Re:The myth of Japan's failure
by Tsagadai on Sunday January 08, 2012 @09:01PM
(#3441196)
Except on public holidays when said ATMs magically cannot process credit card transactions. Japanese banks are most certainly a joke. I know of one large Japanese bank that completed all transactions on paper (they would process it electronically then print it out and hand verify the details) until a few years ago. Think of a vast network of vacuum tubes launching paper around a building storing billions of records. That was their head office.
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This was the case until the mid- 2000s (to the point where if you didn't take money out before New Years, you might find yourself penniless for a few days).
Over the last few years 24/7, 365 days/yr ATMs are have become much more common. As have ATMs that accept foreign banking cards. As has a more generalized acceptance of CCs.
It happened to me last year during Golden Week so not that much has changed. I should have known better because I'd seen ATMs turned off during public holidays before. I even had large hotels refuse to accept credit cards but eventually I found accommodation and a restaurant that accepted Visa.
Ironically it happened to me today (which is a holiday in Japan). The ATM at one of the convenience stores wouldn't connect to my bank after 5pm. Luckily the ATM at the convenience store right beside it was working...