How can Bankwest customers withdraw or deposit cash now?

 Many Bankwest customers are still confused about the branch closures mean for them. The elderly are particularly panicky about this and the question on many peoples lips are what can they do if they want to deposit or withdraw cash? 

Bankwest just recently sent out an email which shows the limits and the fees involved for various deposits and withdrawals. 

Depositing cash via Commonwealth Bank ATMS

First of all, many don't realise that Bankwest is actually owned by Commonwealth Bank, so their ATMs are basically Bankwest ATMS. You can use a Commonwealth Bank ATM to deposit up to $8,000 cash into your account straight away. The machine will open up and allow you to insert a stack of notes and it will then close and count the cash. Then it will tell you how much it counted compared to how much you said there was and then you can press proceed to have it banked. The amount will show in your account straight away. 

Depositing cash via Australia Post Bank@Post outlets

You can also deposit up to $8,000 via Australia Post Bank@Post outlets. Not sure if this is in addition to your $8,000 limit on the ATMs. 

Withdrawing cash via Bank@Post or any "major bank" 

You can also withdraw up to $2,000 from Australia Poast Bank@Post or any "major bank" ATM. This only includes ANZ, Westpac, Commonwealth Bank and NAB. Some EFTPOS outlets like Coles and Woolworths will also allow you to withdraw cash but the limits will vary from $50-$600 and this may change depending on the availability of cash to the operator at the time. 

I know this seems like a strange post but I am sure I am not the only person who ends up googling this instead of trawling through past emails to find out these things. 

Google maps timeline - don't accept the terms yet!

 Google maps has been disabling the feature that allows you to view your timeline on the desktop version of Google maps. For people in Australia we are now seeing the prompter asking us to accept the terms. However once you do, you will lose the timeline on your desktop and there is no going back.

The advice is if you want to keep this feature until you really must move, don't accept the terms until December 2024. 

How to go everywhere in Perth for $10 (for up to seven people) on Weekends and School Holidays

If there is one tip visitors should take, it is this - get on public transport after 9am (on weekdays) and buy a DayRider. If there are two of you, it will also only cost $10 for both of you - buy a FamilyRider which only costs $10 for two standard fare passengers (and includes up to 5 more children if they have an Australian concession card). However, the DayRider is not always available. It can be purchased on weekends and from 9am on a weekday if it is school holidays or Friday after 3pm during school days. It's one of those passes, that have so many conditions you need to read it carefully many times to see if you qualify. Does the FamilyRider or DayRider include the Airport? Yes it does! Here are the usual fares for Perth as of March 2023. 

Also, if you are using the Smartrider, note that you will never be charged more than $10 per day if you use public transport multiple times. 

So the Family Rider is available for these times - 

• Weekends and public holidays – any time.
• Monday to Thursday outside school holidays – after 6.00 pm.
• Fridays outside school holidays – after 3.00 pm.
• Monday to Friday during school holidays in Zones 1 to 4 – after 9.00 am.
• Monday to Friday during school holidays in Zones 5 to 9 – after 8.30 am.

Perth in Times Square for NYE 2022

 It seems like tonight the spotlight in Times Square New York City will be on Western Australia. Who would have thought that our little abode would get such a high level campaign. For those whose interest in Western Australia has been piqued by the campaign, do leave a comment. Perth, the capital city of Western Australia has changed dramatically over the last ten years. Those that have been back have remarked at the transformation, from the moment that their cab took them from the airport, it seemed like everything had changed. The Tonkin Highway drive into the city is now lined with overpasses and a streetscape that reflects a city growing up. The South Perth foreshore has been revamped, with the Perth Zoo creatures welcoming the ferry from the Perth City and children playing on the small beaches along the river. Then you have the Elizabeth Quay development which is still developing with the Ritz Carlton presence a world class endorsement. There is the Como The Treasury hotel which has been voted as the world's best hotel by Conde Nast a few years ago which sits next to the Perth City library which is an architectural wonder. For those considering the 15 hour flight to Perth, you won't regret making the journey.

Elizbeth Quay

City scape from the City of Perth library

Optus Hack - How much do they have on you?

Some helpful forum posts have indicated that there is a way that you can see the data that was stolen from Optus about you. You can check the Optus customer API yourself by first logging into your Optus account at https://www.optus.com.au. You can only access data for the logged in user, and can't view the data of other customers.

Then follow this link to see what data would have looked like. Take note of the 'contactID' from here - https://www.optus.com.au/mcssapi/rp-webapp-9-common/user/inf...

Then replace {contactId} with your customer ID you found in the first link into this web address, replacing of course the {contactId} with your ID.

https://www.optus.com.au/mcssapi/rp-webapp-9-common/customer-management/contact-person/{contactId}?lo=en_US&sc=SS

If you see "Driving Licence","indentValue":"XXXXXXXX" then XXXXXXX is your driver licence number. 

Optus Hack - are you a Category 1 or a Category 2 victim?

There are two groups of people affected by the Optus security breach - which one are you? 

CATEGORY 1

If you got an email from Optus with the following 2nd paragraph, then you are one of the more affected customers from this recent hack - 

Importantly, no financial information or passwords have been accessed. The information which has been exposed is your name, date of birth, email, phone number, address associated with your account, and the numbers of the ID documents you provided such as drivers licence number or passport number. No copies of photo IDs have been affected.

If you had the above paragraph you should put a ban on credit checks and also apply for an extension of that ban with a second form. You may also want to join the class action updates from Slater & Gordon and if they do proceed with a lawsuit, you may be compensated if you register with them.

CATEGORY 2

Those that were not so affected are those that did not have their drivers licence number or passport number breached and the second paragraph from Optus will say this - 

No financial information or passwords have been accessed. The information which has been exposed is a combination of your name, date of birth, email, phone number and/or address associated with your account. No ID document numbers or details have been affected.

Optus is still working out how to respond to this hack and whether to compensate customers.