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Don't confuse the check wielding Americans for the "west", for example Sweden/Norway/Finland has similar systems named Swish/Vipps/MobilePay (Phone number based

Don't confuse the check wielding Americans for the "west", for example Sweden/Norway/Finland has similar systems named Swish/Vipps/MobilePay (Phone number based with scannable QR codes,etc) that's taken over between people and smaller merchants (even young people organizing raves use Swish payments on-site despite it being potentially traceable) and the banks/companies involved in those services are now in the process of building cross-national support that probably will let other countries join soon. I think the main takeaway is that phones and capable app ecosystems was a "hidden" disruption enabler vis-a-vis the traditional credit card processing companies that various actors in various countries has taken advantage of now, the big question is if/when they will make this internationally interoperable (considering the trouble foreigners in Sweden has with being excluded from these "easy" payments that at best requires a card or at worst cash it's an area that needs fixing).

chillbill 3y ago
Oh swish is traceable and actively monitored. A few college friends of mine were organizing a party and they all chipped in a 100 kr to one guy (about 25 individuals) who got a call the next day from his bank for suspicious activity.
- whizzter 3y ago
  Interesting to hear, I've heard of Swish has been a bit on edge trying to upsell people on merchant accounts and I wouldn't be surprised if some of these reports go to the tax office. Still for those involved they wouldn't probably care too much as long as there isn't real-time reporting to the police to get events shut down (although with laxer laws in that area that'll probably fade as an concern).
sureglymop 3y ago
There is a similar thing in Switzerland called "Twint".
dotnet00 3y ago
"Check wielding Americans"? Haven't needed my checkbook in many years now, almost everywhere has tap-to-pay and the rare place which doesn't has a chip reader.
- EVa5I7bHFq9mnYK 3y ago
  But what if a company, for example, a utility, owes you money? This is still done exclusively via checks.

chillbill 3y ago

Oh swish is traceable and actively monitored. A few college friends of mine were organizing a party and they all chipped in a 100 kr to one guy (about 25 individuals) who got a call the next day from his bank for suspicious activity.

whizzter 3y ago
Interesting to hear, I've heard of Swish has been a bit on edge trying to upsell people on merchant accounts and I wouldn't be surprised if some of these reports go to the tax office. Still for those involved they wouldn't probably care too much as long as there isn't real-time reporting to the police to get events shut down (although with laxer laws in that area that'll probably fade as an concern).

sureglymop 3y ago

There is a similar thing in Switzerland called "Twint".

dotnet00 3y ago

"Check wielding Americans"? Haven't needed my checkbook in many years now, almost everywhere has tap-to-pay and the rare place which doesn't has a chip reader.

EVa5I7bHFq9mnYK 3y ago
But what if a company, for example, a utility, owes you money? This is still done exclusively via checks.