> > the big problem with sender initiated is that most such 
> systems have no
> > way to prove to a merchant that you have indeed sent the 
> money until the
> > money actually arrives (which at least in the uk takes days if the
> > accounts are with different banks) 

In my country this is 3 days max, often 2 days. Not much longer than a
cheque would take to arrive at the receipient, and that would not yet be
a guarantee that the cheque actually clears! (BTW: can you send a cheque
electronically, without the trip to the mail box?).

> The time it takes to reach the recipient's account is dependent on the
> communication between the banks. If it's too long, the 
> communication system
> is not set up properly. There's nothing inherent in the 
> system for it to take that long.

Of course in contries where the dominant mechanism is cheques there will
be little pressure to improve the senser-initiated system.

> Don't be fooled that just because you never 
> see the 3% that
> the CC companies charge you don't pay them -- the merchants 
> in places that
> rely heavily on CC payments of course factor those 3% into 
> their prices. 

compare my PayPal and bank transfer prices...

Wouter van Ooijen

-- -------------------------------------------
Van Ooijen Technische Informatica: www.voti.nl
consultancy, development, PICmicro products
docent Hogeschool van Utrecht: www.voti.nl/hvu
 

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