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Arrgh.
I just heard on the news that FEMA is dropping that program to give the survivors of Katrina $2000 debit cards. Ok, I figured there were going to be problems with it, especially given a few things about how they were handling it.
But their idea of a replacement? People have to apply on the web and the money will be deposited in their bank accounts.
This has several *huge*, gaping holes.
First of all, a lot of folks are going to need *help* to do this, even if they can get to a computer. I'm sorry, but I have had to try to teach folks how to use computers. And most people *still* can't use them without a lot of help.
And entering info about bank accounts that way? Along with whatever ID info would be needed to verify that it wasn't a scam? That's *asking* for ID theft.
And then there's the other problem. There are people who do not *have* bank accounts, and ion fact, because of credit problems and bounced checks *can't get* bank accounts.
I've been there. Had a $60k cashiers check and none of the banks I tried would open an account for me.
Poor folks, who could use the money the most are also the most likely to be in that situation.
<sigh>
Looks like another case of planners meaning well but just not having any conception of what life is like for the folks they are trying to help.
But their idea of a replacement? People have to apply on the web and the money will be deposited in their bank accounts.
This has several *huge*, gaping holes.
First of all, a lot of folks are going to need *help* to do this, even if they can get to a computer. I'm sorry, but I have had to try to teach folks how to use computers. And most people *still* can't use them without a lot of help.
And entering info about bank accounts that way? Along with whatever ID info would be needed to verify that it wasn't a scam? That's *asking* for ID theft.
And then there's the other problem. There are people who do not *have* bank accounts, and ion fact, because of credit problems and bounced checks *can't get* bank accounts.
I've been there. Had a $60k cashiers check and none of the banks I tried would open an account for me.
Poor folks, who could use the money the most are also the most likely to be in that situation.
<sigh>
Looks like another case of planners meaning well but just not having any conception of what life is like for the folks they are trying to help.