Can a business refuse to take cash? Is it legal?

[AudTheDeepMinded]

DH is NOT happy. Our local pool will not accept cash and will only take card payment. He is very much cash over card, whereas I am card over cash. Since the Pandemic this is far more of a problem for him as he regularly forgets to take a debit card with him. I think today has demonstrated why he should have both on him! But, can a business actually refuse cold hard cash?

I carry both, I will use my card for restaurants and big shopping trips (tesco, shopping centres) and I use cash for smaller shops and if the amount is under a £10.

I was out with some friends last week and was giving one of them a lift. He went to a cash machine before going to the restaurant as for some reason he didn't want to pay by card.

That struck me as an odd thing to do. Although I do prefer to leave the tip in cash.

Personally I prefer to pay by card as I then have a record of where I have spent my money. In the days of paying by cash I regularly couldn't account for sums of money without some serious time trying to remember.

[quote AudTheDeepMinded]@DriftingBlue, he doesn't forget, he just believes it is his right to use cash if he chooses. I have the feeling today's experience may have disabused him of that notion!

I can hand on heart swear that although he might have been a bit grump I know he would not have been really stroppy with the receptionist. He a lovely man with an extremely long fuse usually.[/quote]
Except you said in your OP

I'm hoping he wasn't to shitty to the woman on reception,

I was in a bakery today and the young lady in front of me paid EUR 1,90 with a card!

@IgiveupallthenamesIwantedareg0

I was in a bakery today and the young lady in front of me paid EUR 1,90 with a card!

What’s odd about that? I regularly buy a single pint of milk with my phone/card. I almost never have cash on me. It makes no difference to me if it’s 50p or £50.

Banks have increased their charges for handling cash deposited by businesses which may partly explain why many have gone card only now.

@IgiveupallthenamesIwantedareg0

I was in a bakery today and the young lady in front of me paid EUR 1,90 with a card!

And?

There's another comment on this thread saying it's ridiculous too.

Why?

@Ajl46

Banks have increased their charges for handling cash deposited by businesses which may partly explain why many have gone card only now.

Yes, indeed, but that's just one of many reasons, others being:-

1. Lots of banks have closed branches, so for many businesses, it takes a lot more time, fuel and parking charges to go to the next town where there is a branch to deposit the money.

1. Risk of theft and insurance premiums. If local thieves know that a particular shop doesn't accept cash, then there's less risk of it being broken into. Insurance premiums are often higher depending on how much cash in on the premises, and usually a lot lower if cover for cash theft isn't required or is only for a trivial "petty cash" amount.

1. Cash based businesses such as shops, cafes, etc used to be able to pay their staff/suppliers in cash to avoid bank charges, but also for the convenience of their staff/suppliers. Now, no one wants cash. Staff don't want it as they then have to go to a nearby town to bank it, and suppliers don't want it due to the risk of theft from the delivery drivers (and sky high insurance premiums where insurance is required for drivers to carry cash!).

If you are a business which takes cash you also need a float before you've even made any money - that must be really annoying rurally etc.