I've seen a few people mention ID. Do you, in the land of the free, need to carry ID cards all the time? Like in 1930s Germany? Why?
Most Americans carry an ID card with them because it is needed to do a lot of things in daily life. Even going into a bar in a busy part of town, you will get your ID's PDF417 barcode scanned/magnetic strip swiped, even if you look more than old enough (The scan reveals whether you have caused trouble in the past or not by checking against a database the local bars use, rather than just an age thing). If/When you're stopped by police, you rather have it, than being called into the station because they think you're lying about who you are. Also when using a credit card, some places ask for ID (they don't when you use Apple/Google Pay or Tap to Pay), remember, as US Credit cards are Chip & Signature, not Chip & PIN.
Some stores like Walmart will scan your ID when you return something without a receipt. This way they can track if you have "done it soo many times" that they will ban you from returning items to the store at all, etc.
[doublepost=1555745321][/doublepost]
Haven't read the whole thread, so this may have already been said:
One of the most powerful means of control that governments and corporations could possibly have over you is knowing where you spend every penny. You will be exposed and limited in ways you can't even begin to imagine yet.
Switch to a fully cashless society at your peril. All of the advantages are nothing compared to that single disadvantage.
Source: Man old enough to know what a cash pay packet looks like, and cynical enough about humans to predict that we will still go fully cashless anyway, and regret it forever.
Tin Foil Hatters I knew would come out. Its a fiat currency anyway, which means your cash can easily be no good tomorrow if the government felt like it. Whether if its on a card, or on paper money, its a fiat currency, not backed by anything other than the government saying $1 is $1.
[doublepost=1555745670][/doublepost]
A driving licence is ID in the UK too, and we too need it to claim mail at the post office. We don't need it for a phone line, or to vote, so it's a once in a blue moon thing, not every day.
I'm going to take mine tomorrow when I take a £2,500 bicycle for a 48 hour test ride. The last time I needed it was to log onto to the government website to get a code to prove to my employer that I'm licensed to drive the company van, which has to be done every 3 years.
You don't need an ID to vote? I don't want this to get political, but that seems like kind of dangerous. Here in Arizona, you scan your ID on a touchscreen before your ballot is even printed. Then when you're done, you insert the ballot into another bin with a touchscreen on it which electronically counts it.
What about going to a bar? Bars here on Mill Ave maintain some sort of database to see if you caused any trouble in the bar in the past/got banned etc. The bouncers would scan your ID's barcode to check your ID against this database. Doesn't matter if you look over the age of 100.
Even when riding a train, caught without your pass? The ID is the only way they are able to mail a ticket to your house/issue you the ticket. Otherwise, you will have to go into the Police station and prove who you are that way, which doesn't sound much fun to me. You CAN get by remembering the ID numbers off of your ID card, which I do. In this case you'd give them the numbers, your name, and birthdate, and they can radio it in and confirm you're actually not fibbing them.
As for getting a phone account, it has something to do with some terrorism law I am sure, but I am sure it REALLY has to do with the fact that they run credit checks etc to make sure you pay your bill on time.
AutoZone swiped my ID when returning some car parts. No swipe? Well then I just don't get to return the item., as returning items to a store is a privilege, not some right. The store uses this to track how many times you are returning something to prevent people from "renting" tools they need, etc. I know Walmart does not allow you to return something without a receipt more than 3 times in a year, and they track this by scanning your ID card.
What I really want is my state to make a digital ID card. That would be nice, and I can ditch the physical card at home, or just leave it in the car.
Also, we aren't TOO behind, we also have the same fancy government websites in our state, ServiceArizona and MVD Now, which now even allows you to electronically title a car, and sell it, etc.
[doublepost=1555745987][/doublepost]
But if they steal your debit card they would also need to steal your PIN number.
Plus if money is stolen from your account (fraud), at least in my country you are covered for the first £50,000. I don’t usually have that much in my current account!
Look at all the gas pump skimmers in the US and ATM skimmers in the US, they have a camera to steal the PIN number. There has even been a new phenomenon called the chip punch out now, where the ATM is fitted with a device that would also punch out the chip from your card, so they can implant it on another card. Hopefully one isn't too drunk to notice their card is now chip-less when they got it back out of the ATM.
And then there also is card shimming, which of course is happening in my state, go figure.
https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-ne...reat-shimmers-are-making-their-way-to-arizona
So the safest way to pay is Apple Pay.
tl;dr In America, most people carry their ID cards & Apple Pay is the best way to pay.
