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Original poster

Do people not carry cash or bank cards anymore?

83 replies

redskydelight · 22/02/2023 17:18

Recently sold an item on FB Marketplace. The buyer was annoyed that I insisted they had to pay in cash (they offered me a bank transfer) as they said they didn't have cash or a bank card with them (I did tell them before they came to collect; the annoyance wasn't due to turning up and then finding out).

So ... got to wondering whether lots of people don't routinely carry cash or cards any more but just rely on using their phone.

OP posts:
Original poster
redskydelight · 22/02/2023 17:58

The main reason I want cash is because bank transfers, although normally very quick, can take up to 2 hours to go through, and I don't really went to be faffing about with giving someone my details, waiting for them to set up a transfer, wait for it to go through ... when they could just give me cash and be gone in a second.

And I'd rather not give people personal information if I can help it. Bank scams are getting more and more elaborate.

OP posts:
SkyHippoOnACloud · 22/02/2023 18:05

Renoir56 · 22/02/2023 17:39

What's wrong with a bank transfer? The money goes into your account instantly. The only details the other person needs is name, sort code and account number which is what would be on a cheque book. What's the issue?

Because if they're standing on your doorstep they have all that info AND your address. It's not good for personal security. It's different if you're going to post the item, I've no problem with bank transfer then.

Witsendwilly · 22/02/2023 18:11

SkyHippoOnACloud · 22/02/2023 18:05

Because if they're standing on your doorstep they have all that info AND your address. It's not good for personal security. It's different if you're going to post the item, I've no problem with bank transfer then.

Show quote history

I still don’t get what you think they could do with that info?

As for bank transfers taking up to two hours as the OP has just said. What? It’s instant these days and you can check it’s gone in on your phone.

I sold a car recently and the guy just pinged 12k over there and then

Interested in this thread?

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General money
glasshole · 22/02/2023 18:14

Tbh I very rarely have cash at all as I use my phone for everything payment wise. If I have cash the teenagers seem to smell it and free me off it very quickly 😂.

maximist · 22/02/2023 18:15

I don't carry cash or cards as a regular thing, but if I was buying something on marketplace or similar I'd ask how they wanted to be paid before I went to pick it up, and get cash out if necessary. Whenever I've sold anything the buyer's always paid cash - I just keep it in the house to pay tradespeople/gardeners or similar.

BarbaraofSeville · 22/02/2023 18:19

Witsendwilly · 22/02/2023 18:11

I still don’t get what you think they could do with that info?

As for bank transfers taking up to two hours as the OP has just said. What? It’s instant these days and you can check it’s gone in on your phone.

I sold a car recently and the guy just pinged 12k over there and then

Show quote history

You were lucky that £12k went just like that. DP has bought both a car and a bike like that, the car took an hour on the phone to the bank while he tried to get through security, which he struggled with as he doesn't take much notice of what goes in and out of our bank account, and when he bought the bike, he had to leave it and go back the next day after waiting over an hour, because the money just disappeared - he could see in his app that it was waiting for manual security clearance, but it just wasn't going anywhere.

But for smaller sums it should be instant and no different to cheques, security-wise.

Cupcakequeen75 · 22/02/2023 18:19

I always carry cash and my (credit) card.
Use the CC for any payment over £10 but always have cash tucked away.

GenuinelyDone · 22/02/2023 18:20

People who pay with their phone really irritate me. It seems to be the most glitch laden way of paying for anything. I've been held in a queue far more times than is reasonable because someone is faffing trying to get their phone to pay for stuff.

I use cash for small purchases, card for larger ones. I'd purposefully get more cash if buying something off marketplace/gumtree.

Witsendwilly · 22/02/2023 18:22

GenuinelyDone · 22/02/2023 18:20

People who pay with their phone really irritate me. It seems to be the most glitch laden way of paying for anything. I've been held in a queue far more times than is reasonable because someone is faffing trying to get their phone to pay for stuff.

I use cash for small purchases, card for larger ones. I'd purposefully get more cash if buying something off marketplace/gumtree.

I use my phone hundreds of times a month. I might have had to wait 10 seconds maybe three times when it hasn’t recognised my face immediately.

The watch works as well. I haven’t carried a card or wallet/purse since lockdown

TimeForMeToF1y · 22/02/2023 18:22

I go in shops most days and can confirm based on the evidence of my eyes that people pay with a mixture of cash, cards and phones

Facebook marketplace buyers be a bit of a unique mixed bag

littleducks · 22/02/2023 18:26

I usually just have my phone on me. I would have taken cash out specially for this kind of purchase though.

Most of time fine, only time I got annoyed was at Whipsnade zoo had power cut in January so they couldn't take card. We had booked tickets for entry in advance so already paid but car entry you had to pay at the gate separately so they could only take cash and thought I was unreasonable even though if no post cut they were paper free and wanted card payments. In end I got free car entry as power cut lasted the full day we were there

FT123456 · 22/02/2023 18:29

If I brought something of somewhere like Facebook I would take cash with me .

But general day to day I have no cash or card on me and use Apple Pay.

GenuinelyDone · 22/02/2023 18:34

Witsendwilly · 22/02/2023 18:22

I use my phone hundreds of times a month. I might have had to wait 10 seconds maybe three times when it hasn’t recognised my face immediately.

The watch works as well. I haven’t carried a card or wallet/purse since lockdown

Show quote history

Good for you, not my experience at all.

reluctantbrit · 22/02/2023 18:37

I carry my some of my cards with my phone but prefer using the cards.

I would only accept cash for second hand sales, I don't want to faff around with a stranger on my doorstep and I don't have my online banking app, I use the laptop and don't want to dig everything out for the sake of £10 or so.

SouperNoodle · 22/02/2023 18:37

I don't day to day as I use my phone to pay contactless but if I'm buying from marketplace, I'll get cash out.

Northernsouloldies · 22/02/2023 18:40

Cash n card, over reliance on tech, when it invariably breaks down /no WiFi connection how do you expect to purchase food for example.

Northernsouloldies · 22/02/2023 18:42

GenuinelyDone · 22/02/2023 18:20

People who pay with their phone really irritate me. It seems to be the most glitch laden way of paying for anything. I've been held in a queue far more times than is reasonable because someone is faffing trying to get their phone to pay for stuff.

I use cash for small purchases, card for larger ones. I'd purposefully get more cash if buying something off marketplace/gumtree.

This in spades, especially on public transport.

Witsendwilly · 22/02/2023 18:44

GenuinelyDone · 22/02/2023 18:34

Good for you, not my experience at all.

Show quote history

You didn’t seem to have really tried it from your post. You seemed to be basing it on other peoples issues, and we all know that other people can be stupid.

it sounds like the people you have been behind have been a bit stupid to be honest.

FizzyStream · 22/02/2023 18:48

This maybe a really stupid question so apologies in advance. When paying contactless by card sometimes I need to input the card to verify with the pin. What happens if you only have your phone with you, does it ever ask for pin verification when paying using a phone? I'd love to only take my phone out but too worried about it being declined in lieu of having the actual card to insert.

QuinkWashable · 22/02/2023 18:48

I only carry my phone most of the time. There's an emergency card in the car, and if I'm out for the day my purse with cards and a little bit of cash will be buried in a bag somewhere.

I also keep some cash in the house for emergencies.

MintJulia · 22/02/2023 18:50

I usually have about £15 cash, a bank card and a credit card.

I'll pay plumbers, boiler service man etc by BACS if they prefer. I don't use phone banking.

I pay the hair salon and the karate class by cheque because that is what they prefer 😊

magicthree · 22/02/2023 18:52

I sell on Marketplace sometimes and every person has turned up with cash. Surely it's what is expected? I don't usually carry cash, but it's not difficult to get cash out for something like this. I don't pay for anything via my phone, and have no intentions of doing so.

doadeer · 22/02/2023 18:52

I don't carry either but in your case I would have checked before

stayathomer · 22/02/2023 18:52

I work in a shop. We have a mixture of people paying cash, card or phones but I’ve started using cash more since seeing the amount of people who have issues paying on their phone- at least if you have cash you know you have enough to get what you want!

bigbluebus · 22/02/2023 18:53

I always carry at least 1 bank card and usually have about £30 cash shoved into the back of my phone holder. I never pay for anything with my phone, nor would I turn up to buy something and do a bank transfer on the doorstep.
I may be old fashioned but pretty sure my 26 year old DS would be exactly the same.