The £30 in my wallet is about 6 weeks old, after dispensing the previous £30 in Chinese takeway.. which I don't get that often as they really aren't that great (in our opinion). 

 

 

 

 

 

[facthunter]

Some are good and some are Not. They are often Quick and convenient IF you are "On the Road" and usually good value. I Never go entirely on a single recommendation as peoples Idea of what a GOOD Chinese  Meal is Varies a lot. Generalising,  I would prefer THAI Food. The More Authentic, the Better. Nev

[red750]

Branches closing, ATM's disappearing. There are shops around with signs "NO CASH - TAP AND GO ONLY".

[facthunter]

The sky will fall in, Chicken Little. COMbank used to have Branches Everywhere. I have that Here, after a strong Wind.  Nev

[red750]

[spacesailor]

Tap&go !.

 Phone outage means it's free .

Unless there is , another way to pay . IOU  . ANYONE .

spacesailor

[old man emu]

What's the bloody use of those minute insects that hide by day and come out at night to swirl around the lights in your house? They don't seem to be a food source for any larger insects.

 

The warm weather brings them out to flit around every illuminated light. If you are working at your computer, they dive-bomb you screen after circling around your head and making forced landings on it. Flyscreens on windows and doors don't keep them out because they are smaller than the holes in the flyscreen mesh.  Then you turn the lights out to go to bed, and they seem to just drop dead. You come out in the morning and have to sweep their carcases from the floor and flat surfaces.

 

 

 

 

[facthunter]

Get one of those electric Blue Zappers. Bats eat insects in large quantities.  Nev

[nomadpete]

1 hour ago, facthunter said:

Bats eat insects in large quantities.  Nev

You still haven't told me where to buy these. (Not Wuhan)

[onetrack]

Pete, there's a Chinese mob coming out with a mozzie zapper design, based on lasers and tracking mozzies - but still in the design stage, though. They're still looking for more money, and the sad part is, they're talking about US$600 for the finished item.

 

I'm still relying on lots of hard-working spiders and their industrious web-spinning. I used to knock down their annoying webs, now I'm getting soft and leaving then and walking around them - realising just how many bugs they do catch!

 

https://newatlas.com/around-the-home/photon-matrix-laser-mosquitoes/

 

Edited yesterday at 02:00 AM by onetrack

[facthunter]

They will colonise suitable Places. IF I find a dead one I soak it with Metho and cremate it. They harbour a lot of diseases.  Nev

[nomadpete]

6 hours ago, facthunter said:

They harbour a lot of diseases.  Nev

Really?

Got any links to peer reviewed studies on this?

[Marty_d]

That horse one in QLD came from bats. Kendra virus? Killed at least one vet, from memory.

[nomadpete]

I think Nev is suggesting that he incinerates spiders because they 'harbour a lot of diseases'.

 

Bats (or birds) are another discussion.

[onetrack]

Bats definitely harbour a large number of diseases that pose a major threat to homo sapiens. The reasons why, are quite interesting.

 

https://www.zsl.org/what-we-do/projects/understanding-bats-and-disease

[old man emu]

It rained here today. I suppose there'll be mozzies by the weekend.

[onetrack]

Do you get Hexham Greys in your neck of the woods? I've heard they're responsible for carrying people off!

 

[nomadpete]

10 hours ago, old man emu said:

It rained here today. I suppose there'll be mozzies by the weekend.

Glass half full, OME?

 

Look on the bright side.... at least mozzies can't get through your window mesh like those other little bugs.

[nomadpete]

11 hours ago, onetrack said:

Bats definitely harbour a large number of diseases that pose a major threat to homo sapiens.

Sure bats are a issue. But at least they don't migrate across the world every year. I worry that avian virus importation from asian wet markets (& labs) is a high risk for major mortality in homo sapiens. My gripe is that DFAT isn't doing enough to stop these undesirable migrants.

[Litespeed]

13 hours ago, onetrack said:

Do you get Hexham Greys in your neck of the woods? I've heard they're responsible for carrying people off!

 

Drove past yesterday, saw a poor bloke on a scooter been lifted away, drained of blood and left like a used condom.

 

Bloody vicious buggers and huge.

[facthunter]

Aeroplanes Carry Virus's fast and Migratory Birds are a risk. It was BAT carcases I was Incinerating. I won't touch one and there's plenty of reasons not to. Same with SICK Migratory Birds.  Nev