[geeks] consumer internet service

[Shawn Wallbridge]

Their is an interesting article on Paypal in Wired this month (Sept). It
sounds like they have huge plans, similar to what you are talking about.

shawn

-----Original Message-----
From: geeks-admin at sunhelp.org [mailto:geeks-admin at sunhelp.org]On Behalf
Of joshua d boyd
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2001 4:01 PM
To: geeks at sunhelp.org
Subject: Re: [geeks] consumer internet service


On Mon, Aug 20, 2001 at 09:44:13PM +0100, David Cantrell wrote:
> * - direct debit is a scheme where you can give a company authority to
> debit variable amounts directly from your bank account.  There are
> numerous safeguards in the system - for instance, it is only available
> to bodies with good trading histories, and any unauthorised debits are
> refunded *by the bank* promptly and with very little hassle**. Presumably
> businesses with too many unauthorised debits get the same sanctions as
> those with too many credit card chargebacks.

OK, we have two methods for doing direct debits.  The first is the
ubiquitous Visa Check cards.  Anyone who can process Visa credit cards can
bill these things, and the money is just gone if you get ripped off, the
bank doesn't have to do anything other than try to help the authorities
catch the thief.

The other method is electronic checking.  This is somewhat less clear what
happens if someone forges a check of yours.  I believe that you carry the
burden of proof for bad checks.  With paper checks, the burden of proof is
easy though.  I'm not sure how hard it would be to meet this burden, but
it is a good bet that they will except that you didn't authorize the check
if you never authorized an electronic check.

For all direct debit methods in the US, there isn't much in the way of
safeguards, especially of the prompt and easy refunds.  So, that is why
I'm so extremely peeved that it isn't easier to do business without Visa
or electronic checking.

If more places would accept paypal, then things would be a lot
easier.  Paypal doesn't accept transfers by check from what I see, but
someone like myself could set up a business where you send me a check for
$101, and when the funds clear, I pay you $100 via pay-pal, who then holds
it till you ask them to send you the check (which would be silly since you
just lost some money for no good reason) or you use paypal for something
else.

At least, I think that setting up such a business would be within the TOS
of Paypal.  But, it isn't so usefull if places like Crucial won't except
paypal.  BTW, apparently crucial gets asked about supporting paypal quite
a bit, since they felt it needed to be answered on their payment pages and
in their FAQ.

--
Joshua D. Boyd
http://www.cs.millersville.edu/~jdboyd/

IANAL: I am not a [lama|lawyer|luser|leper].
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