4 ms·

>Cash isn't great, but some people don't use online banking This is the US version of the events. I don't know all EU member states in detail, but I can't thin

by xxs 3y ago

>Cash isn't great, but some people don't use online banking This is the US version of the events. I don't know all EU member states in detail, but I can't think of one where it's possible to receive salary/pension in cash. Cheques have not been a thing for 20y+, I wonder if they are still issued.

Y_Y 3y ago
In Ireland, for example, it is possible (and popular) to receive state pensions in cash.
- xxs 3y ago
  Point taken. Wouldn't that make elderly people an easier target for assaults?
  - ttrrooppeerr 3y ago
    If you have a criminal mindset, yes. Otherwise, let them be and be happy.
  - declan_roberts 3y ago
    Probably harder to steal their cash than for a hacker to phish their bank accounts.
    - xxs 3y ago
      totally different set of criminals, also bank accounts are generally much, much harder to take over. The money is easy to track, and it can be reimbursed.
rootusrootus 3y ago
> This is the US version of the events. By far the most common method of receiving income from an employer in the US is direct deposit. For people who refuse, the fallback position is typically a card (essentially a refillable gift card). Checks still do exist, but primarily for one-off payments where the payer and payee don't have much of a relationship.
- xen2xen1 3y ago
  I know of a surprising number of small businesses in the Midwest that pay by check. Still, today, post Covid 2023. Weirds me out.
- porkbeer 3y ago
  You can demand payment by check. I dont want some random card or account and i am not required to have one.
- xxs 3y ago
  I meant "some people don't use online banking"
reaperducer 3y ago
This is the US version of the events. It's always interesting to watch any EU-specific topic come up on HN and see people on one end of the EU assume that their lives, local laws, and customs are exactly the same as the lives, local laws, and customs on the other end of the EU. And then when a deviation comes up, they assume it's an American thing. It seems like people in the EU should explore their neighboring countries more. Or at least stop assuming that the EU is one homogenous society modeled after their own personal experiences.
- xxs 3y ago
  Like mentioned I have not seen any cheques in use for 20 or so years. I have not seen 'personal' cheque books since the Euro has been introduced. >Or at least stop assuming that the EU is one homogenous society modeled after their own personal experiences. How was the assuming - "I don't know all EU member states in detail". I have lived (as in years) in several EU member states. Visited (travel) across most of them too.
  - reaperducer 3y ago
    Thank you for proving my point. My wife, currently in southern France, was given a check last week, and tells me she's glad that she brought cash with her. As I stated, your experiences are not the only experiences. And again, you just assumed that any deviation from your expectations makes it an American aberration. This is simply not true, and speaks to your limited experience and biases.
pjc50 3y ago
There are still unbanked citizens in all EU countries, although admittedly not very many of them. The UK has an "exceptions service" via the post office for taking your pension as cash. https://www.postoffice.co.uk/payment-exception-service https://www.postoffice.co.uk/payment-exception-service
ilyt 3y ago
>Cheques have not been a thing for 20y+, I wonder if they are still issued. At least here in Poland there were only theoretical option ( I have not seen one in person once for 20+ years), and removed few years back

by xxs 3y ago

Y_Y 3y ago

In Ireland, for example, it is possible (and popular) to receive state pensions in cash.

xxs 3y ago
Point taken. Wouldn't that make elderly people an easier target for assaults?
- ttrrooppeerr 3y ago
  If you have a criminal mindset, yes. Otherwise, let them be and be happy.
- declan_roberts 3y ago
  Probably harder to steal their cash than for a hacker to phish their bank accounts.
  - xxs 3y ago
    totally different set of criminals, also bank accounts are generally much, much harder to take over. The money is easy to track, and it can be reimbursed.

rootusrootus 3y ago

> This is the US version of the events. By far the most common method of receiving income from an employer in the US is direct deposit. For people who refuse, the fallback position is typically a card (essentially a refillable gift card). Checks still do exist, but primarily for one-off payments where the payer and payee don't have much of a relationship.

xen2xen1 3y ago
I know of a surprising number of small businesses in the Midwest that pay by check. Still, today, post Covid 2023. Weirds me out.
porkbeer 3y ago
You can demand payment by check. I dont want some random card or account and i am not required to have one.
xxs 3y ago
I meant "some people don't use online banking"

reaperducer 3y ago

This is the US version of the events. It's always interesting to watch any EU-specific topic come up on HN and see people on one end of the EU assume that their lives, local laws, and customs are exactly the same as the lives, local laws, and customs on the other end of the EU. And then when a deviation comes up, they assume it's an American thing. It seems like people in the EU should explore their neighboring countries more. Or at least stop assuming that the EU is one homogenous society modeled after their own personal experiences.

xxs 3y ago
Like mentioned I have not seen any cheques in use for 20 or so years. I have not seen 'personal' cheque books since the Euro has been introduced. >Or at least stop assuming that the EU is one homogenous society modeled after their own personal experiences. How was the assuming - "I don't know all EU member states in detail". I have lived (as in years) in several EU member states. Visited (travel) across most of them too.
- reaperducer 3y ago
  Thank you for proving my point. My wife, currently in southern France, was given a check last week, and tells me she's glad that she brought cash with her. As I stated, your experiences are not the only experiences. And again, you just assumed that any deviation from your expectations makes it an American aberration. This is simply not true, and speaks to your limited experience and biases.

pjc50 3y ago

There are still unbanked citizens in all EU countries, although admittedly not very many of them. The UK has an "exceptions service" via the post office for taking your pension as cash. https://www.postoffice.co.uk/payment-exception-service https://www.postoffice.co.uk/payment-exception-service

ilyt 3y ago

>Cheques have not been a thing for 20y+, I wonder if they are still issued. At least here in Poland there were only theoretical option ( I have not seen one in person once for 20+ years), and removed few years back