I've noticed most of the ticket machines at bus stops here have a card reader with a "CASH" logo. I've seen this same logo available as an option when I use some ATMs.

What's the deal with it? If I select this option, can I load up my ATM card with units that can be used in the ticket machine?

Does it work with all cards?

Is there any advantage to this other than being able to purchase a ticket when I don't have any change?

Correct

All cards that support the cash function.

Paying parking fees.

that's exactly what it is. You can charge up your EC/Maestro card you got from your bank. Not all banks offer this, though - you'll know if your card is supported if you have the CASH logo on it. The charging up is done at your bank's ATM.

However, nobody ever uses it, so you can just as well forget about the whole thing :-)

CASH allows you to charge the chip on your ATM / MAESTRO card at an ATM with money from your account that can be used for various smaller purchases. AFAIK it works with all ATM cards that have the chip on it. Advantage - less need to carry change.

More info (in English):

http://www.cashcard.ch/en/ca_home.htm

It is essential at my work, as the Credit-Suisse canteen only accepts payments in this CASH format for employees and refuse to let you pay with money! It is annoying because if you show your employee badge and your card isn't loaded with money when you pay, they refuse to give you the food and refuse to let you pay with money! as you have shown you aren't external!!

ARRRGGGHHH!!!

Thanks all, it actually sounds a little useful, it might be worth to have twenty francs on that for one of the frequent times the sodding machine won't take my change and the bus arrives.

Hmm, we seem to work for the same shop, I had the same experience in some of our cafeterias.

Uetlihof?

The one and only...

Also have to use it in our vending machines here, which is a bit of a pain in the jacksie as it would be nice to get rid of the multitude of weighty coins that build up in your wallet (man-purse to hold them all!!) here in Switz...I never noticed this problem in the UK I have to say.

This is also the only method with which one can do laundry in my building!

Also in Lausanne the ticket machines for the bus don't (didn't use to) give change and using the cash card is (was) the only reasonable option if you do mind tipping the robot.

Parenthesis disclaimer: They started replacing those evil machines with less evil ones..

Actually, you can also use something called a "galaxy card" to pay for your bus and metro tickets in Lausanne. The cards are available at the tourist offices and the transit lausanne offices. They are a good deal, because for 20 CHF you get a card with 22 CHF on it, and for 50 CHF you get one with 55 CHF on it, there may even be larger denominations.

Come on guys... stop complaining!

I find that CASH is a perfect complement to the usual debit card approach: just pop the card in the machine and press ok without the fuss of entering your pin and have your card verified every time - perfect for small amounts of money and day-to-day expenses. During my days in Zurich I rarely dealt with proper coins and notes and I *loved* CASH! Just load the chip every couple of weeks and that's it!

Now that I'm in the UK I just hate it when, after getting a coffee, the guy at the cafeteria goes "Sorry mate, but I have no £5 notes" and hands me 9 one pound coins as change for a £10 note! Especially if my wallet is already loaded with pennies! Which, by the way, aren't accepted by the vending machines in my building (which half the time don't give change) - and now not even our tea lady accepts copper coins! Arghh!! And how can you get anything from a vending machine if you've run out of coins - especially after 5pm when all cafeterias are closed and none of your colleagues has change?

Honestly guys, you don't know how lucky you are with CASH!!!

I remember way back in '96 when us Exeter Uni students were the "trial run" for "Mondex Cash" in the UK - essentially the exact same concept as this.

A stroke of genius, years ahead of it's time - we all abused the system as you could withdraw your last tenner from the bank, then nip round the corner to the Mondex machine and load the same tenner onto the Mondex card, et volia - a £20 night out down the bar, and worry about the overdraft fee's in the morning

I think they've tightened it up a little since then, though

Now that I understand it, loaded up my card with 20CHF, very handy indeed, know more chancing the ticket inspectors because I don't have the change for the machine!

We also had a cashless system at a firm I once worked at, they made the gizmos that read bank notes and counted coins in vending machines. As there were large ammounts of cash from every country in the world (for testing), you weren't allowed to bring any of your own money in.

Hi, does anyone know if you can un-charge your CASH card - I have accidentally put 300CHF on mine. Do I just ask the bank (UBS)?

Yes. You can do it at the ATM. It's also a must when the bank sends a new card as it's on the card itself, and will not be automatically transferred.

Micropayment is what CASH is.

I believe that there is a relationship maintained between the funds stored on the chip and your bank account - it will eventually dribble back into your account if it is not used. Check with your bank as to the authenticity of this

Thanks guys - I will retrieve my money asap... should have maybe asked the bank what 'cash' was BEFORE deciding to transfer 300 francs!

If the CASH system was more widely implemented it would be worth using. The Netherlands has a similar system, called Chipknip, and you can use it almost everywhere: train stations, supermarkets, uni cafeterias, bookshops, ..., ...

I seem to remember that CASH was the only way to pay for things at Expo 02, which was unfortunate, as I don't think I had a card with it at that point.

Good for parking meters though.