I haven't used my card in an ATM machine for 6 months

[Uncle Ethan]

No idea, but common in Australia.

[Sporting]

Ah...contactless. Is the word paywave universal?

[Uncle Ethan]

What's paywave?

When you pass your card over a payment terminal screen at a checkout or counter, as opposed to inserting the car and entering a PIN.

[caja-dglh]

Isn't your PIN essential for making purchases over a certain amount? Here anything over 100 Lei (approx 20 quid) has to be backed up with a pin, so I need to remember it pretty much every time I go to the supermarket

You seem to be trying to trap our dear friend Rogin.

[ad hoc]

Do British people routinely use "ATM" (or ATM machine) now? What happened to cashpoint?

Anyway I still use the cashpoint from time to time. I like to have a bit of cash about me anyway, plus places like the market I need it. I also have a 15 year old daughter who doesn't yet have a vard/bank account so needs cash sometimes

[Sporting]

What's paywave?

[Uncle Ethan]

Amount you can use paywave for here has doubled to $200 (114 sterling)

[Sporting]

I went two days ago to withdraw money and will do so again today, I like cash.

[ad hoc]

Isn't your PIN essential for making purchases over a certain amount? Here anything over 100 Lei (approx 20 quid) has to be backed up with a pin, so I need to remember it pretty much every time I go to the supermarket

[tee rex]

We should definitely have a thread where we try and reveal each other's PIN-umbers. Rogin's is probably 7705. I always need a memory prompter like that: "Stanley Matthews - White Horse", that kind of thing.

My local ATM used to be attached to a bank, with actual people working inside. When the machine swallowed my card (about every 4th time) there was someone to complain to, but now of course it needs a phone call, with all the inevitable faffing around, so I daren't risk it.

[Various Artist]

It's fortunate that a lot of places have been able to relax strictures on the minimum spend with cards. The greengrocers here require ?2.50 min, but that's not a majorly difficult bar to surmount, and otherwise it feels like I've been able to pay for even less than a quid with contactless in most of the few places I still frequent. The butchers have been delivering door to door, and are now bringing a mini card reader around with them that you can wave your Visa (as opposed to waive your visa) over.

[Janik]

Some of the market stalls that I get perishable food from are like that. But the amount of cash I've needed has been slashed considerably, for sure.

[Amor de Cosmos]

There are some trades, like Phoebe the Dog's groomer, who will only accept cash. And you still need coin for parking meters in many places.

[Various Artist]

By the way Rogin, if you're going to say "ATM machine", surely you might as well go the whole hog and say "PIN number" as well...?


I'm not even sure when I last used one, anyway. I've paid with cash precisely once since last March, on the single occasion during the COVID-lull of late summer when I decided to risk nipping into to the local chip shop as a treat – and it turned out they don't take cards. Other than that it's been contactless all the way. I've still got the same small change lying around on my bedroom chest of drawers as was sitting there last spring.

[Various Artist]

Withdrawal symptom.

Oh, applause sir.

[WOM]

And I'm not sure I can even remember its PIN.

Withdrawal symptom.

[Gangster Octopus]

Have to make sure that I've some cash for when the cleaner can turn up, and when we could go out for a meal, always made sure that I had cash for a tip.

[ursus arctos]

We had to assemble a decent wad for the building staff's holiday tips, but before that I hadn't been since late February

[Bored Of Education]

My son was down over Christmas so, you know.... I have also got money out for church collection when I can make it but even there it looks like we are going over to electronic payment.

I feel sorry for the homeless.

[Rogin the Armchair fan]

And I'm not sure I can even remember its PIN.

I think I've remembered it. The first two numbers were a flip of the last two all based on mod 5. But bloody hell.