Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

So, I tried Dwolla

blog.goodstuff.im

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 151 posts

Re: So, I tried Dwolla

#81

Post by jusben1369 »

aleksandrm wrote: post #25

Is there really no "good-guy" alternative to PayPal? Since PayPal froze my account several years ago and robbed me of 2K, I have been in search of a better alternative. First came WePay, I tried using it, but it was awkward and slow, it took weeks to transfer a simple $500 in the U.S. between verified accounts, and customer service wasn't all that helpful. Then came along Dwolla, I haven't had any large transactions…

Zipmark is a possible alternative. They're also tackling ACH payments but in a fairly unique way. Haven't used them though so can't vouch one way or the other.

Re: So, I tried Dwolla

#82

Post by jusben1369 »

jokoon wrote: post #51

Maybe the time you spent doing it the way you used to do was not in vain at all. Security is not really something you can sell at a poor price. If they can lower their prices, and if their business allows them to retain your money, maybe they want to target clients who are 120% cristal clear clean, because that's how most client are. They're not bugged by that tiny percentage of people they prefer not to validate bec…

"That's like calling brown people terrorists. That's not racist or mean. That's just unfortunate." - Wait what?

Re: So, I tried Dwolla

#84

Post by zaroth »

You know you can just print a check with your partner's account number on it and deposit it, right?

It's called 'Remotely Created Check' (RCC) and its as good as a check sent through snail mail with an actual signature on it. You just put 'Signature on File - This check has been authorized by your depositor' where the signature line would go.

I wrote a little program to generate my own checks like this a few years ago. I used to print them and take them to the ATM but since my bank added Check Deposit to their iPhone app, I just take a picture of the check displayed on my monitor. As a bonus, my signature is already in the back.

You'll need the OpenMICR font so your can print the MICR line, and it'll take a bit of tweaking to get the alignment right. I was thinking of rewriting it in HTML if anyone is interested... (client side only of course)

Re: So, I tried Dwolla

#85

Post by qeorge »

SomeCallMeTim wrote: post #43
mikec3k wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, those are exactly the questions I've seen on credit checks to verify my identity.

The problem with this theory is that a credit check needs an SSN. An SSN wouldn't have confused OP with his father.

Oddly enough it doesn't. For example, you can perform a credit check via this API using only a name + address:

http://www.meridianlink.com/creditAPI.asp

I have personally used this API, and it works.

Re: So, I tried Dwolla

#86

Post by etfb »

timdorr wrote: post #79
etfb wrote: post #66

America is a funny place. You can get 127 varieties of salad dressing at your local supermarket, but you can't pay for it except with cash, unless you want to be hit with credit charges, and when you do the prices are not as marked. Australia, in sharp contrast, has laws requiring that the price on the shelf matches the price at the register -- some of them even allow you to get incorrectly-priced items for free, alt…

I haven't ever been subject to differing costs between credit/debit card and cash prices, with the sole exception of the liquor store. Are there specific stores in the US that do this?

Credit cards have fees -- interest, account-keeping fees, and so on. It's why banks like them.

Re: So, I tried Dwolla

#87

Post by etfb »

timv wrote: post #70
etfb wrote: post #66

America is a funny place. You can get 127 varieties of salad dressing at your local supermarket, but you can't pay for it except with cash, unless you want to be hit with credit charges, and when you do the prices are not as marked. Australia, in sharp contrast, has laws requiring that the price on the shelf matches the price at the register -- some of them even allow you to get incorrectly-priced items for free, alt…

people really only use credit cards for online purchases or when they're already living beyond their means If I'm parsing what you're saying correctly, then that doesn't match my experience. Most people I know will use a credit card at an EFTPOS machine in preference to using their ATM card, and lots of people use the credit card regular because it's simpler than regularly getting cash from the ATM. My current trip f…

Credit cards are still more expensive than debit cards, and in Australia any machine that can take the former will take the latter as well. Credit cards allow you to spend money you don't have, whereas debit cards don't.

Re: So, I tried Dwolla

#88

Post by dublinben »

jusben1369 wrote: post #80
kenmck wrote: post #39

Why is it that people think that they can open a payment account, transfer thousands of dollars into it as their first transaction and no one will ask any questions or be the least bit suspicious?

Yes I was kind of thinking of filing this under "the 1% problem". Who does that much money first time around?

Criminals. This kind of activity would trip any fraud detection algorithm.

Re: So, I tried Dwolla

#89

Post by eridius »

alex_h wrote: post #64
eridius wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A month later his bank was allowed to pull that back out because he had overdrafted. How is that even possible?

This is something about the US banking system that I find completely crazy. Other banks/companies can 'pull' money from your account. Where I come from, all bank transfers are 'push' as far as I'm aware. Ie. the sender of the money has to specifically authorize an amount to be sent. In the US it appears that in a lot of cases, the receiver of money can specify the amount they want to receive and simply pull it from t…

Yeah, but Dwolla isn't a bank. And even if they were, just because someone sent me money a month ago doesn't mean their bank is entitled to some of what is now my money when they get overdrawn now.

Re: So, I tried Dwolla

#90

Post by dkhenry »

jusben1369 wrote: post #76
dkhenry wrote: post #73

As a word of warning to those who would try Dwolla. Not only do they ask for tons of information as many posters have mentioned, but they will not remove your data if you close an account. If you read the Terms of Service Closely they dictate they they will keep your data for a _minimum_ of three years and possibly indefinitely. This includes your name, address, phone number, SSN, and Drivers License. Think twice abo…

There's a chance - given you were doing financial transactions with them - that they have to keep that data around for a period of time.

There is, however even if you don't they still will keep it. Also as a bonus. The same law which binds them to keep that information mandates they give you privacy notifications, which Dwolla will not do, because they claim they are not a financial institution.
Post reply on HN