[HarryHirsch]

Germany has had direct debit since the 1950s, Britain since the 1970s, the difference being that as a consumer you can cancel the transaction within 8 weeks, no questions asked. Why the US can't follow suit is beyond me, instead people have to hack their own workarounds with prepaid credit cards.

[reaperducer]

Germany has had direct debit since the 1950s, Britain since the 1970s, the difference being that as a consumer you can cancel the transaction within 8 weeks, no questions asked. Why the US can't follow suit is beyond me

In the U.S. you can cancel a transaction that you don't believe is legitimate. I did it as recently as last week and as long ago as the 90's when State Farm's auto-debit pulled $2,500 out of my bank account instead of $250. It's nothing new.