weirdami wrote:
@all
So, why so much to cash checks? And why are they an anachronism? I know (heard on TV) that in Japan, they carry loads of cash around, so is that the case with your guys' countries? Or, is the anachronism bit about you using credit cards for everything and cash is only used for vending machines (blue tooth coke machines not withstanding)?
Are European banks so strapped for cash that they gotta charge high fees for everything? (I actually wouldn't be surprised, what with socialism and taxes and the fairy tales I've heard about the multi-month paid vacations required by law.)
No, european banks are certainly not so cash strapped they have to gouge their customers. They just really like to do it whenever and wherever they can
Fact is that (atleast in Sweden where I'm from) checks are very rarely used. Creditcards and ATM card are used for almost everything and direct bank transfers are used for paying bills.
Frankly I didn't even know how to sign a check before I came over to the US a few years ago.
Since there's no great demand for checks the banks can charge a lot for them, partly to cover the increased cost of processing the low volume of checks and partly because they like to gouge their customers whenever they can.
Socialism doesn't enter into it.
