This morning's depressing banner ad:

[hatrack]

"Now accepting debit and credit cards at McDonald's".

Is it just me, or is having to whip out the plastic and charge dinner at Chez Ronald kind of, uh, pathetic?

[AllegroRondo]

1. I dont mind it

what really gets me is that Taco Bell started taking debit cards (but not credit cards) and wants to charge you 80 cents to use it.

[demnan]

2. Nahhh!

I like the convenience of using my debit card at places. No biggie. I don't like their hamburgers much though, I'd rather do Burger King.

[Avalux]

3. Hmmm

I wouldn't know since I refuse to eat there. Please stop eating that crap! :hi:

[lapfog_1]

4. Uh... they really want to get rid of cash

all the better to track you and control you.

[Not_Giving_Up]

9. This is my hubby's theory too

He refuses to have a bank account.

Did you know that to cash a paycheck at the bank it was written from, you need two forms of ID? Get this, your social security card is NOT a valid form of ID for check cashing, but a credit card is. I don't have a credit card. So, it goes something like this...

"Do you have a card from another bank?"

"Umm..if I did, I wouldn't be here."

"Passport?"

"You're looking at my paycheck, do I look like I make enough to travel abroad?"

"Student ID?"

"Sweetie, I am well past my student days."

"Well, I'm sorry, we can't cash your check without two forms of ID."

"But, I have a birth certificate and a social security card to go with my driver's license!"

So, if you choose not to have a bank account or credit card (OK, I don't choose not to have a credit card, they just won't give me one), be prepared to pay out the @$$ to cash a check. Plus, the check cashing places now scan the check and your ID into the computer, and track where the check is from and how much it is. One place had to make a copy of my social security card as well.

[northzax]

10. Why not simply get a bank account?

It sounds like the hassle you go through to cash your paychecks alone would be worth getting an account at that particular bank. You can then cash your paycheck and take all the money in cash. Seriously, it's tough being a luddite in today's world. Do you pay for everything in cash? you must have some bills, telephone, internet, rent?

[lapfog_1]

12. Nope, fairly easy

I pay for money orders for most bills with cash (yeah, a tick more
expensive than checks, but only the multitude of vendors, not the
bank, knows how much and so on. I try to pay cash for everything
else (gas, food and so on). Am I a Luddite? NOPE, I actually make
a living programming (systems level crap like file systems and device
drivers). So, why do it? Because I don't like Big Brother watching,
and I am worried sick about identity theft (I once had $2000 stolen
out my checking account by someone who stole a checkbook and then
manufactured a DL with his photo).

[SaintAnne]

5. yucky food

why eat at McDonald's? it's yucky yucky yucky, you only eat there if you are sooooooo desparate. ewwwwwwwww I hate mcdonald's yuck yuck yuck

[Not_Giving_Up]

6. McDonald's is generally icky, but

I have to admit that I have a McGriddles addiction. I can't help it.

[K-W]

7. how is that depressing?

I can imagine a scenario where this could be very useful, ie, I have no cash and need food and am near a mcdonalds.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

8. I think it's perfect

Plastic money for plastic food. :puke:

[RebelOne]

11. I thought everyone took debit cards.

I never use cash and pay with my debit card for everything.

[Midlodemocrat]

13. For someone like me

...who never has cash, debit cards are a God send. At times, I do stop at fast food places to get something to drink if I am out running around doing errands and I have been known to get a salad at Chick Fil A occasionally.

[catmandu57]

14. I watched a man

buy Fruit loops, milk and a bunch of canned goods at a gas station convenience store, and pay for it with his gas station credit card.
I don't know his situation, but that shocked me, reaizing how much interest he was going to pay.