I usually ring up about 2-3 check transactions a day, and to be fair it's not always a problem. My problem is when there's a huge line and the person pulls out a check for a purchase that is like 1200 bucks and gets angry with me because it takes a few minutes to process the check. AND they want to be difficult about giving you phone numbers and crap.
Look, a check is basically the only form of payment where we don't get the money before you leave with the items. It's basically you giving us a sheet of paper to say, "Hey, I'll take these items now, but I'll TOTALLY pay you for them later." And for most people it works fine, but we get enough fraud and people who won't pay that we have to check your information out. Yes we need two phone numbers. Yes we need your I.D. Don't get mad at me because it takes a while to verify your information so we can send the check through.
And I know from trying to get in touch with the people who DO pay with bad checks that if we don't do all that stuff it's tough to get the money back.
If you hate checks, work at Fry's. Their check approval system is designed to make anyone who pays with a check so furious that they will either never shop there again or bring some other form of payment the next time.
I'm talking about calling your bank to make sure the funds are in your account, requiring 3 fucking supervisors to sign off on it when it's a damn miracle to get ahold of one of them, and a whole bunch of other shit I don't even want to remember.
cr0w on
0
KakodaimonosCode fondlerHelping the 1% get richerRegistered Userregular
edited February 2008
So, I work as an IT/programmer guy for a private trading firm. It's interesting work and it's a small company so we don't have much of the procedural bullshit that you have to deal with at large companies. But we're located in one of the trading exchanges, so our building has lots of floor traders and runners (the guys who take the orders from the phones to the traders in the pits).
Oh my god, the bathrooms are the most foul and disgusting bathrooms I've ever seen. You've got about a 1/3 chance of going into a stall that wasn't flushed. There's usually newspapers or crap thrown in the toilets and there's the odd can of red bull sitting in the urinal. And every so often you'll see the guys going into the bathroom with their lunch.
And my fav story has to be the "crack is crazy good" story that one of my coworkers told us.
He was coming back from lunch and riding the escalator up to our floor and was behind a couple of floor runners.
Runner1: So, what'd you do this weekend.
Runner2: Ah, shit. You know, went to a party, got effed up and smoked a bunch of weed and had some coke.
Runner1: Yeah, I like coke, it's awesome.
Runner2: You know what's great? Crack, man. It's crazy good shit.
Runner1: I hear ya man, but I don't know about trying it.
Runner2: Yeah, if you're interested in it, I know a guy.
Yeah. And then there was the time I'm sitting in the stall doing my business and I hear the from the next stall. "No man, that's not how you split 5 ounces three ways."
Kakodaimonos on
0
ShadowfireVermont, in the middle of nowhereRegistered Userregular
edited February 2008
We had a lady yesterday that comes in constantly with checks that have only her name on them. No address, no phone number, and these two things are required on checks that we take. This lady threw a fit when the cashier asked for her address and phone number... I mean, totally flew off the handle.
I don't know if she's going to shop with us anymore, but I was as nice as I could be while essentially saying "if we don't have your address on the check, you will not have groceries in your car." -shrug-
I mean, I guess like above, I don't mind checks so much if you're smart about writing them quickly while the cashier and bagger are still working on your order, and you don't pitch a fit about the information required to take the check in the first place. If either of these things are off, however, you're a cock, and need a fucking debit card.
That's why I like Wal-Mart's new system that we have had since last year... except for very few checks, we take the check and place it in our machine, have it read the check and we automatically debit the person's account for the amount of the transaction from reading the account and routing numbers. We then give the check back and have the person sign a small reciept stating that they know they will be fined if the transaction bounces and what the procedure that just occurred actually entails. Unless they are paying on their credit card in the store with a check, it's as easy as pie.
I've seen Kung Pow categorized under Action at my local video store.
I kind of lost faith right there.
Pffft. I've seen the HBO Spawn cartoon filed under "Children's." Had a "Children's" Sticker on the front right next to the "Absolultely not for kids" blurb.
I've seen Kung Pow categorized under Action at my local video store.
I kind of lost faith right there.
Pffft. I've seen the HBO Spawn cartoon filed under "Children's." Had a "Children's" Sticker on the front right next to the "Absolultely not for kids" blurb.
At Hollywood Video, we had La Blue Girl filed under anime (when there used to be an anime section). It was actually pulled pretty quickly though and kept under the counter, not to be rented. When we started killing the VHS section, one of the shift leads took it home.
For those who don't know, this is just one partial line of the wikipedia entry for it: "features a large amount of tentacle rape."
Aren't they a lot more common in Canada? When I go to the states, I always see prepaid credit cards and normal credit cards, but never debit cards. Maybe I'm totally blind.
Aren't they a lot more common in Canada? When I go to the states, I always see prepaid credit cards and normal credit cards, but never debit cards. Maybe I'm totally blind.
Debit cards are the same as credit cards a lot of the time. Many are endorsed by Visa/Mastercard and can be used for either credit or debit.
By the sounds of it they are easy to nick and get money out of which means they don't have PIN numbers attached to them?
They have PIN numbers you have to input. Some places, like fast food restaurants, don't require that though.
All US Debit cards can be run as credit which is apparently untrue in Canada-land. As such you steal the card then just sign for the purchases. Very few people check the signature, especially at places with electronic pads.
Hell, I had a card unsigned for about two years and it never was an issue. :roll:
Aren't they a lot more common in Canada? When I go to the states, I always see prepaid credit cards and normal credit cards, but never debit cards. Maybe I'm totally blind.
Debit cards are the same as credit cards a lot of the time. Many are endorsed by Visa/Mastercard and can be used for either credit or debit.
Those things are only quite new in Australia.
Also, fuck people who get angry when they call out outside of our business hours and no one answers.
By the sounds of it they are easy to nick and get money out of which means they don't have PIN numbers attached to them?
They have PIN numbers you have to input. Some places, like fast food restaurants, don't require that though.
All US Debit cards can be run as credit which is apparently untrue in Canada-land. As such you steal the card then just sign for the purchases. Very few people check the signature, especially at places with electronic pads.
Hell, I had a card unsigned for about two years and it never was an issue. :roll:
Here in Spain you have to show your ID card, passport or driver's license with the credit or debit card everywhere AND sign.
We're all used to flicking our IDs to pay, cop-like. You're supposed to check the matching name and the picture. Most people do.
Aren't they a lot more common in Canada? When I go to the states, I always see prepaid credit cards and normal credit cards, but never debit cards. Maybe I'm totally blind.
Debit cards are the same as credit cards a lot of the time. Many are endorsed by Visa/Mastercard and can be used for either credit or debit.
Those things are only quite new in Australia.
Also, fuck people who get angry when they call out outside of our business hours and no one answers.
They're actually not. They were just never popular as there is more intial security with a standard debit card. They are only become more popular with the advent of online shopping where a standard debit card wont work.
One of my friends I know has had one since at least 2000.
Aren't they a lot more common in Canada? When I go to the states, I always see prepaid credit cards and normal credit cards, but never debit cards. Maybe I'm totally blind.
Debit cards are the same as credit cards a lot of the time. Many are endorsed by Visa/Mastercard and can be used for either credit or debit.
Those things are only quite new in Australia.
Also, fuck people who get angry when they call out outside of our business hours and no one answers.
They're actually not. They were just never popular as there is more intial security with a standard debit card. They are only become more popular with the advent of online shopping where a standard debit card wont work.
One of my friends I know has had one since at least 2000.
I use my debit Master Card for online shopping all the time. I've never had any problems with it, even internationally.
Debit cards without PINs? Dang never heard of that. In Canada no matter what you are purchasing you need to enter your PIN when you use the debit card, but if you are using a credit card you just give it to the person, she swipes it and then you sign the receipt.
Aren't they a lot more common in Canada? When I go to the states, I always see prepaid credit cards and normal credit cards, but never debit cards. Maybe I'm totally blind.
Debit cards are the same as credit cards a lot of the time. Many are endorsed by Visa/Mastercard and can be used for either credit or debit.
Those things are only quite new in Australia.
Also, fuck people who get angry when they call out outside of our business hours and no one answers.
They're actually not. They were just never popular as there is more intial security with a standard debit card. They are only become more popular with the advent of online shopping where a standard debit card wont work.
One of my friends I know has had one since at least 2000.
Debit cards without PINs? Dang never heard of that. In Canada no matter what you are purchasing you need to enter your PIN when you use the debit card, but if you are using a credit card you just give it to the person, she swipes it and then you sign the receipt.
In the USA most debit cards are ALSO backed by a credit card company. So you can use it either as a debit card(requires PIN, can get cash back, ect.) or as a credit card(which you simply swipe and sign the receipt).
Theres also a difference where debit transactions will clear instantly while credit transactions can take a few days to go through, and of course most banks will reverse any credit transaction if your card is stolen but you're completely fucked on debit transactions(meaning the thief had your PIN).
Debit cards without PINs? Dang never heard of that. In Canada no matter what you are purchasing you need to enter your PIN when you use the debit card, but if you are using a credit card you just give it to the person, she swipes it and then you sign the receipt.
That works with debit cards here, too. Only cards that need PIN entry every time are cards with chips on them. The others rely on IDing for security.
Then again, we have official IDs that are very hard to fake, so what does the PIN add to that?
Well from the banks point of view if you put the PIN in then you are demeed to have authorised the transaction, shifting the risk to you to prove that there was a fraud instead of the bank swllowing it - of course this does nothing for anyone with a card reader who can skim the card and grab your PIN.
PLus once you start factoring in the fact that most banks (in the UK anyway) are adamant the whole system is uncrackable, despite flaws being shown over 2 years ago.:|
Yeah.... Circuit City doesn't take debit... At all... Everything is credit... We'll take the debit cards, but they have to have a credit card logo on it... No logo, no payment....
Well from the banks point of view if you put the PIN in then you are demeed to have authorised the transaction, shifting the risk to you to prove that there was a fraud instead of the bank swllowing it - of course this does nothing for anyone with a card reader who can skim the card and grab your PIN.
PLus once you start factoring in the fact that most banks (in the UK anyway) are adamant the whole system is uncrackable, despite flaws being shown over 2 years ago.:|
Here you authorise the transaction with your signature on the receipt, which the store keeps and gives you another copy. The idea is the store clerk knows it's you who's using the card and keeps proof in the form of a signature. If somebody took your card and tortured the PIN out of you, which happens all the time in quick attacks while on an ATM, they can use your card and enter a PIN, but they won't be able to provide ID or a signature, so I'd say the analog methods are safer.
Well from the banks point of view if you put the PIN in then you are demeed to have authorised the transaction, shifting the risk to you to prove that there was a fraud instead of the bank swllowing it - of course this does nothing for anyone with a card reader who can skim the card and grab your PIN.
PLus once you start factoring in the fact that most banks (in the UK anyway) are adamant the whole system is uncrackable, despite flaws being shown over 2 years ago.:|
Here you authorise the transaction with your signature on the receipt, which the store keeps and gives you another copy. The idea is the store clerk knows it's you who's using the card and keeps proof in the form of a signature. If somebody took your card and tortured the PIN out of you, which happens all the time in quick attacks while on an ATM, they can use your card and enter a PIN, but they won't be able to provide ID or a signature, so I'd say the analog methods are safer.
Ok seriously, where the hell do you live that that is a problem? I've never even heard of anyone actually being mugged while using an ATM. All the cases of debit card theft I know of are simply someone getting their purse/wallet swiped when they set it down, or worst case a couple of purse-snatchers.
Well from the banks point of view if you put the PIN in then you are demeed to have authorised the transaction, shifting the risk to you to prove that there was a fraud instead of the bank swllowing it - of course this does nothing for anyone with a card reader who can skim the card and grab your PIN.
PLus once you start factoring in the fact that most banks (in the UK anyway) are adamant the whole system is uncrackable, despite flaws being shown over 2 years ago.:|
Here you authorise the transaction with your signature on the receipt, which the store keeps and gives you another copy. The idea is the store clerk knows it's you who's using the card and keeps proof in the form of a signature. If somebody took your card and tortured the PIN out of you, which happens all the time in quick attacks while on an ATM, they can use your card and enter a PIN, but they won't be able to provide ID or a signature, so I'd say the analog methods are safer.
Ok seriously, where the hell do you live that that is a problem? I've never even heard of anyone actually being mugged while using an ATM. All the cases of debit card theft I know of are simply someone getting their purse/wallet swiped when they set it down, or worst case a couple of purse-snatchers.
I'm Spanish and, while our crime rates are far lower than the ones in the US, it's a common crime to assault a lone person in an ATM, specially in the older ones, in which the ATM is located inside and can be acessed using any magnetic card, threaten the user to make him enter his pin and take the money and/or the card.
Or it used to be a common crime. They seem to prefer to install a card copier in the ATM and a minicamera over the keyboard and just hack the info out of you these days. An Eastern European group was arrested just last week for doing this and I know at least two people who got robbed this way.
Getting your purse snatched is inconvenient, but he cards are safe. You call the hotline and they can't use the card anymore. They don't have your pin and they can't use the card anywhere because they're not you. Even if they have your ID, the picture would give them away.
An EDIT: The reason for this is probably because in Spain we love cash. Most transactions are made in cash and people prefer to look for an ATM (we have lots of them compared to other places) and get cash to do their shopping, even if they can pay with the card.
crap i didn't read part 2 of that... lol well as for that you should just seriously bring your own food and drinks... uhh she can just bitch and moan but if she fires anyone just for that... yea... try to find another company or somewhere where that person does not exist. I reccomend having junkfood stashes for yourselves and uhh for food maybe have a weekly pickup person..that way people can get pizza or something... i mean seriously... 1 buck for pizza.. a profit? Highschool sells it for 2 bucks now thats a profit....
I work as tech support for an accounting firm -- I get to help out callers who, more often that I'd like -- have no business running Windows without highly-trained assistance, let alone a complicated accounting program. I've lost count of how many times I have had to tell someone to right-click on "an empty spot on your background", rather than "on your desktop". We service everything from the newbies using the (legally) free versions all the way up to the "mid-market" (companies barely big enough to have an Accountant/CPA in-house and two assistants/phone monkeys). In other words, one program is named for a fruit tree (which is appropriate, it's older than dirt) and the other has a name meant to evoke a sensation of speed. I still get people who gasp in shock when I offer to remote in to their system. Sometimes I make the mouse cursor "dance" for them while I'm waiting for their apps to load. This invariably produces an exclamation of joy and amusement, and makes for a good ice-breaker. Then again, I usually only have to Remote In for situations where I'll be doing unspeakable things to their accounting progs (and often to Windows itself) that I really don't trust them to execute successfully. That, or if I don't feel like talking them thru it for an hour instead of doing it myself in 15 minutes.
On the checks issue: we pay for the vast majority of our bills via checks. The only exceptions are when we need to buy something online, or the boss sends me down to Office Despot to grab something -- we use plastic for that. However, unlike normal people, we know what these check-paid things will cost in advance, we just print 'em out and mail 'em off. Most of our clients pay by check as well (if they're local), some use cash, and anyone too far away to drive here usually pays by card.
We've had some fun stuff in the IT world, too. The boss doesn't like throwing away anything computer-related until it's somewhere past its prime and is positively festering. I recently felt obligated to *ahem* disable a p3 500mhz system decked out with 124 MB (its upper limit) of some antiquated type of RAM that must surely have predated RAMBUS (no, it wasn't 30-pin). I felt that this was a matter of honor, as he was hoping to foist it off on a new office worker and have me drop XP Pro on that bad boy. Fortunately, he is generally wise enough to take my word for it when I have a mound of electronic parts on my desk and I tell him "No sir, I don't like it. This thing is toast."
EricKei on
"Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them, the rest of us could hardly succeed." ~ Mark Twain
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If you answered "SimBen's", you lose your breathing privileges.
Oh god, this.
"WHY THE HELL WAS MY CARD DENIED"
I don't know, maybe something to do with the other fifteen credit cards in your wallet. That's not free money you know, can't wait to see you in a few years.
If you answered "SimBen's", you lose your breathing privileges.
Oh god, this.
"WHY THE HELL WAS MY CARD DENIED"
I don't know, maybe something to do with the other fifteen credit cards in your wallet. That's not free money you know, can't wait to see you in a few years.
I love the good old blank stare.
"Your card is denied."
"*stare*"
It's like they expect you to do something. You have to say you'll require an alternate paying method.
"Why?"
"The transaction was denied. The card doesn't pass. You'll need to pay with something else."
"That's impossible."
Yes, it's impossible. It always is.
It's especially impossible because
"I've been using this card all day and it hasn't been denied yet!"
Well well well. That's just how credit cards work, isn't it. They work once, they work forever. The credit limit is infinite, after all. In fact, the MORE you use the card, the LESS likely it is to be denied!
That's really how it works.
I know it because I'm an accredited creditcardologist.
This is the most true statement ever made. Even the most normal looking people who have their cards denied lose their fucking minds. And then they ask "Why?" I'm like "I don't fucking know, do I look like the bank to you? Go ask them."
YodaTuna on
0
NocrenLt Futz, Back in ActionNorth CarolinaRegistered Userregular
edited February 2008
Most I get is a "huh... that's weird" or a "oops, that's my old card. Let me try my new one."
Nocren on
0
ShadowfireVermont, in the middle of nowhereRegistered Userregular
"I've been using this card all day and it hasn't been denied yet!"
Well well well. That's just how credit cards work, isn't it. They work once, they work forever. The credit limit is infinite, after all. In fact, the MORE you use the card, the LESS likely it is to be denied!
Haha, all I can think of is "I have more checks, so I must have more money, right??"
Oh man, I remember when I had my card declined at the fucking game store over $15. I had actually never used the card before. I later found out that even though I went through the activation process, there was some kind of error and it wasn't actually activated. Doesn't matter, because the clerk (and anyone close enough to see/hear what's going on) just assume that you're broke ('cause you can't afford $15) and stupid (because you don't even know how much is on your account).
Now, any time I ever activate a new credit or debit card, I buy gas with it at first. The pump doesn't have judgental eyes.
Oh man, I remember when I had my card declined at the fucking game store over $15. I had actually never used the card before. I later found out that even though I went through the activation process, there was some kind of error and it wasn't actually activated. Doesn't matter, because the clerk (and anyone close enough to see/hear what's going on) just assume that you're broke ('cause you can't afford $15) and stupid (because you don't even know how much is on your account).
Now, any time I ever activate a new credit or debit card, I buy gas with it at first. The pump doesn't have judgental eyes.
I'm never judgemental, I just don't like getting bitched at for something that is profoundly out of my control. I mean, I'll take the bitching all day for something that is out of my control that my COMPANY does. That's part of the job, but when your BANK says "fuck you", that's something I won't hear shit about.
I hate when people's cards are denied, because I always feel really awkward telling them, especially when there are other customers within earshot. It's never a nice moment, when you tell someone that they are more poor than they thought.
And to tie this in with the earlier discussion:
The worst possible response, when finding out your credit card has been declined has got to be "Do you take cheques?"
No, we don't take cheques from people who do not actually have any money.
Posts
This. This right here. This is win.
@gamefacts - Totally and utterly true gaming facts on the regular!
Look, a check is basically the only form of payment where we don't get the money before you leave with the items. It's basically you giving us a sheet of paper to say, "Hey, I'll take these items now, but I'll TOTALLY pay you for them later." And for most people it works fine, but we get enough fraud and people who won't pay that we have to check your information out. Yes we need two phone numbers. Yes we need your I.D. Don't get mad at me because it takes a while to verify your information so we can send the check through.
And I know from trying to get in touch with the people who DO pay with bad checks that if we don't do all that stuff it's tough to get the money back.
I'm talking about calling your bank to make sure the funds are in your account, requiring 3 fucking supervisors to sign off on it when it's a damn miracle to get ahold of one of them, and a whole bunch of other shit I don't even want to remember.
Oh my god, the bathrooms are the most foul and disgusting bathrooms I've ever seen. You've got about a 1/3 chance of going into a stall that wasn't flushed. There's usually newspapers or crap thrown in the toilets and there's the odd can of red bull sitting in the urinal. And every so often you'll see the guys going into the bathroom with their lunch.
And my fav story has to be the "crack is crazy good" story that one of my coworkers told us.
He was coming back from lunch and riding the escalator up to our floor and was behind a couple of floor runners.
Runner1: So, what'd you do this weekend.
Runner2: Ah, shit. You know, went to a party, got effed up and smoked a bunch of weed and had some coke.
Runner1: Yeah, I like coke, it's awesome.
Runner2: You know what's great? Crack, man. It's crazy good shit.
Runner1: I hear ya man, but I don't know about trying it.
Runner2: Yeah, if you're interested in it, I know a guy.
Yeah. And then there was the time I'm sitting in the stall doing my business and I hear the from the next stall. "No man, that's not how you split 5 ounces three ways."
I don't know if she's going to shop with us anymore, but I was as nice as I could be while essentially saying "if we don't have your address on the check, you will not have groceries in your car." -shrug-
I mean, I guess like above, I don't mind checks so much if you're smart about writing them quickly while the cashier and bagger are still working on your order, and you don't pitch a fit about the information required to take the check in the first place. If either of these things are off, however, you're a cock, and need a fucking debit card.
Pffft. I've seen the HBO Spawn cartoon filed under "Children's." Had a "Children's" Sticker on the front right next to the "Absolultely not for kids" blurb.
At Hollywood Video, we had La Blue Girl filed under anime (when there used to be an anime section). It was actually pulled pretty quickly though and kept under the counter, not to be rented. When we started killing the VHS section, one of the shift leads took it home.
For those who don't know, this is just one partial line of the wikipedia entry for it: "features a large amount of tentacle rape."
@gamefacts - Totally and utterly true gaming facts on the regular!
By the sounds of it they are easy to nick and get money out of which means they don't have PIN numbers attached to them?
Satans..... hints.....
They have PIN numbers you have to input. Some places, like fast food restaurants, don't require that though.
I KNOW THE N IN PIN STANDS FOR NUMBER, SHUT UP.
Satans..... hints.....
Debit cards are the same as credit cards a lot of the time. Many are endorsed by Visa/Mastercard and can be used for either credit or debit.
All US Debit cards can be run as credit which is apparently untrue in Canada-land. As such you steal the card then just sign for the purchases. Very few people check the signature, especially at places with electronic pads.
Hell, I had a card unsigned for about two years and it never was an issue. :roll:
Those things are only quite new in Australia.
Also, fuck people who get angry when they call out outside of our business hours and no one answers.
Here in Spain you have to show your ID card, passport or driver's license with the credit or debit card everywhere AND sign.
We're all used to flicking our IDs to pay, cop-like. You're supposed to check the matching name and the picture. Most people do.
They're actually not. They were just never popular as there is more intial security with a standard debit card. They are only become more popular with the advent of online shopping where a standard debit card wont work.
One of my friends I know has had one since at least 2000.
Satans..... hints.....
I use my debit Master Card for online shopping all the time. I've never had any problems with it, even internationally.
The more you know
In the USA most debit cards are ALSO backed by a credit card company. So you can use it either as a debit card(requires PIN, can get cash back, ect.) or as a credit card(which you simply swipe and sign the receipt).
Theres also a difference where debit transactions will clear instantly while credit transactions can take a few days to go through, and of course most banks will reverse any credit transaction if your card is stolen but you're completely fucked on debit transactions(meaning the thief had your PIN).
That works with debit cards here, too. Only cards that need PIN entry every time are cards with chips on them. The others rely on IDing for security.
Then again, we have official IDs that are very hard to fake, so what does the PIN add to that?
PLus once you start factoring in the fact that most banks (in the UK anyway) are adamant the whole system is uncrackable, despite flaws being shown over 2 years ago.:|
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Here you authorise the transaction with your signature on the receipt, which the store keeps and gives you another copy. The idea is the store clerk knows it's you who's using the card and keeps proof in the form of a signature. If somebody took your card and tortured the PIN out of you, which happens all the time in quick attacks while on an ATM, they can use your card and enter a PIN, but they won't be able to provide ID or a signature, so I'd say the analog methods are safer.
Ok seriously, where the hell do you live that that is a problem? I've never even heard of anyone actually being mugged while using an ATM. All the cases of debit card theft I know of are simply someone getting their purse/wallet swiped when they set it down, or worst case a couple of purse-snatchers.
I'm Spanish and, while our crime rates are far lower than the ones in the US, it's a common crime to assault a lone person in an ATM, specially in the older ones, in which the ATM is located inside and can be acessed using any magnetic card, threaten the user to make him enter his pin and take the money and/or the card.
Or it used to be a common crime. They seem to prefer to install a card copier in the ATM and a minicamera over the keyboard and just hack the info out of you these days. An Eastern European group was arrested just last week for doing this and I know at least two people who got robbed this way.
Getting your purse snatched is inconvenient, but he cards are safe. You call the hotline and they can't use the card anymore. They don't have your pin and they can't use the card anywhere because they're not you. Even if they have your ID, the picture would give them away.
An EDIT: The reason for this is probably because in Spain we love cash. Most transactions are made in cash and people prefer to look for an ATM (we have lots of them compared to other places) and get cash to do their shopping, even if they can pay with the card.
Whose fault is it if your card is denied?
On the checks issue: we pay for the vast majority of our bills via checks. The only exceptions are when we need to buy something online, or the boss sends me down to Office Despot to grab something -- we use plastic for that. However, unlike normal people, we know what these check-paid things will cost in advance, we just print 'em out and mail 'em off. Most of our clients pay by check as well (if they're local), some use cash, and anyone too far away to drive here usually pays by card.
We've had some fun stuff in the IT world, too. The boss doesn't like throwing away anything computer-related until it's somewhere past its prime and is positively festering. I recently felt obligated to *ahem* disable a p3 500mhz system decked out with 124 MB (its upper limit) of some antiquated type of RAM that must surely have predated RAMBUS (no, it wasn't 30-pin). I felt that this was a matter of honor, as he was hoping to foist it off on a new office worker and have me drop XP Pro on that bad boy. Fortunately, he is generally wise enough to take my word for it when I have a mound of electronic parts on my desk and I tell him "No sir, I don't like it. This thing is toast."
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Oh god, this.
"WHY THE HELL WAS MY CARD DENIED"
I don't know, maybe something to do with the other fifteen credit cards in your wallet. That's not free money you know, can't wait to see you in a few years.
I love the good old blank stare.
"Your card is denied."
"*stare*"
It's like they expect you to do something. You have to say you'll require an alternate paying method.
"Why?"
"The transaction was denied. The card doesn't pass. You'll need to pay with something else."
"That's impossible."
Yes, it's impossible. It always is.
It's especially impossible because
"I've been using this card all day and it hasn't been denied yet!"
Well well well. That's just how credit cards work, isn't it. They work once, they work forever. The credit limit is infinite, after all. In fact, the MORE you use the card, the LESS likely it is to be denied!
That's really how it works.
I know it because I'm an accredited creditcardologist.
This is the most true statement ever made. Even the most normal looking people who have their cards denied lose their fucking minds. And then they ask "Why?" I'm like "I don't fucking know, do I look like the bank to you? Go ask them."
Haha, all I can think of is "I have more checks, so I must have more money, right??"
Now, any time I ever activate a new credit or debit card, I buy gas with it at first. The pump doesn't have judgental eyes.
I'm never judgemental, I just don't like getting bitched at for something that is profoundly out of my control. I mean, I'll take the bitching all day for something that is out of my control that my COMPANY does. That's part of the job, but when your BANK says "fuck you", that's something I won't hear shit about.
And to tie this in with the earlier discussion:
The worst possible response, when finding out your credit card has been declined has got to be "Do you take cheques?"
No, we don't take cheques from people who do not actually have any money.