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In reply to the discussion: Social Security to end paper checks after Sept. 30 [View all]BumRushDaShow
(158,614 posts)12. There are people in a number of blighted urban locales
that are not only "food deserts" with no supermarket, but "bank deserts", with no banks whatsoever, and what little financial-related businesses that they may have access to are check-cashing places that are almost usurious, but they will take the check and cash it.
Their source of groceries end up being small corner stores that sell limited perishable food (maybe bread, milk, eggs) as well as canned goods, dry foodstuffs like rice, beans, pasta, etc, that are often "cash only" because thieves come in and put "skimmers" on their debit/credit terminals to steal the card info.
In fact, for a number of those little stores that did have full ATM machines, what has unfortunately happens is this -
So you also have owners of those little stores either with a machine out of order or none at all due to idiots trying to blow open the machine to get the money out. I remember one instance where some perps broke into a little store next to one that was secured with one of those metal gates over the windows/door that had an ATM, and they literally blew away the wall in the adjoining store to get into the store with the ATM so they could take the machine out.
Hell - 2 banks near me had exterior ATMs blown up and they had to put the replacement ones inside.
Blowing up ATMs is a "thing". And robbing armored trucks is too, as there is a spate of those here happening in NE Philly in the past couple weeks.
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That's exactly how I feel about seniors who refuse to abide by modern technology
Polybius
Jul 18
#34
The government could provide help to those who find it difficult to make the change.
twodogsbarking
Jul 17
#4
I've been on hold since 1994. They said not to hang up or I would wait even longer.
twodogsbarking
Jul 17
#7
Yes because so many rural areas are without reliable internet and cellphone service
FakeNoose
Jul 17
#9
Help me understand why not having a local bank is a problem? I have lived 2000
sinkingfeeling
Jul 17
#10
I wonder what financial corporation will benefit from all of those prepaid cards?
Buddyzbuddy
Jul 17
#16
Thank you for the information. (Comments not directed at you SOTOP) And that charge would "only" occur
Buddyzbuddy
Jul 18
#37
I guess it has changed, it used to be way back when I would get actual IRS refund checks that they
LiberalArkie
Jul 18
#24
What about people who can't have bank accounts due to old debts where accounts get attached?
Liberty Belle
Jul 18
#28