Griping about Banks and Forms
![](https://images.hive.blog/768x0/https://img.inleo.io/DQmbxSivNjXtajoc2dB4tcEPjRfeJKFcxsoQte1MbwpAxr1/IMG_20240718_140845.jpg)
I know that griping about governments and banks are two of the more popular gripes in the cryptosphere... and usually, I'm a bit indifferent to them. Sure, I do think that they have gotten corrupt and inefficient, but that is the problem with the long-term inability to disrupt entrenched power structures... and I don't mean that it needs to be all burnt down, but removing some of the more overt forms of possible corruption should be possible without people putting the hands on their hearts and PROMISING that they couldn't possibly be corrupt!
... a bit like the entire crypto-ethos... don't rely on goodwill and trust, just make it impossible.
Anyway... most of my gripes with government stuff is the sheer inefficiency of the whole thing. Quite often, the onus is dumped to the public to do a crap-load of work... or to pay for someone else to do it. Anyone who has tried to report anything to do with crypto is definitely going to be crazily aware of that... even if you don't have that much to declare, but you want to do it right!
Anyway... our latest, is the fact that we were still collecting childcare subsidies from the Netherlands.... to the grand total of ZERO euros per year. But to make sure that all the boxes were ticked, we needed to show our worldwide income. GAAAAHHHHHH... anyway, to avoid problems, we did it. Which is tricky given our freelance working lives, the exchange rates, and the out of sync financial years.
But we did need to prepare everything for the Australian tax year anyway... and so, doing this sort of gave us a head start on doing that particular nightmare (which we have about two more months or so left before the self-reporting deadline!).
So, with it was with a sense of relief that we posted the two forms back to the Netherlands last week... with a pretty rough calculation, but at least we tried! And to our immense frustration... for some reason, the post office decided to send one straight BACK TO US! ARRRHGHGHGHGHG..... anyway, a quick fix... back down to the post office to explain our situation... an apology, and a possible explanation... and then it was send back into the system, no extra cost to us. People are nice sometimes!
![](https://images.hive.blog/768x0/https://img.inleo.io/DQma5qTizuQwZigvtfk3FQsHWzRx5SAqAXXamYpjjVpajT5/Screenshot_2024-07-19-17-01-29-01_bd9acfaa8d784e68bc9974b16e93019a.jpg)
Meanwhile... banks... a sort of integrated evil into the modern system. Sure sure, self-custody and all of that... but most people aren't able or willing to do that sort of thing. So, some sort of custody is required... and banks have built themselves into the modern fabric as that sort of middleman. Which would be fine... except that they suck at what they do. The digital wrapper over archaic systems that make it appear to the general public that everything is all working and fine... and new-fashioned!
So, first gripe of the day... I want to send money Europe to a library to get some digital copies of some music manuscripts in Austria... they have the ONLY copy in the world. So, straight to the bank... and it will cost 19 euros to pay 14 euros... and there is a minimum of 100 euros to send. FFSFSFSFSFSFSSFFS!!!!!
... and of course, the old library archives in Europe haven't adopted crypto-payments either. They have barely managed to digitalise some of their collections. So, straight to a fintech app called WISE that I used often to get euros and AUD going back and forth.... Previously, I would just use it for international transfers to myself... but it seems like you can have different currency wallets in the app, and then just send them onwards as local transfers! Screw the bank costs, as you are local transactions at both ends.
... but then, the local transfer option was disabled in Australia. Poops... so, I would have to wait till the next day.
Anyway, long story short... it was all done, without the dubious help of the banks, aside from local transfers, and that is already middleman enough. And now, I have set up several currency wallets as well, just so that I am ready for next time!
I can also be found cross-posting at:
Hive
Steem
Publish0x
Handy Crypto Tools
Ledger Nano S/X: Keep your crypto safe and offline with the leading hardware wallet provider. Not your keys, not your crypto!
Coinbase Wallet: Multi chain wallet with lots of opportunities to Learn and Earn!
Binance: My first choice of centralised exchange, featuring a wide variety of crypto and savings products.
WooX: The centralised version of WooFi. Stake WOO for fee-free trades and free withdrawals! This link also gives you back 25% of the commission.
GMX.io: Decentralised perpetual futures trading on Arbitrum!
Coinbase: If you need a regulated and safe environment to trade, this is the first exchange for most newcomers!
Crypto.com: Mixed feelings, but they have the BEST looking VISA debit card in existence! Seriously, it is beautiful!
CoinList: Access to early investor and crowdsale of vetted and reserached projects.
Cointracking: Automated or manual tracking of crypto for accounting and taxation reports.
KuCoin: I still use this exchange to take part in the Spotlight and Burning Drop launches.
MEXC: Accepts HIVE, and trades in most poopcoins! Join the casino!
ByBit: Leverage and spot trading, next Binance?
OkX: Again, another Binance contender?
![](https://images.hive.blog/0x0/https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://images.hive.blog/0x0/https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/bengy/IxCcXN5m-upgoats-bengy-gen-1.png)
Account banner by jimramones
Short preview description
Short preview description: 0/120 characters used.
Topics
Topics-Tags to classify your post: 0/10
Recently used: FOODOFTHEWORLD, FAMILY, TRAVELADVICE, SGSLIFE, TEAMAUSTRALIA, GOULBURN, AUSTRALIA
Crypto
Link preview: https://peakd.com/general/@bengy/...
2 MIN READ
202 WORDS
I can also be found cross-posting at:
Hive
Steem
Publish0x
Handy Crypto Tools
Ledger Nano S/X: Keep your crypto safe and offline with the leading hardware wallet provider. Not your keys, not your crypto!
Coinbase Wallet: Multi chain wallet with lots of opportunities to Learn and Earn!
Binance: My first choice of centralised exchange, featuring a wide variety of crypto and savings products.
WooX: The centralised version of WooFi. Stake WOO for fee-free trades and free withdrawals! This link also gives you back 25% of the commission.
GMX.io: Decentralised perpetual futures trading on Arbitrum!
Coinbase: If you need a regulated and safe environment to trade, this is the first exchange for most newcomers!
Crypto.com: Mixed feelings, but they have the BEST looking VISA debit card in existence! Seriously, it is beautiful!
CoinList: Access to early investor and crowdsale of vetted and reserached projects.
Cointracking: Automated or manual tracking of crypto for accounting and taxation reports.
KuCoin: I still use this exchange to take part in the Spotlight and Burning Drop launches.
MEXC: Accepts HIVE, and trades in most poopcoins! Join the casino!
ByBit: Leverage and spot trading, next Binance?
OkX: Again, another Binance contender?
Upgoats by ryivhnn
Account banner by jimramones
Recovery Account Warning
Your recovery account is currently set to @steem. It is highly recommended to update it now.
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
19$ to pay 14$😭😭😭😭
That's just crazy 😂😂
Yep, it's like they just don't need to try.
I'm really happy about my decision to switch from a traditional bank to a credit union a couple of years ago. Things just seem to work more smoothly and I don't have to worry about them merging or getting bought out.
I've been with a credit union my entire adult life. They aren't perfect but far better than your typical bank. I'm not sure if credit unions are a thing outside of the U.S. or not. For anybody reading this that doesn't know, a credit union is basically a non-profit bank owned by its members. Typically they have lower (often much lower or non-existent) fees. They aren't any better for being able to transfer money internationally though, especially small amounts. That can still be a pain and it depends on what the recipient can accept.
Thanks for that. I think they are in some countries, but probably not all of them. I always had a credit union account, but it was only after my main bank got bought twice in one year that I moved all my finances to the CU.
The last bank I used made me so angry. i've probably mentioned it before but I used to have a Citibank account. It was just a saving account i used to put a little extra money in from time to time. Just a way to keep a bit of savings separate. I also had a credit card through them. One day, they changed the rules on their accounts. Because I didn't have a checking account, they started charging me a monthly fee. The fee was more than what i was putting into the account on a regular basis at the time so they were basically draining my account. I got that resolved and at least some of the fees returned and then they basically did the same thing a couple of years later with some different rule. I closed both my savings and credit card account with them and I won't do business with Citibank again unless on pain of death. Even then I might hesitate.
Wow, I don't blame you for that at all It sounds horrible!
I might look into that, it always seems like such a big effort to change.
I just noticed today that the credit union down the road from me has a specific portal on their site for crypto purchases and managment.
Wow, what a mess! Banks love to hit you with fees, and then more fees, then minimums. There really suck everywhere... Glad you got it done but it shouldn't have taken that long...
Yeah, I think they have given up even trying as there is no alternative... Yet!
Not sure I could fill a form out in Dutch. English is bad enough
Ha ha... In some ways it is easier! In my native English, I am prone to overthinking the meaning of things!