Cheque Declined

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Means of payment. No cash. Stores told us they prefer digital payment because of COVID-19, the virus that crash-landed on us in 2020. It sneaks in everywhere. Stores were scared it might attach itself to $10 or $20 dollar bills.

We swipe or tap bank and credit cards. We even tap with phones. These digital means of payment have also changed questions, friendly or hostile cashiers throw at us. They used to say: Cash or cheque? Not anymore. They see cards in our hands and say:

Debit? Credit?

We seldom use cheques, but banks still issue them with outdated details. Take the back for example. There’s a line for a signature.

Cheques are stale news for two reasons. One: companies pay workers, suppliers, mistresses, traffic tickets everything by direct deposit. Whoosh! The money goes straight into business and personal accounts.

Secondly, even if they do, the automatic banking machine at the mall takes cheques and you don’t have to sign them. You punch your account number, select the destination account, than slide cheque in.

We don’t know about tomorrow though, since technology doesn’t go on vacation. Cashiers will be shocked at our response.

CASHIER: How are you paying?

ME: cc.

CASHIER: cc?

ME: Yes, I’ll pay crypto currency.

Cashiers beware.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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