5 ms·

It's a weird thing in the US where you still can't just go online and send money to any recipient. When I rented a flat, I thought I'd just directly send money

It's a weird thing in the US where you still can't just go online and send money to any recipient. When I rented a flat, I thought I'd just directly send money to my landlord. Nope, not possible. Not at all. Had to fill out checks. The only other option was to set up an automatic payment at my bank that would automatically send the landlord checks. Another thing is that in order to get paid, I actually had to sign a permission to allow my employer to transfer money to my account with direct deposit. This means that there are means to transfer money without checks, but this option is somehow not readily available to anyone and the recipient has to sign a permission to allow it. Seriously, why do I have to sign a permission for someone to send me money? I was absolutely baffled. In some ways, visiting the US felt like traveling back in time to 1980.

shakna 10y ago
That seems utterly insane. I don't think I've had a rental where automatic debiting of my bank account didn't occur. I've also only ever used checks for bond, sent to the Bond Board. Never for a damn thing else. They aren't even accepted in most places. My employer pays directly into my bank account, no permission required.
qaq 10y ago
It highly depends on your choice of a bank I have regular citibank account and can send wire transfers online I also have a small credit union account and again can send wire transfers online. So you are trying to generalize personal experience to imply some universal limitations.
- mschuetz 10y ago
  Had Wells Fargo which seems to be one of the biggest banks. And not just that, I've also got the stuff about online transfers confirmed by locals who also told me that the only exception that you can count on is when sender and recipient are at the same bank.
- Veratyr 10y ago
  The US does have wire transfers but they nearly always cost $15-$20 from what I've seen, which is silly. Aside from that all you have is ACH, which is what's being complained about. Most of the developed world has essentially free wire transfers.
  - qaq 10y ago
    To be honest doesn't really matter much how banks structure their fees. It's just a way for them to spread the ops costs.
    - mschuetz 10y ago
      Banks in europa do just fine without charging for wire transfer, within europa at least, and I still don't have to pay anything for my bank account. Except for a small fee for the credit card.

shakna 10y ago

That seems utterly insane. I don't think I've had a rental where automatic debiting of my bank account didn't occur. I've also only ever used checks for bond, sent to the Bond Board. Never for a damn thing else. They aren't even accepted in most places. My employer pays directly into my bank account, no permission required.

qaq 10y ago

It highly depends on your choice of a bank I have regular citibank account and can send wire transfers online I also have a small credit union account and again can send wire transfers online. So you are trying to generalize personal experience to imply some universal limitations.

mschuetz 10y ago
Had Wells Fargo which seems to be one of the biggest banks. And not just that, I've also got the stuff about online transfers confirmed by locals who also told me that the only exception that you can count on is when sender and recipient are at the same bank.
Veratyr 10y ago
The US does have wire transfers but they nearly always cost $15-$20 from what I've seen, which is silly. Aside from that all you have is ACH, which is what's being complained about. Most of the developed world has essentially free wire transfers.
- qaq 10y ago
  To be honest doesn't really matter much how banks structure their fees. It's just a way for them to spread the ops costs.
  - mschuetz 10y ago
    Banks in europa do just fine without charging for wire transfer, within europa at least, and I still don't have to pay anything for my bank account. Except for a small fee for the credit card.