As if you were sitting on the edge of your seats waiting for this second installment...

Making the right thing easy all goes back to communication. How difficult is it to post a sign with a simple, common-sense customer policy? It isn't.

Just hours after I had issues at the fancy downtown restaurant, I returned to my car in the nearly empty parking garage, pulled around to the teller, and handed her my ticket and debit card. She tells me they don't take debit cards.

OK, how about credit? Nope.

Cash only. Actually, it's been a little while, so I don't remember for sure, but they might also take checks. I carry neither. In fact, I think my mother is the only person I know who is always fully prepared with both.

It was all the way back in 2002 that Visa did a study that found more Americans are using debit cards than cash. Five years later, knowing consumers' preferences, don't you think this parking garage would have the sense to let people know ahead of time that they don't take plastic? Several strategically placed signs would save a whole lot of headache for all. 

This took place early on a Sunday, and the parking garage was not at all busy. That was a good thing, as I had to back out of my lane, park my car, and walk a block to the ATM—where I had to pay a $4 service fee for using another bank's conveniences. I got back and apologized to the teller, saying I had no idea this was the case. She said she goes through this a ridiculous number of times a day. Often, she has to redirect traffic and re-align lines of vehicles to get someone back into a parking spot during rush hour so they can go on a hunt for cash.

Meanwhile, a block away, my husband pulled out of his parking place, went to his garage teller, offered up a debit card...and pulled out of the garage, receipt in hand. I'm parking in that garage next time.