Counting the cost of money machines: 'I think banks were wrong to phase out cheques'

David Biggs writes that he increasingly finds himself using banknotes, and withdraws a sum of money at the beginning of the week and then takes as much with him daily as he thinks he’ll need. File picture: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

David Biggs writes that he increasingly finds himself using banknotes, and withdraws a sum of money at the beginning of the week and then takes as much with him daily as he thinks he’ll need. File picture: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

Published May 18, 2021

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As a confirmed member of the DOF Brigade (Doddery Old Farts), I distrust anything electronic.

“Just tap your card,” the teller says and waves your credit card vaguely over her keyboard and a lump of virtual money vanishes out of your bank account and into hers.

It may seem very slick and clever, like a magician pulling a rabbit out of your ear, but you know that rabbit wasn’t really in your ear.

I imagine this is how politicians manage to steal billions of tax-payers’ rand.

Just wave your party membership card over a machine and money slips from your account into theirs.

I don’t believe I’m alone in my distrust.

Most people seem to think money doesn’t really exist.

Government employees threaten to go on strike for more money and when they are told, “There is no more money,” the don’t believe it.

“Of course there’s more money. You just press a few buttons and money comes out. We want it.”

I find myself increasingly going back to using old-fashioned cash money – banknotes.

I withdraw a sum of money from my bank account at the beginning of the week and take as much with me each day as I think I’ll need to cover expected costs.

That might sound clumsy to you, or even dangerous, but at least I feel my money is real: notes and coins in my pocket.

When I’ve spent it, I have to stop buying stuff. My credit card stays safely in my desk at home so there’s no possibility that I’ll say, “Oh, another hundred rand won’t make much difference.

“I’ll just wave my card at a teller.” I think the banks were wrong to phase out cheques.

They were a convenient way to pay debts. In effect a cheque was a letter to your bank asking them to transfer money from your account to someone else’s.

Simple, but not so simple that it’s too casual. You couldn’t write a cheque without knowing it, like accidentally pressing a keypad in your pocket.

I’m sure there are plenty of people out there ready to join the DOF Brigade right now.

Just send your subscription fee to me and your name will be added to the membership list. Cash only, please. Or a cheque.

Last Laugh

The world is divided into optimists and pessimists.

An optimist invented the aircraft and a pessimist invented the seat belt.

* "Tavern of the Seas" is a column written in the Cape Argus by David Biggs. Biggs can be contacted at [email protected]

** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.

Cape Argus

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