The "Advance" Fee

If you're like me, a canadian with a bank account, you've probably used a competators (herein known as "enemy") bank machine on occasion to get some cash.

This at one time was acceptable use, and didn't cost too much. Usually $1, or $1.25 was charged to you by your bank, the one that you are a real customer of, for using an enemy's machine.

Of recent (I first noticed up in Ottawa a few weeks ago) the enemy is also charging you $1.25 or $1.50 on top of your withdrawal. What the platypus is up with that? Once these charges were restricted souly to non-bank enemy machines in convenience stores and other great places where you once wouldn't expect a machine. But now, what the frig? So using an enemy machine will cost you anywhere from $2.50 to $3.00 depending on circumstances.

Example:

To get $120 from an enemy; the "Interac Charge" is from my bank, the $1.50 on top of $120 is from an unnamed enemy (TD CANADA TRUST), the funny thing is they ask before charging you, but how many people are going to say "no" when they've already done most of their deed?

May.05/03 ABM Interac Charge $1.50
May.05/03 ABM Withdrawal $121.50

I've started avoiding, like the SARS, enemy systems. I now say "No."

Fun, isn't it? So, rather than paying an "acceptable" $1.50, I'm left to avoid enemy machines as much as possible.

The funny part is, this is clearly a push to get people to use more plastic on the spot rather than carry cash, or is it? But for those who have no choice, you gotta bend over.

Are they seriously strapped for profits (in the billions as I write this) that they need to do this? Give me a flippin' break, yo.

On the Other Side

Have you ever been to a place, a place that once accepted Interac as a form of payment, but then stopped when a little non-bank enemy machine showed up in their lobby? [East Side Marios in Hamilton/Dundas is a fine example, but there are many] Yeah, rather than foot the small charges of using an interac machine, these places are making $1 or so off of each withdrawal you make. What ever happened to businesses who foot a few bills to make a few bucks? This whole scheme of making the customer recoup all the costs is getting rediculous.