[hn_throwaway_99]

Well, not in the US, so maybe the solution then is to just do what we do. I have never had any of your problems, at any merchant, anywhere, in the US.

[pwinnski]

Agreed, this is simply not an issue in the US.

Our banking system here is backwards in many ways, but the rigamarole described here just doesn't happen. US companies are much better about separating people from their money efficiently, I guess.