German Banking System

don't know about the uk but the german banking system is a dream compared to what i experienced in the us ... wire transfers cost a fee of 50 dollars ? seriously even if i want to buy something on ebay ? if you don't like that shit there is of cause money orders to pay for your ebay shit ... which i buy at the post office ( at -1456 degree in january) for cash money and they send to some dude physically who can than redeem it for cash again. ... urgh ...

The dutch banking system is the best system I ever experienced. In the 13 countrys ive been holland is still the n1 spot on the list.

Quote from Warby

don't know about the uk but the german banking system is a dream compared to what i experienced in the us ... wire transfers cost a fee of 50 dollars ? seriously even if i want to buy something on ebay ? if you don't like that shit there is of cause money orders to pay for your ebay shit ... which i buy at the post office ( at -1456 degree in january) for cash money and they send to some dude physically who can than redeem it for cash again. ... urgh ...

Don't they still use cheques and oldschool stuff like that in the US?

About the swedish system: i think it's super convenient but not very safe (like a lot of things in sweden lol). My bank card also is a visa card (technically), except when i buy something its not on credit its what i actualy got on my account. But it's cool for online shopping etc. I can understand Chris' pain with the german system. Back when i lived in germany i used a pre-paid visa card for online shopping or a paypal account. In both cases i first had to transfer money from my bank account to the visa account or the paypal account. And because most of us germans are scared of online banking i actualy went to the bank personaly to do this.

Here in sweden everything is different tho. Online banking is the norm. You only go to the bank personaly if something is very important not for the usual stuff. I only was there twice when i opened the account and when i got my bank card.

I use online banking for everything.

I'm using MasterCard as credit card... I have a credit limit of dollars... So basically I can buy whatever I want up to a certain amount and at the end of the month I get a bill for my credit card which I can pay whenever I want, (with interest of course)... It's pretty cool.

How much interests do you have to pay ? sounds like something i could use

like 18%

Quote from Steppenwolf

About the swedish system: i think it's super convenient but not very safe (like a lot of things in sweden lol). My bank card also is a visa card (technically), except when i buy something its not on credit its what i actualy got on my account. But it's cool for online shopping etc. I can understand Chris' pain with the german system. Back when i lived in germany i used a pre-paid visa card for online shopping or a paypal account. In both cases i first had to transfer money from my bank account to the visa account or the paypal account. And because most of us germans are scared of online banking i actualy went to the bank personaly to do this. Here in sweden everything is different tho. Online banking is the norm. You only go to the bank personaly if something is very important not for the usual stuff. I only was there twice when i opened the account and when i got my bank card.

I was shocked at the lack of secuity when I started to use my debit card in the land of swede. I've never seen anyone ONCE, check the signature on the back of the card with the reciept, and as they dont have chip and pin hardly anywhere here i was thinking someone could have xmas early if they ever managed to steal my card.

I've still got £400 to pay off on my mastercard

Steppe, thats a problem pretty much everywhere in the world. Nobody checks signature. But if you ever lose your card it's your own fault that you lose money if you don't immediately report it.

Quote from robert.briscoe

I've never seen anyone ONCE, check the signature on the back of the card with the reciept, and as they dont have chip and pin hardly anywhere here i was thinking someone could have xmas early if they ever managed to steal my card.

Now that Chip and Pin is the standard here in the UK the signature checking is all but gone now. Hell my card doesnt even have a legible signature on it, cant find a pen that writes decently on it rather than rubbing off. Probably should do that soon, but then again its been fine for 3 years

In France, the only instance I know of using your card without having to type your pin number is when you use an automated machine to pay when you enter or leave a highway. It would slow everybody down, so you just have to get your card it and out. Never do you have to sign the ticket or whatever. I think the system here is pretty safe and not a pain in the ass. It just gives you the options to do things your way.

Like for buying online, I can use my credit card number directly, but I can also log in my bank website and create temporary card datas that'll allow me to buy online without giving my real numbers. It only works once, then you can create another one for your next buy. But if you don't want to bother, you can do it the easy way.

Just to say: it's not because it's a pain in the ass that it's safer, people have been working for ages on ways to make it safer AND more accessible, and it seems to work pretty well around here.

In Portugal It's exactly as it is in France then!

Quote from robert.briscoe

I was shocked at the lack of secuity when I started to use my debit card in the land of swede. I've never seen anyone ONCE, check the signature on the back of the card with the reciept, and as they dont have chip and pin hardly anywhere here i was thinking someone could have xmas early if they ever managed to steal my card.

As i said it's like that with a lot of things. All your personal data, how much money you make etc. is accesible to anyone in the internet. Doors wide open for abuse.

Then they have freaking edges on the floor in doors and in front of downward stairs(!) everywhere. I don't want to know how many people break their legs and necks every years due to this...

I dont know where you live chris, but at the bank where i am, everybody speaks english and could easily understand you.

Paypal works fine to me i can everywhere i want to without going to the bank and transfer the money to paypal.

Also i would rather use a safer than a faster method and to the france and portugal guys: "I dont have to pay when i want to drive on the highway... " (only if you're a 50ton Truck or something like that.)

Getting money is also easy as shit, going to the bank, putting your card into the slot, typing in your pin, selecting the amount of money and getting it.

Couldn't you just take Frie with ya, everytime you want to go to the bank?

Well.. The problem is, they do learn English in school, and that sure is a requirement to be a bank employee but most of the germans who learn english in school just have it on their CV and thats all for the most part. Sadly that is the truth..

You can still use your body language to tell someone something..

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