Is money not currency anymore????
By arkaf61
@arkaf61 (10881)
Canada
August 18, 2008 11:43pm CST
I am not stuck in the past. I like new things like everyone else. I love the idea of bank cards and internet banking. I actually prefer to use my bank card when shopping so I don't have to go around with lots of money.
However I still think that money is money. If I buy something I expect to be able to use money instead of a card.If I hire a service I expect that I can pay with.. well money, isn't it what people pay with? If I rent an hotel room, I expect that I can open my wallet and get a few bills out to pay for it.
Isn't money accepted anymore?
A few weekends back we took my mom to see both the thousand islands and Montreal. I stayed in MOntreal for the night and that's where it all started. They wanted a credit card. But I want to pay cash. But you have to give us a credit card. But I don't want to pay with a credit cards...Well I could still pay cash in the morning when I left, but they wanted to have a credit card on file.
Even though I said I would pay for the whole thing with cash right there and then, it still didn't work.
Isn't money good anymore?
I am one of the people that is the least worried with many of the privacy issues that worry people in here, but in this case it does bother me. What do they want my credit card for if I want to pay cash? SO the credit card company can track where I go, what I do, when I do it? But what does the hotel have to do with it?
I suppose they might be afraid that I trash the place and then they have the credit card to cover for expenses? But what if my credit card is close to the limit? what would they do them?
What's the point of writing down my credit card information if I am not going to use it to pay for my room?
What happened to receive cash?
ANd what happen to the smart people that don't have a credit card? They cannot stay in a hotel anymore even if they have cash to pay?
I hate when people impose things on me.
Something in here is not making sense, or is it just me?
2 people like this
18 responses
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
19 Aug 08
Yes, I think in North America you cannot get along without a credit card anymore. Some friends an I were driving down to Florida a couple of years ago and you could not pump gas in a lot of gas stations without a credit card, especially in the evening. Same with hotels. Also we stayed in a resort, which was fully prepaid before we got there but we still had a give a credit card number, I guess in case we wrecked the place. On the other hand, I was in Malta last year and people there certainly preferred cash. I think I even paid the hotel in cash. I find in Europe in most countries there, cash is still preferred.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
19 Aug 08
It doesn't make sense. Even including th " it's some sort of insurance in case we wreck the place". What if our credit card is up to the limit, or close? We can wreck all we want the credit card won't pay the hotel for the damages because... we don't have enough money to cover for it. Or what is a prepaid credit card with just a certain amount of money in it? No.It doesn't make sense.
Maybe I'm paranoid but .... there has to be something else.
It's true that in some countries money still seems to be preferred, but it won't be long until even in those countries the same thing will happen.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
19 Aug 08
Oh gosh, sounds ridiculous!
Over here, they love cash above all lol...
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
19 Aug 08
My Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :):):):) Glad to see you. DId I tell you I missed you? LOL
ANyways, yes, it is ridiculous but happening more and more. One is already asked for a credit card for many things even as identification. WHat is this??????
And people are falling for it getting more and more credit cards - many that they can't pay - to make the credit card companies/Banks rich.
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
19 Aug 08
Hi sweetie, yea... thought I would drop by to say hi. 
And your case sounds real weird. 
And your case sounds real weird. 
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
19 Aug 08
I guess they are too narrow minded to know better.
It could be a case of my-boss-said-one.
Where instructions passed down by the boss has to be followed to the T. Regardless of whether it is reasonable or not.
Which hotel in Montreal? I will take note and not go there if I ever visit! 
With the advancement of technology and the increasing use of cashless transactions, I am not the least bit surprise if people have actually forgotten what money looks like any more.
With the advancement of technology and the increasing use of cashless transactions, I am not the least bit surprise if people have actually forgotten what money looks like any more.@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
19 Aug 08
We are all falling in their trap. The credit card trap. They're making us use it even if we don't want to.
At a time where people should actually be starting to smarten up and see credit cards for what they also are : a trap to spend money, an incentive to spend what one doesn't have and something that will keep people in debt forever and ever... they're actually making sure that everyone has one and worse yet uses it - either the person wants or not.
1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
20 Aug 08
Yeah.. I so agree with you.
Sad state of affairs, is it not?
I wonder, if you insisted that you do not own any credit cards, what would they have done? Chase you out of the room?
DO they have the right to do that?
You do have cash to pay for the services though. Not that you cannot afford to pay for it. Will the consumer rights group allow that if they chase you out of the hotel cos you do not have a credit card to use for their services?
@insulin (2479)
• Philippines
19 Aug 08
Well for me,I always want to have a credit card but my mom advice me that I will just trap my own self with debts because she experienced it too that credit credit credit then the bill is too big then what,work and pay for it.I prefer to use cash and some bank card because It safe for debts and I can put some limits to myself...:-0 God bless and have a nice day
@tyler1990 (47)
• Philippines
19 Aug 08
Nice post. thank you.
well i just like to say i experience that kind of situation. i went to a hotel and they ask me for a credit card but i dont want to pay credit card, i want to pay cash but they my credit card information first before they let to check in. i insist not give my credit card of course. then i ask to talk to a supervisor or a manager i talked to the manager and i was really insisting not to give my credit card information. then because i was irate already the angry they let my checked in the hotel. hehehe...
the bad thing about paying credit card is there is an interest for every time you use the card.
and if you'll use it already, to use your credit card... well, you have to pay a huge amount because of the interest.. if you'll pay cash there is no interest... lol!
1 person likes this
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
19 Aug 08
i agree with you ..when you said that you will pay in cash...i think its not proper to ask for a credit card or something..its your personal preferences and property and i think its your right not to give it to them or record the number or something..its strange(that is to me) you know why they keep on asking that..1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
19 Aug 08
Esactly. All they need is my money and if they are thinking about some insurance in case I make some damages in the room, they just have to look at the identification I gave them. That's how they will get in touch with me.
I feel a big trap around people. I just am not sure yet what is it that they want LOL
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
20 Aug 08
LOL - you are rambling a bit dear but I get your point and agree 100% if I want to use cash I want to use cash and don't want someone trying to make me use something else.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
19 Aug 08
I work in a hotel,and it seems Reception computer systems are set up to need credit card info to complete your check in..like online form filling,when you pass on a field that has the "Required Information" ( * ) -It won't let you go any further if you don't complete it! There may be the security aspect too,in case somebody would leave without paying,but if you paid cash,that wouldn't be a problem.I work in the restaurant,Myself,and get some of the knock on effect of this card thing..A lot of our business is 2 night breaks,and has a Dinner Included.We have it (in small print,admittedly) on the menu that you must sign a bill at the end of your meal (so that the Billing computer "Knows" You've had the meal you're entitled to)..It also lets You verify what drinks or extras were put on the bill for room charge,so that we don't have problems with people checking out saying "But I didn't have that..." and SO MANY people walk out of the restaurant without signing,anyway,and if you catch up with them ,they'll say "But it's our FREE Meal..what do I have to sign for?!" (And You can't say "RTFM",can You..?)The receptionists must be able to bypass the credit card requirements for a cash payment somehow,but this is where My problem comes in at the restaurant till..If there is no credit card info given,ALL of the room charge "Priveleges" are denied-You're expected to pay cash on the nail for everything! If Someone coming to sign their bill for the Meal they've already paid for,but is paying cash,I get an error message saying "No Room Charge facility available" regardless if their meal has been paid for or not..I then have to go to reception and have them unblock it so I can clear that bill..I don't like the Hassle Either!
@misheleen73 (6037)
• United States
19 Aug 08
I just went to Florida about a month ago and stayed at a beautiful resort. They also expect a credit card. To rent a car, yup, credit card. The thing is they use it as a type of insurance you will pay AND if you mess something up or order room service, etc. they have a credit card to bill. I just use my bank debit card which is also a Visa. I refuse to have a "credit card" With my bank card, it is only the money I have in my bank account, not money being "credited" to me. I only spend what I have. If that makes any sense...lol.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
19 Aug 08
OH I like that card you have. I didn't think they existed but that one of course makes much more sense, I think.
My question is: In which was is that insurance? Let's say I have been using my card a lot this month and I have only $300 that I can spend before going over the limit.That's enough to pay for the rooms. But then I trash the place and make $20000 damage. My card won't cover it. SO they won't get paid for the damages.
SO what do they do? They will call me home or send a message. All that can be done without the credit card. There has to be more to it, than the excuse that it is insurance.
@mykmari_08 (2464)
• Philippines
19 Aug 08
Yeah, sometimes it also gets into me. Here in our country, I could say that cash is still considered money and I guess it is safe to say that a lot of people still rely on the actual cash, with paper bills and loose change. In stores, vendors or owners still prefer cash over credit cards.
But in some malls, I have observed that some cashiers and attendants would treat those who are paying in cash than those by credit cards differently. I think there is an unspoken reasoning that those who use credit cards to pay their bills or make their purchases are regarded as "rich people", even if it may or may not be the truth. The credit limit or the amount one can spend using a card is one factor which dictates this behavior. On some occasions, they are treated more warmly by service crew and attendants.
Locally, a person applying for a credit card with a bank or an agent will easily be given one if he or she has another existing active credit card. The processing is easier, too. I think some people do not get the point that having one and using one is equally exhilarating and tempting. Sometimes, it reaches the point that an individual purchases like a shopaholic without thinking that he or she is already bankrupt.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
19 Aug 08
Yes, it appears that not having a credit card turns people suddenly in little green aliens came from Mars with little antennae and all.
Everyone is falling for the same trap and I don't like it. I do have a credit card, but it's not used regularly if at all.
But the main point is: A credit card is supposed to be a substitute for: Money!
Money is still currency.
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
19 Aug 08
I have the same question! And the same with hotels. I often wonder if you gave htem a phoney number "to hold" the room if that'd work. I know they are doing it just to combate people leaving without paying, but still - if you pay up front and have it till check out time the next day - what's wrong with that? THey got their money and don't have to worry about a bad credit card, or the bill not getting paid by the cc company due to BK by the holder. I mean, it should be the CC companys more insisting of verification ro something like that - the CC company is the one that "pays" the hotel, so why does the hotel care if it is cash or credit? I'd think they'd prefer cash as they know they got that. But then again, I guess they know they got the CC comapny moneys too so it just seems that CC is easier to deal with, so they will do that...what do they care about their customers? you'll be back and if you aren't, others will. THat is what earks me!
1 person likes this
@revellanotvanella (4033)
• United States
20 Aug 08
I think the most wealthy are the most at risk of the card trap you describe because people like to spend more the more money they make and god forbid, you give them a credit card, its easy to lose sight of reality because your working with a peice of plastic and now even given rewards to spend your money and like you said, pressured to use credit cards at all major businesses and that is why we have this credit crisis because we have this system that encourages overspending, money people do not have, but yet, they still make exceptions and give you more credit lines, its a nasty system and will devour you once you have no more to spend.
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
19 Aug 08
Amazingly enough a lot of people in Trinidad say that same thing about travelling in the US or Europe.
In Trinidad its only recently the card usage has become really big, like in the last 15 years or so.
Before that everything was cash.
It does seem that way but remember that a card in only supposed to be a replacement for cash in terms of convenience.
1 person likes this
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
19 Aug 08
This is indeed wierd. Many would prefer to deal with cold hard cash because it is cold hard cash. The 2 reasons I can think of why they prefer cards. 1) the hotel management does not trust the staff. 2) the hotel is bent on collecting credit card numbers. Hope my second reason remains a guess only.
@tess1960 (2385)
• United States
19 Aug 08
I have paid cash for a hotel room within the last year. It is an overnight trip we make each year and this past year we paid with cash. The room was not as nice as in the past. I liked the other room we usually got. I suppose cash and not credit card had something to do with it. Society is changing my friend a lot, and not necessarily for the better. Too bad!! And to think some Circle K's in Arizona and Southern CA are starting to take Peso's as well as American money! 
(I heard this on the radio this morning.) Hah!! Our cash is still good there.
(I heard this on the radio this morning.) Hah!! Our cash is still good there.
@twallace (2675)
• United States
19 Aug 08
Money is still excepted but soon I think it will not be used that much. With cards stepping in for money, everything on a metallic strip. This is what things are turn out to look like. Just about every place that you shop in now a days you can swipe your card just about anywhere. I'm not sure but if they didn't want the cash something was wrong. They needed a card on file that is strange, the first time that I have heard of that before. I guess it's becoming more popular to the point that in some places cash is not wanted. But look at it like this if the machine when down and they couldn't swipe your card they would want cash then. A card would be no good and they would turn people away. Just cause their machines went down. So they can't totally faze out cash.
@metalhalo (599)
• United States
19 Aug 08
It is silly that how some try to do business. I think for the sake of hotels though, they want a credit card on file in case something from the room goes missing or is damaged. That way they can automatically charge you for it. It does make sense but it's a huge hassle for those don't use credit cards. My husband and I have one just for this reason.
