Hi, I don’t have a credit card due to personal financial issues. I have a checking account but I’m not about to use Paypal considering the horror stories I’ve read on the internet. Is there a way I can send a check or a money order?
There are several memebers (including me) who would be happy to accept a check or MO from you - you can even use Western Union which would be faster - and would, in turn, use our PayPal or credit cards to pay your subscription fee. Email me if you like.
Regarding PayPal, I’ve used it for years for eBay and other online purchases with zero problems. Despite the stories you hear from time to time, it really is about as secure as online purchasing can be. As with anything internet-related, chosing a dictionary word as your password is asking for trouble. I detest Leetspeek, but in all honesty, leet-ifiying an easy-to-remember word or name makes for a pretty secure password.
The Chicago Reader, our corporate parent, made a deliberate choice away from real-paper transactions; they actually cost more to process than they’re worth. (Hard for some people to understand that a company would turn away a chance to collect money, but you gotta pay someone to open the envelope, pay for processing the check, spend time/money to pay a bookkeeper, and if the check bounces, run after the debtor and beat it out of them. All of this is a hassle and you’re paying for it, every step of the way.)
Hence, your choices of credit card or PayPal.
However, as Q.E.D. has mentioned, we do have some very understanding members in the community, and they want to help you get in over here with advice and facilitation.
Hope we can do you some good here, and welcome!
your humble TubaDiva
Administrator
PS If you do decide to use PayPal/debit from your checking account, there is a lag time of up to several days in processing of your subscription. This is on PayPal’s end; the “float” is how they make their bucks. Let me know if you’re getting to the end of your trial period and we’ll see if we can’t get you through this time. Write me at TubaDiva@aol.com and give me all the details, so I can watch out for when it hits.
I’d like to throw my hat in here, as well, as willing to volunteer my services and/or Paypal account to anyone who needs assistance. Feel free to drop me an email at daredevilcomic@hotmail.com.