online payments? AUS vs USA
I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar experice.
I've used paypal in Australia for ages. I initially setup with credit card, but I eventually added my back accounts. Never had any worries, transfers were instant even when using my bank account.
I come to America, and I'm forced into using an e-check to put funds into the account, and it is slowed to 2-3 days before the transaction clears. This F****** sucks. For whatever reason it is not working the same was as in Australia. I used to have instant funds transfer.... now slowness.
I'm having the same exact issues with Alert Pay.
What the hell is going on here?
Is it just me or is bakning quicker, more customer friendly, and more advanced outside of the US? Sure seems that way.
What bugs me even further is that person to person, transfer, paying bills, and international transfer are all easier over there.
Is it a small town versus big city thing?
Re: online payments? AUS vs USA
I have both echeck and instant payment (and credit card) options with Paypal. Does this possibly have something to do with your move, and your addresses not being verified/matching your CC adresses yet? Everything needs to match, and I'm pretty sure it had to be a business account for instant transfers, but I don't claim to be an expert. I just know that the only times I can't use instant transfers, its when the seller isn't permitted to accept them due to the status of their account.
Re: online payments? AUS vs USA
You could be on to something Jayda, I used to have the next level up paypal account, that let me accept credit via auctions, etc. That could be the problem.
I'll investigate, thanks.
Re: online payments? AUS vs USA
My PayPal Account.......
Seller Reputation: (2) Verified Buyers
Account Status: Verified
Account Type: AU Premier
.... Active sellers are required to have a Premier or Business account.
I should be able to accept all forms of payment.
Re: online payments? AUS vs USA
My Australian account was Premier. Maybe I should upgrade again. Although I'm leaning towards my bank being the issue. Things are strange out here GCG.
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Nope, America is just slow. Paypal is FAST here. even when it doesn't say instant, it was!
Re: online payments? AUS vs USA
Quote:
Originally Posted by cherryripeboy
Is it just me or is bakning quicker, more customer friendly, and more advanced outside of the US?
It's not just you. That's definitely the way it is, at least in the developed world.
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Well I think Yek and LM have hit the nail on the head... they tried to give me some BS about using a wire transfer, sure that would have cost me $USD20. :O
Please don't flame me, but US banking... it simply sucks. That has been my expereince so far. Sure it works, it has just not truly changed in the past 15 years, and is miles behind both Australia and South Korea. -Online instant transfers within countires for no cost, and international transactions with a non-expensive cost. Maybe it is just here or the bank. :shrug:
Re: online payments? AUS vs USA
It's the U.S. Because the same is true when you compare healthcare systems, customer service, and just about every other aspect of life. Everything is smoother, cheaper, and vastly more effecient and advanced in Australia than it is here.
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Thats funny, Ive lived in Georgia, Florida and here now in Melbourne Australia.
The banking fees here in Australia are outrageous! Its often in the news, people are not happy about it.
I loved the drive thru banking in USA!! They dont have it here and the lines are often loooong!!
Dont know about paypal, only used it here in Australia, and yes its always been quick & cheap here.
Re: online payments? AUS vs USA
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rbcaul
Thats funny, Ive lived in Georgia, Florida and here now in Melbourne Australia.
The banking fees here in Australia are outrageous! Its often in the news, people are not happy about it.
I loved the drive thru banking in USA!! They dont have it here and the lines are often loooong!!
Dont know about paypal, only used it here in Australia, and yes its always been quick & cheap here.
Well how is this for outrageous.... $USD2.00 for using another bank's atm. The most I paid in Australia was $AUD2.00. 0.50 less in Australia. I have yet to experience the banks 'local' fees.
Without research I could not help you much. I would warn you that every bank seems to have a nasty account. Excessive fees for everything. I know commonsuck (commonwealth) got us on one once, and every atm tranaction was at least 0.75-1.25 and taken immedietly from the account. This was 5 years ago I'm sure they are even higher now. Back then ATM transactions were I think mostly between 0.25 and 0.50.
When we left Westpac had raised non-wespac atm fees to 2.00. So they were starting to go bad.
Yes banks can be cowded, you avoid those. Commonwealth was always the worse one for crowding. Especially Box Hill Central's branch. All the banks there could get crowded. There are times you avoid the grocery stores and the banks. You just learn the times for your area and avoid when you can.
Try and shop around for a good bank. That is the same thing I'm going to do over the next month. I had to setup one to get things going, but unless I find they really are good I will not stay.
In Australia, until recently I'd have recommended Westpac. Today I might go with Bendigo or a credit union. I'd only use commonsuck if I had a home loan with them. NAB does not even factor into my equation, too dirty.
Re: online payments? AUS vs USA
Rbcaul, did you try to use cheques in Australia? I know that is American style banking, and should be avoided there... it will usually cost you $AUD30 for a checque book (maybe more) and there are lots of chequing fees.
Personally I outright refuse to use cheques in this modern age, and will continue to do so.
In Australia you setup a savings account, not a chequing account.
-I've only ever had one bill I could not pay online, and I just used a money order when I had to pay it. Worked out cheaper for me.
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^^^ EFTPOS is your friend!
Re: online payments? AUS vs USA
The only times I stepped foot in a bank in Australia:
Deposit money
Withdraw 1500+
Obtain Registered Bank Cheque
Exchange Currency
Change Larger/Smaller Bills (rare, even Mcdonalds can break a $100), well better with a 50, but yeah I've done it.
Wire Transfers overseas (until recently)
Disregarding the preperations for moving, I probablly never had to go into a bank more than once every 3 motnth. That would be different if I worked cash in hand.
Yek is right, eftpos is your friend!! I love it.
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That's so funny!
When i moved to Aus from New Zealand, i couldn't get over how backwards the australian eftpos system was lol!
In NZ you can use eftpos for any small amount, and spend as much as you like - i hardly ever use cash in NZ.
But in Aus i found soooo many places wouldn't accept eftpos, or had a minimum purchase of $10. Plus when my husband went to buy a lounge suite, he couldn't put the whole thing on eftpos!! There's some ridiculous limit of $2000 per day on eftpos spending! wtf!? /:O
And the Auspost stores don't accept Westpac eftpos cards! :O
Don't get me wrong, i LOVE LOVE LOVE Australia (and NZ has it's own small country issues), but as far as everyday banking/eftpos use goes New Zealand is pretty superior.
/ end pointless banking rant.. heh heh heh
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Okay.. here's the thing... get a debit card be it Visa or Mastercard. I also use Suncorp as my main bank as they do not charge you at all if you maintain the min. balance every month. As for NAB, they are my secondary bank and I haven't had too many problems with them (and I've been with them for years and years) as long as you always find a NAB ATM to use you will be fine and keep your EFTPOS use low ;) As for Suncorp, just maintain the min. balance and you have unlimited use of ATMs and EFTPOS. Having a debit card linked to the account (for me it is a Visa card linked to a Suncorp account) can help you overcome the limit on EFTPOS transactions.
I havn't heard much bad about ANZ ........
Yes, here in Australia do not use cheques to pay for anything as there is really no need to do so these days.