That a Vodafone shop wouldn’t accept cash in payment and it pissed me off?

There is a pub/restaurant near me that wont accept cash. I never have cash on me (DH prefers to carry cash) unless given as a gift, but still think it is ridiculous.

I heard this from a friend (,who wanted to use cash) that they wouldnt accept it.
But I've heard of other shops that only accept cash.

I can't remember the last time I paid for something with cash. I do have some though - after the Visa network went down a couple of years ago I withdrew some cash just in case it happened again. It was quite startling how difficult life was when I suddenly couldn't use my card.

I hate cash, use it as little as possible! I will be very happy when we are cashless, it’s a PITA for me. Have to drive 8 miles to an ATM here. I only use cash as a last resort!

It's becoming common at smaller food places too. I'm usually fine using contactless but sometimes have cash id rather use up than have to go to the bank.

And yes I’d strongly suspect (though not definitely assume) that someone paying for a large piece of building work in cash was doing so because they’d been offered an incentive by the builder to do that in order to dodge VAT.

Absolutely.

I'm rubbish about remembering to carry cash. Usually only catches me out in the occasional car park that doesn't have a card reader or an app option to pay.

I'm aware of quite a few local stores and bars that do not take cash.

I can easily believe that the time saved in not handling/banking cash, and reduced risk, outweighs any lost business from the policy.

Wonder if this is anything to do with stopping county lines dealers paying cash for anonymous burner phones? Just heard something about it on the radio.

And yes I’d strongly suspect (though not definitely assume) that someone paying for a large piece of building work in cash was doing so because they’d been offered an incentive by the builder to do that in order to dodge VAT.

I am currently setting up a business that will be cashless. There are so many reasons why. Banks charge you for taking your cash from you, staff make mistakes giving change, staff can steal, it makes it easier to cash up, the venue isn't a target for armed robbery....

Could it be your memory card is tonnes cheaper online and they made an excuse to not take the money off you for it knowing this?

There’s a scandi brand called Newbie who don’t accept cash because the parent company are cashless. When I asked the sales assistant she said that mainly it’s a security thing, they can’t be ripped off with fake notes if they don’t accept them. Obvs card fraud is rife but I can see their point.

My local pub’s gone cash-free. They said they’d had a spate of break ins and it was safer for them not to keep any cash on the premises so they wouldn’t be a target. But presumably there are other advantages - losing the hassle of cashing up, avoiding employee fraud, making it easier for people to spend more over an evening without thinking about the cost.

People are sleepwalking into becoming a society that is reliant solely on technology, and once that process is complete we will be easy meat for the fraudsters and con artists out there. Look at Travelex - they've had to go back to paper-based accounting because their systems have been locked by ransomware. Banks and shops think it's less hassle - well, it might be in the short term but in the long term it will come back to bite them - in fact, it's already begun.

Yes! phil
Also money laundering laws re cash are there for a reason

• 1PhilCornwall! You know exactly what I mean, avoiding tax.*

So if I wanted to purchase something from you in cash and it was a considerable amount, you would think this?

A few years ago we had new windows fitted to our house. When invoiced, I paid them in cash, if you worked for them, would you again think I was dodging tax?

There are plenty of cafes in London that don't take cash. In Sweden there are towns that are virtually cashless. Cash withdrawals from ATMs are falling very fast, if I remember correctly the fall was 12% last year and it's expected to carry on falling at that rate. If you look at the footfall in bank branches a lot of smaller branches are virtually empty outside 10 to 2. It's use it or lose it.

I've seen a few shops and cafes that are now card only. I prefer it personally.

Quite a few bars and restaurants are now cashless. It's safer for them and their staff as no point robbing them as no cash on site. Plus the going to the bank paying it in side of things.

I genuinely cannot remember the last time I paid for anything in cash.

Also, if I wanted a memory card I would have ordered one online from my phone for much cheaper than likely in a bloody vodaphone shop. I'm genuinely surprised they are still in business.

1PhilCornwall!
You know exactly what I mean, avoiding tax.

You seem to have a very old fashioned view of shopping, cards aren't hassle for shops, quite the opposute, and no one counts their profit for the day

It's up to them what they accept and to still be annoyed enough to start a thread a month later is a little odd imo

Anyone who wants to pay large amounts in cash is probably dodging the system anyway.

Really? So when we bought our TV and paid in cash, exactly what system would we have been dodging?

Cash is a huge hassle. I used to do the till every day for a garage/dealership . Anyone who wants to pay large amounts in cash is probably dodging the system anyway.

It costs more to bank cash than it does to use a credit card machine nowadays.

We were only allowed to keep so much in safe overnight.
Banks not close by to pay it in anyway, and over certain amount more people needed to escort to the bank.

Fake notes , so every note needs to be checked
In Stockholm there were coffee shops that dont take cash anymore.

I'm more than happy to ban cash these days it's really not necessary

I think that Apple stores are card-only. I'm not an Apple fan (or of a cashless society, come to that) but they seem to be doing ok with this policy.