GOING CASH...and the mystery....

In our local area, for about a week and half at least...

someone's debit card system has been hacked.

There are so many people's debit card/ credit cards, that has

been hacked thru this faulty system in this store.  And because this is a national big box store and only one of two... in our area..Needless to say, it is a huge problem...

So the King and I decided.. so far we have not been affected

by it, so we decided to go cash.   After all we are old enough to remember when there wasn't any debit cards.  So it shouldn't be a big problem.  Well, maybe...

We have found it to be inconvenient, at best.  Neither one of us likes carrying a large sum of money on our person.  So if anyone is going to rob us.. they would be sadly disappointed if they were figuring on cash.. Because we carry $20 or less..and most of the time, less.

So going cash means... carrying cash.. but also maybe you didn't bring enough.  Or you weren't planning on shopping or buying gas.. so you didn't bring anything.  But it also means if you want to pay someone with cash.. you can't go to the ATM machine to get cash.. Because when

the bank finds this fraud.. they cancel your debit card.. and you have to wait until you get the new card in the mail.  Which can take a week or so.  Which has happen here ... and it isn't just one bank, it is all of them in our area.  

The other option is.. taking your check book with you.  Which if you are going to use it in another town, other than your own.. maybe they won't take your check. Especially if it is a small business.  And now days, so many people do use debit card.. the business person looks at you, like what?

you don't own a debit card.. why??? won't the bank let you? Maybe I shouldn't accept your check.   So it is a hassle.

I have a friend who does not have a checking account.. by her choice.. She does not have a debit card or credit card.. she pays strictly by cash. Where she found it to be a hassle, is.. she can't rent a car... or make reservation at a hotel. Both want a credit card.  But I have to admire her,

as she doesn't have to balance a checking account, she doesn't have to keep track of all the receipts, so she can deduct it from her check book log.

She just takes out the cash and pays.

Might take a little bit to get use to it.. but maybe cash is the way to go. Just got to figure out how to carry enough...

Also the store that seems to be the target of this debit/credit card problem, also had a bomb scare over the weekend.. losing 6 hours of business... and this wasn't the only town that suffered that. Friday 3 in Maine, 1 in Florida and

on Wednesday,1 in Wyoming ..is what the newspaper said.  Wonder if that has anything to do with the hacking of the debt/credit cards... wonder if the other locations had the same problem before  their bomb threat?  

Happy Birthday...mm