Text 14353, 118 rader
Skriven 2008-04-22 10:23:41 av Roy Witt (1:397/22)
  Kommentar till text 14307 av Robert Bashe (2:2448/44)
Ärende: Property prices
=======================
21 Apr 08 20:06, Robert Bashe wrote to Roy Witt:

 RB> Roy Witt wrote to Robert Bashe on Monday April 21 2008 at 09:15:

 RB>>> The alternative is to give the registration authorities an
 RB>>> "Einzugsermaechtigung" (billing right) to your bank account, and
 RB>>> then they will automatically withdraw the proper fee every year
 RB>>> without you having to even think of the due date. Since the law
 RB>>> here also allows you to reverse any such withdrawal within 6 weeks
 RB>>> without even stating a reason, there is also no possibility of
 RB>>> misuse (assuming you pay some attention to your bank account
 RB>>> statements).

 RW>> We also have that service, not just for vehicle registrations, but
 RW>> for bill paying as well. I don't like giving banking information to
 RW>> anyone to draw from my accounts. Too much online fraud going on
 RW>> today.

 RB> Note what I wrote about reversing the debits. This is what makes the
 RB> system safe here. If there is no such law in the States, and I don't
 RB> think there is, I also wouldn't be interested.

I don't know that there's a similar law or not. I really don't have to
worry about it, as my banking institution makes the rules under the guise
of the law. I can reverse payments as well. What I find interesting is
that someone tried to scam $1.35 from my account and the bank shut down
all activity the instant they came across it.

 RW>> I'd prefer to use my credit cards or paper checks if they don't like
 RW>> the plastic. I definately wouldn't be interested in electronic bank
 RW>> transfers.

 RB> Because you're not used to them. Once you are, you'll never want to
 RB> write another check.

On the contrary, I use plastic in my daily life. I prefer it to carrying
cash or writing a check. With that said, I still prefer to pay bills by
check.

 RB> In fact, I only use checks for people I don't like and want to cause
 RB> trouble... although checks exist in Germany, they aren't used much
 RB> and a direct account transfer must legally be credited to the
 RB> recipient's account within three business days of being made.

What I find wrong with that is; what if you had a monetary setback and you
needed to use that money for an emergency. Say you use enough to nearly
wipe out your balance. Then along comes that instant transfer and you're
now paying fees for not having the money to transfer.

 RB> Very simple and convenient, as well as cheap (most banks now charge
 RB> nothing for transfers made via the Internet).

Right. When that $1.35 appeared on my account, all internet transactions
were shut down. My plastic was no longer any good. The only way to get
cash was to make a visit to the bank. They issued another plastic card,
but it didn't arrive until 5 days later.

 RB> Cashing a check, on the other hand, is a real hassle and you have to
 RB> wait longer for your money.

Uh huh.

 RB> As for Internet transfers, the systems here are much more secure than
 RB> those in the States. You need an ID number and password to access the
 RB> account, same as in the US, but that only allows you to view balances
 RB> and transactions, not to actually do any banking. For that, you
 RB> require transaction codes generated for each transaction and either
 RB> transmitted to you by SMS, calculated by you on a little device that
 RB> looks like a pocket calculator, or a _specifically_ numbered code
 RB> from a list sent to your mailing address by registered mail.

You still have to enter those codes online. Security isn't in the number
of codes you have to remember and enter. It helps, but it sounds like one
big hassle to me.

 RB> Or, in Germany, you can also Internet bank using HBCI (Home Banking
 RB> Computer Interface) - an English name but a German system - which
 RB> operates using public and private passwords to "public key" encrypt
 RB> the transmissions to and from your bank. You need either a key disk
 RB> with the file containing the public key or a card reader for the same
 RB> data, and have to enter your secret key before you can access the
 RB> bank. Very secure system, very convenient - but unfortunately also
 RB> expensive for the banks and too complex for computer laypersons, so
 RB> it's not in universal use.

Sounds like it's much better than the former, though.

 RW>> I use a Credit Union for banking, as the percentage of return is
 RW>> higher than any bank. It is modern enough to offer bill paying
 RW>> online, which I did for a while. It became such a hassle that I
 RW>> stopped that and bought blank checks and print them here, using
 RW>> software that keeps track of them.

 RB> What was the hassle?

They required 5 debit accounts to be paid. I don't have that many. So,
they charged a fee of $5 for the service. I stopped using it and months
later while perusing my statement, noticed that they were still charging
me $5 for something I wasn't using. I stopped that right away by canceling
the service.

 RW>> I'm as advanced as the next guy with the latest technology, but I
 RW>> prefer to do the bill paying in person.

 RB> I would too, but most of the people I owe money to don't live within
 RB> walking distance.

That's why they make automobiles. :o)  I deliver the utility payment to
the utility company and mail the rest while I'm out. The utility company
and the post office are on the same route as the tax office. I usually
pass that way almost everyday.

                R\%/itt



--- Twit(t) Filter v2.1 (C) 2000
 * Origin: SATX Alamo Area Net * South * Texas, USA * (1:397/22)