Congress Baffled By ATMs.

[Gingersnap]

Aging Congress flummoxed by ATMs

By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 21, 2010

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) has long pushed an amendment to limit those pesky and expensive transaction fees at automated teller machines, but his fellow senators didn't go along with the idea this week.

One possible explanation: Quite a few of Harkin's aging colleagues appear to have little or no contact with the decades-old technology of cash machines.

Sen. Ben Nelson (D), for example, told the Omaha World-Herald this week that he has never once used an ATM, relying on bank tellers instead. His Nebraska colleague, Sen. Mike Johanns (R), has used his ATM card fewer than five times. And Sen. Charles E. Grassley (Iowa), the ranking Republican on the Finance Committee, told the newspaper that he has a bank card but doesn't use it for cash.

"I've never used an ATM, so I don't know what the fees are. It's true, I don't know how to use one," Nelson, 69, said.

But Nelson added: "I could learn how to do it. . . . I swipe to get my own gas, buy groceries. I know about the holograms." Nelson's office did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

The comments call to mind previous intersections of modern technology and Washington's sometimes cloistered politicians, from George H.W. Bush's alleged unfamiliarity with checkout scanners to former Alaska senator Ted Stevens's famous assertion that the Internet was akin to "a series of tubes." In the book "Clinton in Exile," author Carol Felsenthal reported that former president Bill Clinton ran into trouble trying pick up a restaurant tab after leaving office -- he didn't know the PIN for his ATM card and couldn't reach his wife for help.

The remarks also appear to provide further evidence of a generation gap in the halls of an aging Congress. The average age of members is among the highest of any Congress in the past century, according to a February report from the Congressional Research Service. The CRS found that the average age of senators at the start of the session was 63.1 years, which is three years higher than it was four years ago; the average for the House was 57.2 years, which is up by two years. The Senate's longest-serving member, Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), is 92.

For Pete's sake. :rolleyes:

Wa Po (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/20/AR2010052003613.html?hpid=moreheadlines)

[Articulate_Ape]

All members of Congress are very proficient at swiping.

[lacarnut]

Most of these rich old goats do not have the foggist how the other half live.

[ralph wiggum]

Well, to be fair, my parents are in their early 60's and have never had an ATM card. But my 85 year-old grandfather has one and uses it.

[noonwitch]

Well, to be fair, my parents are in their early 60's and have never had an ATM card. But my 85 year-old grandfather has one and uses it.


My mom is the same way, and she's 70. She goes to the bank, not the ATM.

My 96 year old grandfather, who emails me regularly, also knows how to use his ATM card.


Some banks charge extremely high fees for using the ATMs, especially if the user does not have an account with that bank. I don't use PNC's machines for that reason.

[linda22003]

My father's never used an ATM card, because he retired around the time the cards came out. He's always had time to go to the bank. This story is like Bush, Sr. being astonished at the grocery checkout.

[PoliCon]

I had a huge fight a year ago over ATM fees. My bank was assessing them when the wife would check the balance on the account. Money was tight and she did not want to overdraft us again - cause I threatened to cut up her card if she did - so she was checking the balance before spending. Apparently my bank saw that as a reson to assess an ATM charge. :mad: I put a stop to that one.

[malloc]

I almost never use an ATM, and I almost never use cash, because I have a bad habit of loosing it. Seems like everyone takes debit these days which has simplified things greatly. I keep a stash of cash at home, but almost everything goes on the debit card. This also helps me keep track of spending with USAA's online services.

[linda22003]

I had a huge fight a year ago over ATM fees. My bank was assessing them when the wife would check the balance on the account. Money was tight and she did not want to overdraft us again - cause I threatened to cut up her card if she did - so she was checking the balance before spending. Apparently my bank saw that as a reson to assess an ATM charge. :mad: I put a stop to that one.

Your own bank assesses ATM fees? That's very odd. My bank only does it if you're out of network. We never have any banking fees at all, actually. :confused:

[Rockntractor]

I had a huge fight a year ago over ATM fees. My bank was assessing them when the wife would check the balance on the account. Money was tight and she did not want to overdraft us again - cause I threatened to cut up her card if she did - so she was checking the balance before spending. Apparently my bank saw that as a reson to assess an ATM charge. :mad: I put a stop to that one.

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv230/upyourstruly/bounce_chart.gif?t=1274626953

[sgrooms]

I have a couple of debit cards, but I like to visit so I go into the bank. There is some still very special about being able to go into my local bank and have the people smile at me and call me by name. These are people that I see a lot outside of the bank, I have transported them or their families.

Gotta love small towns.

[PoliCon]

Your own bank assesses ATM fees? That's very odd. My bank only does it if you're out of network. We never have any banking fees at all, actually. :confused:

well they assessed them because the ATM that were used were from a different bank. She didn't see a problem with checking the balance - and neither do I. I see no reason to assess a $2 ATM fee for checking the balance. FOR THAT MATTER - I see no reason for the ATM fee's full stop.

[Chuck58]

Cash only here. I won't use an ATM and refused to activate the debit card I was sent. It's long expired.

I have a credit card and used it sparingly until they raised my interest rates, stating that they were forced to because there wasn't enough activity on the card. Since then, I've stuck it in a desk drawer and there it's sat ever since. I suspect it won't be renewed because it's seldom used, and I don't care.

[FlaGator]

Congress seems to be baffled by the fact that they should read a bill before they actually vote on it.

[Eagle]

Your own bank assesses ATM fees? That's very odd. My bank only does it if you're out of network. We never have any banking fees at all, actually. :confused:

The only time my bank charged me was when I used the card in Europe, $5 a transaction.

[linda22003]

well they assessed them because the ATM that were used were from a different bank. She didn't see a problem with checking the balance - and neither do I. I see no reason to assess a $2 ATM fee for checking the balance. FOR THAT MATTER - I see no reason for the ATM fee's full stop.

I have no idea why your own bank would assess you such a fee. As I said, our bank assesses no fees for us at all. Perhaps you're a low-dollar customer? If you don't maintain a minimum balance of a certain amount, there may be fees. I haven't seen any in decades.

[PoliCon]

I have no idea why your own bank would assess you such a fee. As I said, our bank assesses no fees for us at all. Perhaps you're a low-dollar customer? If you don't maintain a minimum balance of a certain amount, there may be fees. I haven't seen any in decades.

Sweetie - I'm a public school teacher and my wife does charity work. We've both do time in the mission field at our own expense and like I said - we're working against overdrafts so - yes. Yes we're low dollar customers. Not all of us are independently wealthy :p at least not monetarily. :p

[Rockntractor]

Sweetie - I'm a public school teacher and my wife does charity work. We've both do time in the mission field at our own expense and like I said - we're working against overdrafts so - yes. Yes we're low dollar customers. Not all of us are independently wealthy :p at least not monetarily. :p

Sweetie?:confused::eek:

[patriot45]

I have a couple of debit cards, but I like to visit so I go into the bank. There is some still very special about being able to go into my local bank and have the people smile at me and call me by name. These are people that I see a lot outside of the bank, I have transported them or their families.

Gotta love small towns.

I am in a small town and when I go in the bank I am a foreigner!! I need a translator, they cater to the mexicans here!

[patriot45]

Sweetie?:confused::eek:

Told ya! He is a she!

[Rockntractor]

Told ya! He is a she!

I wonder how big his...um....her tits are?:confused:

[djones520]

My bank doesn't have branches, so everything has to be done through Checks or ATM. They also don't own any ATM's so we get reimbursed on all fees up to 20 transactions a month.

Don't feel bad though Poli, your not the only one who flirts with overdrawing. Not everyone has life on a silver platter.

[PoliCon]

My bank doesn't have branches, so everything has to be done through Checks or ATM. They also don't own any ATM's so we get reimbursed on all fees up to 20 transactions a month.

Don't feel bad though Poli, your not the only one who flirts with overdrawing. Not everyone has life on a silver platter.

I don't feel bad. We live the life of our choosing. We serve as we can and we give as we can. Like my pastor is fond of saying - there are no U-Hauls going into heaven. :)

[Rockntractor]

I don't feel bad. We live the life of our choosing. We serve as we can and we give as we can. Like my pastor is fond of saying - there are no U-Hauls going into heaven. :)

You have to rent trailers? I'll sell you one!:confused:

[PoliCon]

You have to rent trailers? I'll sell you one!:confused:

Spanky - up here we rent TRUCKS not trailers. Trailers are what you people in the south live in. :p

[Rockntractor]

Spanky - up here we rent TRUCKS not trailers. Trailers are why you people in the south live in. :p

Dork! How do you think I haul equipment?

[PoliCon]

Dork! How do you think I haul equipment?

No idea. I haul mine in my pants. :cool: Your wife's purse maybe?? :p