The card issue

You would think, that in XXI century, in the age of globalism, in highly developed country like Holland, in most popular supermarket chain, you won't have any problems with payment for your groceries using your credit card. I also thought so. Guess what... I was wrong! Why? Because of Visa...

I'm so extremely happy, that it's possible to pay with a card almost everywhere and for everything. Even buying a stupid train ticket in a vending machine :) The problem starts when you're not using THE card. For my bad luck I'm the owner of Visa Electron. Maybe it's not perfect, but at least I never had any problems with one. Even Ryan Air accepts it. Unfortunately... not in Holland. In this country Mastercard is the one. Again, for my bad luck, my Mastercard has no coverage on the account and it's gonna stay like that (I got it as an effect of crazy spontaneous decision few months ago when I opened a new bank account and since that time never ever used it and I'm definitely not gonna need it after I move to Neverland). In short: it's useless.

I wanted to be a good, caring guardian of hearth and home, so while Maurice was at work, I decided to prepare some nice dinner. The supermarket is on the other side of the road, so I clearly could not see any problem. With a basket full of delicious products, armed with my Visa, I stood at the counter. When a nice cashier lady started scanning my grocery, in a weird moment of curiosity I asked (I was pretty sure it was a retorical question) if I can pay with my card. She looked at me disoriented, made a quick phone call to consult my request and with sad face announced me "sorry, but no". But why?! And what now?! How am I supposed to pay if I don't have any other card, nor cash!... The lady pointed an ATM standing by the exit and agreed to put my valuable groceries on a side, so I can go and get some cash money. What a lovely woman. Can not really say the same thing about faces of other customers, when I came back to the counter holding a freshly withdrawed bill and made them wait longer. But how was I supposed to know...