An INFURIATING example of why we NEED Bitcoin

[Mr_Akbar]

Going to apologize ahead of time for the rant, but this kind of shit is why crypto is so damn important.

I set out to make a large purchase the other day. A personal development program for entrepreneurs, essentially.

The sales page only had credit card information, but that wasn’t going to work for me.

My main card just expired, the replacement was in the mail but hadn’t arrived yet - and I didn’t want to put this much money on my back up card.

So I reach out to the owner and asked if we can use a different payment method.
(Obviously I suggested Bitcoin.)

“Yes, we can do a PayPal link.
We can't accept Bitcoin yet, specifically for this, however, I'm certain we will in the future.”

I get not being able to accept crypto at this time. There just aren’t any great 3rd party systems for merchants, and it quickly becomes a tax and automation headache. This is changing, but slowly.

Paypal works for me, I’ve used it for years.

I go to send the transaction direct from my bank account, but it gets declined. I know that there is plenty of money in the account, so this is strange. The error too, was strange - something about the card not being accepted even though it was supposed to be doing a bank transfer.

My natural distrust of the banks immediately had me putting the blame there, so I gave them a call.

That blame was entirely misplaced. The bank had no issues, no problem with my account, or my debit card. Plenty of money, no holds/restrictions, nothing. In fact, they never even saw the transaction request coming from Paypal.

I called Paypal.

Apparently, some “security system” of theirs has decided that in order to “keep me safe”, it refused to complete the transaction.

Not only that, but that there is absolutely nothing the employees can do about it - they can't override the system.

What the fuck?

What gives Paypal the right to decide what I do with my money? Who the hell are they to say that a transaction I choose to make is "too risky" or "unsafe"?

Paypal's recommendation for what I can do? "Go find someone else to send your money."

🖕

So now I have to go back to the guy, looking like an idiot and embarrassed as hell, begging for yet a third payment method to try.

Thankfully, he's a nice guy and went out of his way to get me bank information for a wire transfer.

Should be straightforward, right? Went to Western Union to make it happen. Plugged in my bank info and their bank info, pressed the button, and....

Error.

Damnit. Went back, triple checked all the info, and tried again.

Same problem.

So here I am, on the phone with Western Union, asking what the hell is going on. Their response?

"Yea our system is down, try again in an hour."

...

Six hours later I try it again.

Same. Bloody. Problem.

Back on the phone with Western Union, clearly there is an issue here.  The lady told me that she's "escalate my issue" and that "IT will reach out to me to gather more information."

I asked her when I can expect IT to reach out, and her response was "within the hour." (Spoiler alert, that didn't happen)

The next day, I was finally able to send a wire transfer, but it should NOT have been so damn difficult!

You know what system doesn't try to tell me what I can or cannot spend my money on, doesn’t go down, and send transfers waaay faster than “0-6 business days”? Bitcoin.

Paypal, Western Union, watch out - your incompetence will be your downfall.

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[CryptoBry]

I can understand your frustrations with those failed transactions and the fact is that in our modern and high-tech world a similar situation can still be happening right now to many people. Yes, our technologies right now can never guarantee a smooth-sailing experience all because there are some variables involved that can be beyond our control. This is why cryptocurrency can be or should be one of the best options that anyone should enjoy. Of course, as I said when it comes to human invention there is nothing perfect but at least with cryptocurrency this is a long jump ahead of the game. This scenario is the reason why business firms, merchants and those in eCommerce should look at how they can be a part of the crypto bandwagon either by establishing their own infrastructure or get a service provider that is reliable.

[YuginKadoya]

Well, it is just a coincidence that there are such problems like this, in my opinion, Western Union and Paypal works well in my case but maybe that same day both have such technical discrepancies or problems in their part, Well in my opinion even the transaction for bitcoin sometimes can have a problem such as these, we are having a problem with the confirmation of transaction in our part sometimes that is why I can tell that there is no such perfect thing in this world, And some bitcoin transaction having problem with banks or that outlet is not available but you are in need of money that badly, I guess some situations like this will still occur because the system isn't perfect at all, You can not blame anyone here it is just a coincidence and it is just your unlucky day that day.

[Thirdspace]

You know what system doesn't try to tell me what I can or cannot spend my money on, doesn’t go down, and send transfers waaay faster than “0-6 business days”? Bitcoin.

wait until you are experiencing heavy transaction traffic on bitcoin network
it will force you to either wait for more than a week or pay fee way much higher than usual
each payment system has its own good and bad points, you just need to accept and deal with it
and remember, with bitcoin you don't have a customer service you can complain or yell at

[squatter]

You know what system doesn't try to tell me what I can or cannot spend my money on, doesn’t go down, and send transfers waaay faster than “0-6 business days”? Bitcoin.

wait until you are experiencing heavy transaction traffic on bitcoin network
it will force you to either wait for more than a week or pay fee way much higher than usual

High fees on the Bitcoin network means what, 100 satoshis/byte? That must pale in comparison to bank wire fees. Last time I received a wire, it was $75 short due to fees from both my bank and an intermediary bank.

I agree with the OP -- life would be a lot easier if everyone just accepted Bitcoin. No waiting on incompetent third parties or banking hours...

[jseverson]

I guess some situations like this will still occur because the system isn't perfect at all

Yeah, I feel like that's kind of the point he's driving at. He wouldn't be in this situation if everyone just accepted Bitcoin. I've had a few situations like this myself, where I've had to drive to banks in other areas to settle deposits.

It's not even necessarily the providers' fault. Transfers are inconvenient for them as well thanks to all the rules and regulations surrounding it. It sucks, but the only solution is to use a different system which can't be bogged down by red tape -- something Bitcoin provides perfectly.

[killat]

Here you have a few reasons why we need Bitcoin:

- we want and need an alternative to centralized banks
- Bitcoin is a very secure payment option is you keep safe your private key
- all tou need to pay with Btc is Internet

[Slow death]

I really agree with you, people like me who live in a poor country face high fees of paypal and wester union and in the case of wester union we are required to hand over a lot of documents and we are only have to do transactions in a few places. It is a very tough situation to use these methods, if one day is possible to use bitcoin for everything we want: shopping, money transfer and service payments... everything will be much simpler and cheaper.

[Twinkledoe]

I really agree with you, people like me who live in a poor country face high fees of paypal and wester union and in the case of wester union we are required to hand over a lot of documents and we are only have to do transactions in a few places. It is a very tough situation to use these methods, if one day is possible to use bitcoin for everything we want: shopping, money transfer and service payments... everything will be much simpler and cheaper.

I guess we are not far from these kind of developments in online consumerism. As days go by, more merchants, shops and companies are opening their payment terminals via crypto payments. It is only a matter of time if one day your online shop integrated crypto payments as well.

[rodel caling]

Well, be patinece malfunction or delay transaction is part of the new technology system, because we an internet connection to transfer of funds using this system technology sometimes we encountered technicalities specially if the weather isn't good or the company need yo update the system which they inform the user about it inconvenience.

[Artemis3]

...

I asked her when I can expect IT to reach out, and her response was "within the hour." (Spoiler alert, that didn't happen)

The next day, I was finally able to send a wire transfer, but it should NOT have been so damn difficult!

You know what system doesn't try to tell me what I can or cannot spend my money on, doesn’t go down, and send transfers waaay faster than “0-6 business days”? Bitcoin.

Paypal, Western Union, watch out - your incompetence will be your downfall.

And here there is people that can't bother to wait a mere 1 hour for a transaction to complete. Again, there is no reason to use anything but 1 sat/B for most bitcoin transactions. People CAN wait a few hours, or even an entire day. STOP saying bitcoin fees are expensive, and LEARN to use manual fees already.

[Philopolymath]

You are an idiot for buying such a stupid charlatan scam in the first place

[dimastegar]

Yes. With Bitcoin we can make transactions very easily. Without having to wait for third party confirmation. The bitcoin you send can go directly to your destination wallet. Of course, with a cheap fee and can save time.

[Mr_Akbar]

Update:

The wire transfer did not go through.

We are sorry to inform you that based on the information provided, Western Union must decline to process your transaction. Western Union is subject to a number of economic sanctions and restrictions imposed by the United States and other countries, and it appears based on the information that you have provided, the transaction might violate one or more of these sanction programs.

Excuse me? International sanctions?
Me, an American, is attempting to send another American money from one American bank account to another American bank account. And this violates international sanctions?

So they told me they would issue a refund.

12 days later and I STILL have not gotten my money back. Thousands of dollars sitting in limbo for WEEKS.

Called them yesterday to ask them what the hell is their problem...
Well, they've "escalated" my "concern."

I could have gone panning for gold and mailed it via carrier pigeon faster than this.

[stompix]

Update:
The wire transfer did not go through.

We are sorry to inform you that based on the information provided, Western Union must decline to process your transaction. Western Union is subject to a number of economic sanctions and restrictions imposed by the United States and other countries, and it appears based on the information that you have provided, the transaction might violate one or more of these sanction programs.

Excuse me? International sanctions?
Me, an American, is attempting to send another American money from one American bank account to another American bank account. And this violates international sanctions?

Sorry but I don't understand why would you use western union to transfer money between two bank accounts both in the US.  Use a direct wire, it might not be SEPA but I bet is faster than WU.

What gives Paypal the right to decide what I do with my money? Who the hell are they to say that a transaction I choose to make is "too risky" or "unsafe"?

Paypal's recommendation for what I can do? "Go find someone else to send your money."

Well, you gave them those rights when you opened your account. 
Did you go through all that agreement and read all of it?

Neither did I till the first time I had somewhat of a problem with them but seriously, If I had read it earlier I wouldn't have used them at all, I got headaches counting the possibilities of having my money and account frozen.