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Original poster

What are the implications of a cashless society ?

190 replies

SoBoredHelpMe · 29/03/2023 11:27

ive noticed more and more places are becoming card only and I think it won’t be long (say within 5-10years) that we will become cashless. So I was thinking of positives and negatives and the main negative I see is the lack of privacy as everyone’s spending will be recorded digitally. A major positive though is that it would make it very difficult for e.g. drug dealers to operate ?

would be interested to hear other people’s thoughts on this …..

OP posts:
Jonei · 29/03/2023 19:37

The choice to have enough cash to buy food would be enough to serve an immediate need. Food isn't really something that can be delayed and sorted out at a later date, unlike rent / mortgage etc. Which is the situation the single parent found herself in, in Canada, when she couldn't access her bank account in order to feed her kids.

Jonei · 29/03/2023 19:39

TragicMuse · 29/03/2023 19:36

I went to Sweden in 2019. Have NO idea what Swedish cash looks like, it was cards all the way, even at the hotdog cart.

The Swedes don't seem that bothered...

Did you ask them if they were bothered?

All of them?

Badbadbunny · 29/03/2023 19:46

PuttingDownRoots · 29/03/2023 19:36

My local petrol station doesn't have a kiosk... completely self service pay at pump!

Show quote history

But the majority of petrol stations still have a kiosk, so if you're bothered, as I said, go to one that does.

User639762456 · 29/03/2023 19:56

Everything will be automated soon, they are already getting rid of checkouts everywhere and a lot of them are card only.

Carsarelife · 29/03/2023 20:00

@User639762456 but this shouldn't be allowed to happen. People should be allowed to use cash if they want to. And stop using automated checkouts and be sure to go to a manned checkout, using a real person

Gingerkittykat · 29/03/2023 20:11

Today I had my bank card frozen because of a suspicious transaction I reported to them. I won't get a replacement card for 5 or 6 working days. I'm too dependent on my card and will need to transfer money to someone so they can take it out in cash for me.

A lot of basic bank accounts don't have a debit card, people need to draw out cash to be able to spend any money.

APurpleSquirrel · 29/03/2023 20:12

I'm the Chair of our school PTA & cash is our main source of income from face-to-face fundraisers like fetes, non-uniform days, etc. we do have a card reader which is great for when people are buying lots (bbq, cakes & refreshments etc) but not for 50p I'm on the tombola! Plus we lose a % of the transaction when paying with cards & we have to link it to our phones & if reception is poor... so yeah more & more people going cashless does worry me a lot.

Hawkins00 · 29/03/2023 20:15

SoBoredHelpMe · 29/03/2023 11:41

I don’t understand what you mean - any payments made digitally are traceable - how would drug dealers explain multiple deposits of money into their account and not declaring it as income and paying tax on it?

Usually most of the transactions are private plus it's easy to mask as you could say eg selling second hand items wheeler and dealer ect.

Epicstorm · 29/03/2023 20:22

I was thinking about this today as I walked out of the supermarket and saw someone collecting for charity. I didn’t have any cash on me at all. I’d used a token so didn’t even have the pound I’d normally use for the trolley. Charity collections will suffer.

Itsokaymama · 29/03/2023 20:31

What would the tooth fairy leave for the kids

Jonei · 29/03/2023 20:38

Itsokaymama · 29/03/2023 20:31

What would the tooth fairy leave for the kids

A social credit gift for good behaviour. :-(

User639762456 · 29/03/2023 20:48

It's all so joyous nowadays isn't it

Saltywalruss · 29/03/2023 20:48

Why can't I swap two pigs for a cow like I always used?

You still can! We are not a pig less or cow less society.

Jonei · 29/03/2023 20:52

I'm sure swapping pigs for cows may well happen between people who own these animals.

Phoebo · 29/03/2023 20:53

About a month ago there was a thread about someone who got overcharged on their card and then had to wait 10 days for a refund. Many were outraged, some who worked in IT/banking explained why that occurred, due to a third party system etc. These are the unintended consequences, great when it works, not so much when it doesn't. Technology has its downfalls.

neverendinglauaundry · 29/03/2023 20:53

More power in the hands of the banks and/or government
More opportunity for coercive control & financial abuse
That's why I'd oppose it as a rule.

stinkfaceison · 29/03/2023 21:05

In the bible in the book of revelation it says that no man can buy or sell unless he has the mark , in his hand or forehead . I think it's creepy as some places don't take cash anymore .

Precipice · 29/03/2023 21:10

woodhill · 29/03/2023 18:53

Exactly

Very sinister

A preacher called Barry Smith spoke about this in the 80s, surveillance

Also being controlled by food and lack of it

Show quote history

Even before! There was an interesting satire on a no-cash society in 1979 Sweden by Ingemar Ståhl. You can read it here: https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&id=GALE%7CA635651326&v=2.1&it=r&userGroupName=anon%7Ec7764e5d or without the paywall, https://pastebin.com/neCcpQkp 

unclebuck · 29/03/2023 21:12

Jonei · 29/03/2023 20:52

I'm sure swapping pigs for cows may well happen between people who own these animals.

I swap and barter at least 50% of my food. It is not rare and it is legal and tax free.

Snowtrails · 29/03/2023 21:13

Jonei · 29/03/2023 19:39

Did you ask them if they were bothered?

All of them?

Show quote history

I am not sure how the poster would have been able to tell if they were bothered!

Apparently about 10% of payments are made using cash in Sweden atm. But they also recognise that getting rid of cash completely is not a good idea. The authorities recommended that you keep cash at home in case of power cuts, IT- attacks etc

This, from the Bank of Sweden, might interest you:
According to the Riksbank Committee’s proposal, under heightened alert, which is to say during war or under threat of war, each and every person will have the right to pay with cash and special contingency money issued by the Riksbank, unless otherwise stipulated by another regulation. This right is unconditional and cannot be restricted. The inquiry says that demand for cash can be expected to increase heavily during wartime, placing special demands on manufacturing capacity and storage. Storage may therefore have to take place on a larger scale and in a less centralised way than normally.
https://www.riksbank.se/en-gb/

User639762456 · 29/03/2023 21:28

We always keep £100-£200 at home in case of emergency, we use cash very rarely so have had the same money for quite a while and haven't had to replace any but I wouldn't want to have no cash available at all

Jonei · 29/03/2023 21:42

Snowtrails. Interesting post. Thank you. Sounds like the Swedes are quite sensible.

Judgyjudgy · 30/03/2023 02:01

neverendinglauaundry · 29/03/2023 20:53

More power in the hands of the banks and/or government
More opportunity for coercive control & financial abuse
That's why I'd oppose it as a rule.

Absolutely. I hardly ever use cash, but at least we have the option to if we want to. It's scary if people can see why this would be such a bad idea

beguilingeyes · 30/03/2023 05:40

TragicMuse · 29/03/2023 19:36

I went to Sweden in 2019. Have NO idea what Swedish cash looks like, it was cards all the way, even at the hotdog cart.

The Swedes don't seem that bothered...

We went in 2019 too. Took loads of Kroner with us. Brought it all back. Couldn't even pay the hotel bill with it.