Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihnss.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!ihnss!warren From: warren@ihnss.UUCP (Warren Montgomery) Newsgroups: net.consumers Subject: Credit cards Message-ID: <1948@ihnss.UUCP> Date: Wed, 7-Mar-84 13:06:19 EST Article-I.D.: ihnss.1948 Posted: Wed Mar 7 13:06:19 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 8-Mar-84 08:17:48 EST Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL Lines: 44 A second for the idea that stores should take national cards instead of insisting on their own. There's no way I want to keep track of yet another piece of plastic for my wallet. (Those things put together are lots bigger than my checkbook!). Actually, I am NOT waiting for the cashless society. I think that there is a lot to be said for cash: 1) Everybody takes it. 2) They don't fingerprint you when you pay that way 3) Some enlightened establishments give you discounts or shorter lines. 4) You never spend more than you have 5) You never get fouled up bills. 6) You never get billed 20% interest for getting around to your mail a little late. (anyone who willingly pays those rates is either desperate or careless.) 7) You know what your liability is when you get ripped off and can control it. etc. etc. SOME of this can be achieved by universal cards, and I do have some plastic (oddly enough, I got it for emergencies, like finding out that your hotel is a lot more expensive than they told you on the phone), but on balance, I would rather pay cash for just about anything. Many people think that they are safer because they don't carry much cash, but I would suspect that the combined liability limits on most peoples credit cards far exceeds their cash needs. No flames please, I just want people to think about "improvements" to their lives before going for it just because it sounds neat. -- Warren Montgomery ihnss!warren IH x2494