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Original poster

Are shops accepting cash?

70 replies

TheChosenTwo · 05/12/2020 11:00

A relative has given me A load of cash to buy Christmas presents on their behalf. The banks around me are only open between 10-2 weekdays only. I’m at work so can’t get there. Can I just spend the cash in shops or are they only accepting card payments?

OP posts:
Mylittleturkeysandwich · 05/12/2020 11:03

Most shops are taking cash. Some restaurants (if they're open) aren't. They say they would prefer contactless but will take cash.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 05/12/2020 11:04

Most seem to accept cash, especially on self service checkouts

Skipsurvey · 05/12/2020 11:04

pretty sure they are op
do you have a post office and a bank paying in slip, some bank accounts allow this.

Sparklingbrook · 05/12/2020 11:06

They do but would rather not.

The cashiers would probably prefer no cash handling if they had a choice at the moment.

tommika · 05/12/2020 11:09

Some might.
An alternative could be if your bank has a cash deposit capable cashpoint

Original poster
TheChosenTwo · 05/12/2020 11:11

Okay thanks.
I guess I’ll just see if I can spend it. If not, I will just pay by card and keep the cash for... well I don’t know what, I never have actual money!

OP posts:
smallandimperfectlyformed · 05/12/2020 11:29

Certain places still prefer cash..my fish and chip shop doesn't take card payments and I recently bought some food from a Greek food stall and the stall owner admitted he preferred cash as the banks take too much commission for using their machines. Obviously that's not a big problem for global corporations or supermarkets but smaller and independent retailers may still prefer cash.

Original poster
TheChosenTwo · 05/12/2020 17:52

Well I hit the shops today and didn’t manage to shift any of it! Will have to try and break my neck getting to the bank during a lunch break next week, honestly I didn’t see this being such a pain!

OP posts:
Skipsurvey · 05/12/2020 20:49

No post office near you?

BananaPop2020 · 05/12/2020 20:55

Honestly this refusal by some to accept cash is ludicrous. I often use it and have not had a problem at all.

Original poster
TheChosenTwo · 06/12/2020 08:31

@Skipsurvey yes there’s a post office in town, it’s in a WH Smith’s, the opening hours have changed though and I still can’t get there before or after work.
I’ll try to get into town during my lunch break and see which has a shorter queue, the bank or the PO!
I had no idea you could bank this way, do I just go to the counter and hand them my bank card and money?!

OP posts:
puch · 06/12/2020 08:36

CAN you not just use the self service machines in shops - most of them are accepting cash. All my local shops accept cash now.

SellFridges · 06/12/2020 08:41

If you can’t pay it in to your bank in the post office, you could buy a gift card. They sell many different types. Bit risky with shops going bust left, right, and centre but if you’re spending immediately it should be ok.

MrsShelton · 06/12/2020 08:46

Selfish attitudes!

Cashiers prefer NOT to touch cash! It’s dirty enough as it was but with covid why should they be forced to touch hundreds of notes per shift?

Cuppaand2biscuits · 06/12/2020 08:46

You can definitely use cash in most supermarkets, I do often.
Can you save the cash for your weekly shop and use your card when buying the gifts?

Skipsurvey · 06/12/2020 08:52

@TheChosenTwo at the post office you need a bank paying in slip, i know you can do it for nat west but i am not sure about other banks. do you have a paying in slip?

Skipsurvey · 06/12/2020 08:53

it is totally not selfish @MrsShelton, it is over cautious not to accept cash

TheYearOfSmallThings · 06/12/2020 08:56

Eh? All the shops around here take cash. Some only take cash!

HappydaysArehere · 06/12/2020 09:01

Our Lloyds Bank has been closed for months so have to make a bus journey which I don’t want to do if I need to put money away.

MrsShelton · 06/12/2020 09:03

@Skipsurvey says who? You?

Our company have said only to take if absolutely no other option. It’s discouraged. They have said the same since we opened, it’s a covid adjustment in our covid audit. You think they say that on a whim?

No. Staff matter too you know?

Fizbosshoes · 06/12/2020 09:11

While I accept that cashiers (and shops) might rather people didnt pay in cash for covid/hygiene reasons, if people are paid in cash, or in OPs case given cash it can be a problem.plenty of cash machines issue cash, fewer accept deposits of cash. Banks have been closing branches for years, and now use covid to minimise their opening hours further.
My DH has his own business. Some customers pay cash, some pay by cheque. The cash can be used to pay one or 2 other suppliers .Cheques are a complete PITA especially as our nearest branch has closed down. (We do have online banking but often the cheques are a higher amount than is permissible to pay in via the app)

Original poster
TheChosenTwo · 06/12/2020 09:14

@puch I’m avoiding shops as much as possible, I don’t go to the supermarket anyway as I get online deliveries (have done for 10 years, not just since Covid) and the shops I was in yesterday (urban outfitters, lush, hmv to name a few) all said no cash, card payments only, they don’t have self service machines.

I had to go with my dd into a big town as she had placed an order which needed collecting. It was probably the last time I’m going to get to then shops before Christmas.
It’s a thousand pounds so not like it’s just £50 that I would want to just stick in my purse for ‘just in case’ times.

@Skipsurvey I don’t have a paying in slip, would I need to go to my bank anyway to get one of these? In which case I’m back to square one in terms of opening hours Confused arghhh! This is so annoying Grin

OP posts:
MrsShelton · 06/12/2020 09:15

Pay the cash in via machine?

PhilCornwall1 · 06/12/2020 09:16

It's a pain in the arse having to check if a shop will take cash now. To be honest, I have hardly been to a shop since March (shielding malarkey and can't do the mask thing, so stay away), but I normally pay for everything in cash. Especially motorway services for fuel.

I did have to buy some electrical stuff at B&Q and paid in cash, it was like I was handing over some bizarre object they had never seen.

Original poster
TheChosenTwo · 06/12/2020 09:19

@MrsShelton I went to try but they didn’t offer that facility at the cash point unless it’s a business account, which mine isn’t. It’s a personal one.
Years ago you used to be able to do that, I remember doing it. It may just be my bank that doesn’t offer it now, I don’t know. But that was the first thing I tried.

OP posts: