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AIBU?

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Original poster

to be worried that we are heading towards a cashless society?

310 replies

WaitingforGalGadot · 03/12/2017 12:22

I read an article a few days ago about how the Government would like to phase out cash so that everyone is compelled to pay by card or bank transfer, supposedly to make things easier and quicker and destroy the black market.

I actually think this is really ominous as once there is no more cash, there is no more anonymity and your spending habits and lifestyle can be tracked even if you are not doing anything illegal. Big Brother watching your every more.

It also means the banks can impose negative interest rates (where you have to pay the banks to hold your money) on savings accounts to get people to spend rather than see their savings reduced and of course also means that you don't really have control of your own money since the banks can collapse, bail in your money or appropriate it (as has happened in places like Argentina, not too long ago).

Cash is also really useful and personally I don't find it a faff to use cash. I think this is really scary.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 03/12/2017 23:08

@wasonthelist people on benefits are allowed to go abroad you know

Yep but you’re actually supposed to inform the dwp that you’re leaving the country and for how long. Not that anybody does.

Or those were the rules back in my day.

LoniceraJaponica · 03/12/2017 23:11

Like Ghosts I prefer to do my online banking on my laptop rather than my phone. I prefer a bigger screen where I can see everything. Although I don't actually do any online banking. I have direct debits set up and never have any need to transfer payments. I just go online to check my statement every now and again, and that's it.

wasonthelist · 03/12/2017 23:11

Is the cashless society like the glorious paperless office we now all work in?
It is extraordinarily rare for anyone to be using paper in our office

lljkk · 04/12/2017 07:27

Today I help with a fund raising event at school; we will sell trinkets for 50p or £1 to parents/kids. People are much more likely to have cash & let their kids hand over cash than they would be to have cards. Would a card-reader be free to acquire & charge our charity no fees?
----

Our office prints out paper quite a lot, it's essential.

GerdaLovesLili · 04/12/2017 08:07

wasonthelist It is extraordinarily rare for anyone to be using paper in our office

Well you're in a minority. The queues for the printers at the last place I worked at were EPIC. Despite us notionally working in a paperless environment.

RicottaPancakes · 04/12/2017 10:35

They still do use cash in Sweden, but it is becoming more common to use your phone to pay for things, or to send money to other people. There are apps that let you send money to other people, all you need is their phone number.

speakout · 04/12/2017 10:37

and destroy the black market.

Ha ha.

The internet has created lots of opportunities for making money illegally.

coldteawarmcat · 04/12/2017 10:38

They don't but what if you buy a coffee in, say, Marbella when you are claiming JSA. OK, you say, "nothing to hide, nothing to fear" - but you can begin to see why they might be interested, can't you?

and you think the benefits people are monitoring everyones bank accounts, do you?

heron98 · 04/12/2017 11:21

I never use cash. Ever. Can't remember the last time I got money out of a bank machine. I will pay by card for everything, no matter how small.

There are a few cafes near me that don't take card. I just don't go to them.

coldteawarmcat · 04/12/2017 11:26

How can you never ever use cash? Do you have children?

splendide · 04/12/2017 11:28

I have one child and never use cash (or very very rarely do).

He's not at school yet though, or getting pocket money.

coldteawarmcat · 04/12/2017 11:30

I can't imagine how you could have kids in school and never use cash. They are the main reason I have to keep some on me. it's always a euro for this and a fiver for that and sponsor card something and bake sale and a school lunch!

speakout · 04/12/2017 11:33

I have a kid at school and don't use cash.

School lunch card is paid online. No bake sales or sponsors.

coldteawarmcat · 04/12/2017 11:36

No non uniform day, comic relief, book sale anything? Gosh, that must be nice.

speakout · 04/12/2017 11:38

No. It's a secondary school.

It's very good to have primary school behind us.

All that- Mum I have to go in dressed as a giraffe tomorrow/band member from Kiss told at bedtime.

( Actual happenings)

whiskyowl · 04/12/2017 12:05

I think anonymity has already been eroded a very, very long way. Big data about you will exist on multiple, huge systems - it's impossible to avoid. Control is happening less through spending these days than through indebtedness.

LoniceraJaponica · 04/12/2017 13:07

heron98 where I live there are lots of small businesses and shops who would think you were taking the piss if you got a debit card out to buy a 50p bar of chocolate or whatever. As I stated in a previous post I would far rather pay cash for a cup of coffee in an independent coffee shop than go to Starbucks and pay by debit card. I think it is so important to support local businesses (and businesses who actually pay their tax).

Talking of which I need to try and find some change for DD’s bus fares (because our buses only take cash or bus passes)

Where do all these people live who never ever use cash? In big cities?

lljkk · 04/12/2017 13:43

DC secondary school has enterprise week, when the kids produce nice things to sell each other. They need cash for that.

Oh... and they need cash for disco entry & treats at the (yr7 & 8) discos.

Food & drink things at the school musical (parents buy at interval).

The kids in the musical performed at the craft fair. I dunno if any of the craft fair people could take not-cash -- maybe. Craft fair kitchen sold wine & cakes only for cash.

Most of the parents pay for the bus fare weekly, in cash; they can't afford an annual pass & the bus driver only takes cash.

My eldest DC never got involved in school life any way, though so would have dodged all of above.... but sometimes he needed cash for train fares (not always possible to get him a season ticket).\

Oh.. and catering. The school asks for small cash amounts to pay for catering. They also have an online payment system, so maybe DH is paying for catering that way, now.

Teen DD earns... she gets paid in cash. Sometimes she gets back from shops & asks me to reimburse her. She hasn't got round to having a bank account yet, so I need to hand her cash.

bruffin · 04/12/2017 14:05

they still do use cash in Sweden, but it is becoming more common to use your phone to pay for things, or to send money to other people.

There are cashless shops in Stockholm, Espresso house by the station doesnt take cash

Firesuit · 04/12/2017 14:28

I made the conscious decision to go completely cashless this year. It makes it easier to keep track of where money is going.

I currently have £0 in my wallet. (I do however have a collection of £1 coins hidden in a purse in my car, to pay for parking at DD swimming lessons. Also useful to unlock trolleys at Asda. Until DD moved swim schools recently, all parking was cashless.)

Actually, I'm not sure why I have a wallet. I keep one credit card in the pocket of my jacket, and another in the car as a backup, and no longer take my wallet when I leave the house.

DD school had a christmas fare, I withdrew £10 cash for her to spend, correctly anticipating that school fund-raising activities don't take cards. Also, a card would give her an unlimited budget, which wouldn't be a good idea. Smile

Firesuit · 04/12/2017 14:42

Is the cashless society like the glorious paperless office we now all work in?

I've been doing an office-based job for a multi-national, from home, for the past 2.5 years, and in that time I've neither generated a page of print, nor read one generated by anyone else. As far as I can remember.

When I visit the office, the typical desk has no paper on it, so it looks like most people who don't work form home I not using much more paper than I do. (It may help that desks have to be cleared every night, neither computer nor papers can be left behind.)

wasonthelist · 04/12/2017 14:53

and you think the benefits people are monitoring everyones bank accounts, do you?

FFS - what is wrong with people? I pointed that out in response to a poster who wondered why government might be interested, not as a contention that it's actually happening now.

Given how councils have used RIPA however, it's really not a great stretch to imagine it happening once there's a reliable way of researching it.

wasonthelist · 04/12/2017 14:54

Well you're in a minority.

and how the hell would you know that?

Apollo440 · 04/12/2017 15:09

and you think the benefits people are monitoring everyones bank accounts, do you?

Yes they are currently doing this, as an entitlement of RIPA. And I gave you a specific example earlier in the thread.

So you can stop worrying about it happening, it already has.

milliemolliemou · 04/12/2017 15:48

I think anyone removing cash will have to consider

(1) those unfamiliar with technology and/or mistrust it. IME that includes some comparatively young elderly men (55 upwards) whose secretaries always handled everything ITish and those who never had to deal with BACS because customers/clients always used cash or cheques

(2) those who like my elderly mother had cracked on with technology but found disability meant they couldn't see so well/use hands so well so it was a nightmare trying to log in/see screens. Of course you could get Siri/Alexa and voice recognition on a pc but you're buggered if it breaks down, needs resetting or your electricity goes off. Or your voice changes because of a cold etc. I'll be checking some of the apps recommended on this thread.

Interestingly seeing people use Ringo for carparking and accepting that they'll pay for the convenience.

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