Not what you think, really. I have a mini gripe and a normal gripe. First, the mini gripe!
When you write out a check, why do you write “dollars” on the line?
See? It already says dollars on there. It’s not something that bothers me, really. It’s just one of those tiny pet peeves, and something I’ve always been curious about. I only really care when it comes down to writing checks that are in the thousands and someone is freaking out trying to squeeze it all in on the line! “But Jade!! I’ve got to write my change in there too!” Umm….so you know why you write $.34 as 34/100? That means 34 hundredths of a dollar. So if your amount is $175.34, you write, “One hundred seventy-five & 34/100,” the”dollars” is already there.
This is the one that really gets me though. Your debit card can be used as a credit card. Take a look at your card. See that little logo in the bottom corner? It usually says Visa or MasterCard. That means it’s backed by one of those companies. It can be used as credit!
I run into this problem WAY too often with people whose cards are old, and thus our system can’t read it properly. If I have to type in your number, it’ll be processed as credit. What does that mean? Not a damn thing except that, like a credit card, it’ll take a day or two before that charge will show up.
I’m fully aware that most debit cards provided by credit unions can’t be used as credit; that’s not really what I’m referring to here. I’m talking about the people that want to argue with me that this BOA debit card can’t be used as credit. Guess what? You know all those fast food restaurants and gas pumps where you’re not typing in your pin number? Those places are processing it as credit. Is that enough to convince you?
And for the record, I always ask if it’s okay to run a card as credit because I’m aware some companies charge you for using it as credit.
As a whole, I hope to see the day when people know how to use debit cards, period. At least once a day I get someone who’ll swipe their card, type in their pin number, and then strike credit and sign for it. You’re not inputting your pin number, I hope you know. If you put in your pin number, you hit enter and that’s done. You don’t need a pin number to use it as credit. *head desk*
Okay, I’ll zip it now.
August 25th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Okay, I have to fess up and admit that I write “dollars” on my checks too, that is, when I write them. I don’t remember the last time I actually made out a paper check. Come to think of it, I don’t know when I’ll ever write out another check, but when and if I do, I will NOT write the word “dollars” on it.
August 27th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Hehe good to know I’ve changed at least one person in this world for the better! LOL
I don’t think I ever noticed before I started working in places where high dollar checks are common. Now I cringe when someone fights to squeeze ‘dollars’ in when there’s no room for anything!