I had my first-ever in-the-wild RfV sighting today! I've worn my shirt to school, but have never seen anyone else.

As I was driving to school, I pulled up behind a car at a stoplight and lo and behold, the bumper sticker! I got all fangirl squealy and bouncy, and had to resist the urge to honk my horn at them, as that would only annoy and confuse them.

They had a W&M parking pass hanging from their mirror, so I hoped they might be headed to the same lot I was so that I might compliment them, or at least leave a note under their wiper. But alas, it was not to be, as they turned a block later while I went straight.

But then, as I was crossing another parking lot en route to my building, the car reappeared! It cruised through the lot, found it full, and left. I would have had to full-out run to catch up to it, and I was not yet reduced to that level. Plus, I was carrying an open umbrella and a mug of hot liquid, so I couldn't really run very well.

But to whoever has VA license plate JITRBUG (personalized plates are a plague in this state), know that you made someone squeal and bounce and be very happy today. :)

As sad as it seems, I would do the same thing if I saw someone walking/driving around with Goats parphernalia.

I would really like to purchase some goats shirts but for me, online shopping has a stigma attached to it.

In Response to GeminiCrash (#21094):

The stigma of convenience and selection? Yeah, that does suck.

In Response to GeminiCrash (#21094):

If it's a matter of security, most reputable online retailers are safer to give your credit card number to than most restaurant staff.

In Response to Clan_Hanna (#21106):

Even if I had a credit card, I'm one of those people that was taught early on the evils that those little pieces of plastic harbor. Sure, if you keep up with your payments and don't buy things that you can't afford you should be alright...but I'm so easily tempted.

In Response to GeminiCrash (#21108):

I use my cards like my checkbook. If there's cash in the checkbook which I can use after bills are paid then I'll buy something using the credit card. I'm one who pays my balances off though because I don't want more bills coming in.

In Response to GeminiCrash (#21108):

a) Debit cards and Paypal. 'Nuff said.

b) There is something to be said for establishing a good credit history, so that later when you try to get a car loan or mortgage or some other necessary evil of debt, you'll actually get it. Having no credit history can be nearly as bad as having a not-so-good one.

In Response to porcupine8 (#21135):

Just for argument's sake, There's hardly anywhere here that even offers debit cards. Debit cards sound really really good (although probably grass is greener type good) but they're either simply not available, or about to be taken off the market due to dodgy fee dealings.

We love you suncorp-metway!

In Response to unFalln (#21139):

I think debit cards are roughly the same as EFTPOS.

In Response to snipergirl (#21142):

Not the visa debit cards, from what I've seen. I thought they worked just the same as a credit card, only you had to put money into it before you use it. Cuts down on eftpos transaction fees and can be used anywhere a visa credit card can.

Maybe I have a future standing in the middle of shopping centres roping in unsuspecting passers-by into signing something they don't want to.

In Response to unFalln (#21143):

The way debit cards usually work over here is this.

You get a bank account. You put money into it.

You then are issued an ATM card. That ATM card can then be used as a debit card, by entering in a PIN number at the point of sale. This incurs fees in the same manner as a regular ATM transaction - which can be imposed by both your bank and the point of sale. So I can get charged $foo by my bank for each ATM transaction, as well as $bar by whoever originates that transaction. That leaves me nicely foobared. The money for all of this is nicely automatically withdrawn from my bank account.

On the other hand, my ATM card might *also* be a check card. That means that I can use it as a credit card, and it only incurs the normal fees of using a credit card - usually completely born by the merchant not the user. The money for this transaction is also automtically withdrawn from my bank account.

I can also attach a savings account and get "overdraft protection", the equivalent of a secured line of credit.

How this relates to EFTPOS, I'll leave to those of you who know anything about EFTPOS other than how to spell it.

In Response to porcupine8 (#21135):

Ok, good to know that I can use my visa check card on here...I guess I'm still getting used to the fact that I can use my card just about anywhere without having to sacrifice any of my money to appease the bank gods.

In Response to zamphir (#21144):

Righteo then, this is me being wrong.

eftpos is basically withdrawing money from your savings account from one of those card taking things at all your favourite supermarkets, fuel stations and merchandising places. apply fees as desired.

In Response to unFalln (#21149):

Yep, only these are usually attached to your checking account rather than savings account. Mine has absolutely no fees whatsoever, although maybe it's technically a check card rather than a debit card... I always thought they were two names for the same thing. Anymore, you have to be pretty adamant to NOT be issued a debit card. My boyfriend doesn't want one, just a normal ATM card, and he has to keep reminding them not to send him one.

Although now, for some reason, they're trying to get me to use it like a credit card rather than a debit card... Well, I do this sometimes anyhow at places that don't have PIN pads for debit cards, but now I get "points" when I sign for things instead of using my PIN. It all looks exactly the same on my end - I don't get charged any fees or finance charges or anything either way, it just comes out of my checking account. I've been doing it some, just b/c free gift certificates are always nice, but I do have to wonder what advantage this has for either my bank or Visa.

In Response to GeminiCrash (#21145):

Yes, just think of it as a Visa card - doesn't matter whether it says debit or credit or check on it, anywhere that takes Visa it's good.

In Response to porcupine8 (#21157):

I always thought [cheque and debit card] were two names for the same thing.

Over here, a cheque card has a number on it, the store writes it on the back of a cheque and the bank will pay the cheque (up to some limit) even if you have no money. A debit card you swipe through a machine, and the money comes straight out of your account. Normally, the card that comes with your bank account is both (and an ATM card as well).

I do have to wonder what advantage this has for either my bank or Visa.

Visa charges a fee for anyone who takes these cards. Typically over here it's between 2% and 5% of each transaction. Bigger places probably get better rates.

Your bank gets low processing costs - your money is deducted by computer, and they don't even look at it unless there's some problem. Whereas a cheque costs them time to input into the system, and those bits of paper need to get moved round the country, stored, etc.

Cheers,
Graham

In Response to albionsoft (#21172):

I have a card that's linked to my checking account, when I use it, it's like writing a check (I'm sure we've all seen the commericals, well most of us at least); but I can also use it at an ATM and don't incur fees unless it's at an ATM that isn't in connection with my bank.

In Response to albionsoft (#21172):

Visa charges a fee for anyone who takes these cards. Typically over here it's between 2% and 5% of each transaction. Bigger places probably get better rates.

But they charge that whether I use the PIN pad or sign for it - I'm wondering what extra they get when I sign for it, that they're willing to give me stuff if I sign rather than use the PIN pad.

And I just realized that my card actually says both "Check Card" and "DEBIT" on it... I don't know of any card here that involves using both a card and a physical written check, and anyone writing anything on the check. It's one or the other (check or card). It sounds like your cheque card is like a credit line on your checking account - is there interest charged? I used to have a checking account that had a $300 credit line attached to it, so if I had an overdraft I didn't get a fee but did get a finance charge.

It's quite interesting to learn about all the ways to be parted with one's money all over the world. :)

In Response to porcupine8 (#21191):

I have no idea why Visa would want you to sign rather than use a PIN. Over here, they're about to stop us all signing for anything - every card will have a PIN, and we will have to use it or the card won't be accepted.

My bank card is a Visa debit card, an ATM card, and a cheque guarantee card. The shop writes down the number (16 digits) the expiry date and the limit (£100) on the back of any cheque I write, and the bank will pay it, even if I haven't got the funds. If I don't have the funds, they'd then charge me a whopping great fee - £25 or so, I think...

Cheers,
GRaham

In Response to albionsoft (#21192):

Okay, so "cheque guarantee" is essentially a letter of mark, done in plastic. We use driver's licenses for that, basically.

It's weird that you all are moving to using a PIN for everything, where we are moving to using a PIN for nothing and signing for everything.

I suspect it's due to a twisty little maze of legislation, all different.

In Response to zamphir (#21196):

It's weird that you all are moving to using a PIN for everything, where we are moving to using a PIN for nothing and signing for everything.

The justification we're given is that PINs are more secure. No idea why - presumably because no one bothers checking signatures.

Interesting that the rest of the world is doing the opposite.

Cheers,
Graham

In Response to albionsoft (#21198):

Interesting that the rest of the world is doing the opposite.

At least y'all are consistent.

By the way... it wasn't ME who just equated "America" with "the rest of the world".

In Response to zamphir (#21201):

it wasn't ME who just equated "America" with "the rest of the world".

For some reason I thought there was an Australian involved in this bit of the thread. My mistake.

Cheers,
Graham

In Response to albionsoft (#21202):

For some reason I thought there was an Australian involved in this bit of the thread. My mistake.

Not the bit about signing versus PIN, no.

There were two. But then one was wrong. And the other was too busy making out with guys to keep up.

Odd habit for a lesbian, that.

In Response to zamphir (#21203):

Then as the only sober one left over, I'll buy in. Here, we're moving towards PINs for everything too, but at a rate so glacial it may as well be nonexistent. I have some theories about this, but they're not very interesting.

In Response to tynic (#21205):

the only sober one
What, did Australia run out?