Re: Radio ShackŪ policy invites Identity Theft

"Roger Halstead" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Wellll...That's a kinda, sorta, maybe, could be thing.
> It's really a matter of scale and no, most companies no longer perfer
> cash.  Small businesses? Yes, but not the larger ones. Cash for
> anything larger than a "mom-and-Pop" operation is an enormous
> inconvenience.  Then you have the risk of making night deposits.  Get
> robbed and it's only your word as to how much was taken. Plus more
> than a few such reported roberies have been faked.  Then again, it's
> unlikely the cash is going to be covered by insurrance without a lot
> of paper work and even then it's only the persons word.
>
> First, any cash transaction with a business or bank of more than
> several hundred dollars is supposed to be reported to the government
> as it's suspicious (money laundering among other little items brought
> that little problem about)
>
> If I travel much, a car, or minivan is far too slow, then it's either
> commercial aviation, or fly my own plane.
> Paying cash for an airline ticket sets off alarms and  is is a really
> good way to gurantee the next clothest thing to a good physical while
> you wait, and wait, and wait...  Now, flying my own 4 passenger plane?
> It does take gas and it doesn't take long of flying into strange
> airports and paying for $200 worth of gas in cash to raise flags.
> Even though a small plane is not capable of carying much in weight
> they have been a thing of suspicion for the unknowing general public.
> Rent a car?  Credit card and drivers license... I know of one guy
> where I used to work who was able to rent without a credit card, but
> he really had to hunt and it took a big security deposit.  the company
> finally told him to use the company credit card or else.
>
> If I were to take a long vacation I certainly  wouldn't want to take
> enough cash to support the whole trip.  All I'd need is to have the
> wrong person see me peel off a 20 to pay for gas, or groceries.
> Certainly a person can be more discrete and use a money belt.  I know
> one guy who always carried over $20,000 to the big fly-in at Oshkosh.
> If he needed cash it was a trip to the Port-O-Pottie where he could
> peel off a couple hundred without being seen.  Had it been me I'd have
> always slept with my pants on.
>
> Yes, my ISP would be willing to take cash as will the corner gas
> station, BUT a single credit card, plus checking account is much
> safer, more secure, and costs me nothing as long as I keep it paid up.
>
> If I were to get robbed and reported some one stold $200 or $300 in
> cash, let alone enough for a trip, the police would probably have me
> as the prime suspect.  If I'm robbed, they get $20 and my credit card
> it only causes me an inconvenience and maybe $50.  However if
> purchases sho up that are not typical of my purchasing habbits the
> phone will be ringing by the time I get home to question the purchase.
> I know that for sure as it's happened.
>
> Yes a person can get by using cash only, but not most of society could
> not and maintain their standard of living.  It takes 5 minutes to pay
> the monthly bills.  Some are automatically taken out of my pension
> check at the bank.  If I did everything in cash it'd take me most of a
> day and probably 50 to 75 miles of driving.  Cash only for me and most
> of the people I know would be a severe inconvenience and take a lot of
> time out of already busy lives.
>
> You'll have to fix the return add due to dumb virus checkers, not spam
> Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
> (N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair?)
> www.rogerhalstead.com

This is like comparing apples to oranges. CASH is accepted anywhere - for
the most part. As to your argument, large corporations not preferring cash,
I disagree. I don't see signs on the bigger stores like Wal-Mart telling you
"Sorry, we accept credit cards, debit cards and checks only. No cash
please." When that day comes, we're all in trouble. For a transaction or
two, it isn't bad depending on amount - to carry cash. IF the transactions
are for large amounts - big or many purchases such as Christmas shopping or
a vacation, then you'd have to be a fool to carry large amounts of cash - it
just isn't safe. So then a Debit or Credit Card would be a safer option.
And, yes, using plastic or the numbers from that plastic, is a convenience
for paying monthly bills or other debts. It is a way of life - a necessary
evil. Paying monthly bills in cash COULD be done if the setting is right.
But it would be an inconvenience to carry all the cash for security. There
are places at least around here, where you can go to pay the phone,
electric, gas, water bill all in one location - the majority of the
necessary evils - not the luxuries of "credit". It is more a convenience to
those who aren't lucky enough to have a bank account. Why don't they have
one? With some banks, they require more than some people can keep in it for
a minimum balance, thus get hit with service charges which then eats more of
their income. Others prefer no accounts due to not trusting banks. Still
others aren't adept at keeping an account for whatever reasons. You can't
force everyone to open or keep a bank account or credit card active. So,
CASH will ALWAYS be accepted.
Credit is a wonderful thing, but sadly, many don't have it - either because
they don't trust it, not enough income for it or they ruined it and were
forced back into a cash only status. CASH supports these folks. This is
leaning to the argument of 666. If you don't have the mark (or number) you
don't get service or goods. While the number may not have to be 666, it is
coming down to in your example, if you don't have plastic, you plain can't
exist. That is baloney. I'm not a really religious person, so I don't know
if the day of the "mark of 666" will ever come. IF it does, we're all in
deep dodo. Maybe in your example, we are leaning towards that goal. I
certainly hope not. It sure would make life inconvenient for a hell of a lot
of people. G.W.