> it could be handled more like a postpaid phone bill

There is still a strong predatory incentive for people with limited choices. Who wants to guess, for example, what cheque-cashing establishments will do? Or asshat landlords?

That's why I suggested (also in another thread) that the amount charged should be modest. I'm merely suggesting the concept and not the specifics. Perhaps businesses should be subjected to different types of regulations on how they can charge their clients under such a system, just like businesses are excluded from the National Do-Not-Call Registry.