The banking systems are a pain in the neck to deal with. Here in the USA, we write out little slips of paper with magnetic ink on them (our bank and account numbers) and mail them to our creditors. The creditors deposit them into their bank (in person, actually - to any branch). The Federal government collects the little papers and processes them, giving a debit back to the original bank within 2 days and eventually delivering the actual little papers back to the bank!
We have only recently begun to adopt a paperless, electronic system. We can use the internet to log on with the bank and pay bills electronically. This started some 20+ years ago with most employers depositing payroll checks as electronic transfers. It has advanced to the point where most of my monthly bills are paid automatically. I have authorized the utilities and other service providers to simply contact the bank with an amount to be paid. While the banks were charging me $.15 per little piece of paper processed (mainly for printing), the electronic transfers are free. My understanding is that the European system is entirely electronic and no paper changes hands. This makes it difficult for those without a European bank account to pay for anything. Regards, Bob S. On 9/21/06, Tom C <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I don't get charged unless it's not my bank's ATM (of cousre I'm paying for > it some how, it's just bundled in some other standard service fee). > > > Tom C. > > > > > >From: "P. J. Alling" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Reply-To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List <pdml@pdml.net> > >To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List <pdml@pdml.net> > >Subject: Re: OT - EBay Question > >Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 15:56:22 -0400 > > > >In some it's the other way around, every machine transaction costs you, > >teller transactions are free. It was a big deal when Citibank decided > >to go with the charges for teller access, but no one seems to notice the > >per transaction charge on an ATM transaction. > > > >Tom C wrote: > > > > >Some US banks, depending on the plan you agree to, charge you every time > >you > > >do a transaction at a teller window or speak to a person on the phone, > >vs. > > >using a machine. > > > > > > > > > > > >Tom C. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >>From: Bob Shell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >>Reply-To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List <pdml@pdml.net> > > >>To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List <pdml@pdml.net> > > >>Subject: Re: OT - EBay Question > > >>Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 13:07:12 -0400 > > >> > > >> > > >>On Sep 21, 2006, at 10:49 AM, Kostas Kavoussanakis wrote: > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >>>Am I right that customers pay US banks to deposit their money? > > >>> > > >>> > > >>Not my bank. They pay me interest on my deposited money. So long as > > >>I maintain a certain minimum bank balance they don't charge me any > > >>fees at all. > > >> > > >>Bob > > >> > > >>-- > > >>PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > > >>PDML@pdml.net > > >>http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >-- > >Things should be made as simple as possible -- but no simpler. > > > > --Albert Einstein > > > > > > > >-- > >PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > >PDML@pdml.net > >http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
