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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder why so many people don't carry any cash on them?

963 replies

InHibernationTilISummer · 03/03/2018 23:27

Excluding people who are skint and the Queen, obviously.

I've had so many examples of this in the last few weeks:

  • Colleague who came into the work in the bad weather. Lots of delays and problems on the bus route they normally get so wanted to get the train instead but had no money for a ticket because they had come in with their season bus pass and lunch and hadn't expected to be spending any money.
  • Friend turning up for exercise class but hasn't realised that the price has gone up 50p since she last came - and she only brought the exact money she thought she would need.
  • Another friend dropping older child off at sport class finds that there's a fair going on at the sports centre with stalls and activities that her younger child (who was with her) would have enjoyed. Complains that she wishes she had known about it in advance as she would have taken some money out with her.

Is this becoming more common or is it just the people I know? If you aren't skint but don't routinely carry money on you, why is that?

I've been in situations where I haven't expected to be spending any (or much) money and some problem has occurred or plans have changed for some reason (e.g. having to accompany someone to A & E or the last bus not turning up) and I would have been really stuck if I hadn't taken some spare 'emergency' cash.

OP posts:
crunchymint · 06/03/2018 00:22

It was the card terminal that was the issue apparently
www.theguardian.com/money/2018/jan/16/verifone-back-online-after-outage-on-card-machines

crunchymint · 06/03/2018 00:23

You live in London with lots of shops, I live in a small town/large village with not so much choice

Jaleto · 06/03/2018 00:29

If it was a terminal issue, could wait in line at an ATM to get cash out if there was one near.
I live remote, still cba with cash for the few scenarios that happen very rarely!

crunchymint · 06/03/2018 00:33

Yes could get cash out. But tbh cba with someone who clearly does not believe me.

saoirsesoige · 06/03/2018 00:35

Well of course we don't believe your original statement, since its not true!
You said "This will mean if systems go down, no one will be able to buy anything"
When actually even in the very rare event that all card systems everywhere go down at once, people can just go and take cash out!

Gingaaarghpussy · 06/03/2018 00:36

Because a card weighs less than a pocket of shrapnwel

Jaleto · 06/03/2018 00:36

Because I asked for a link? Sorry for wanting to know more in a debate. Asked for a link as you're asking for what if situations and mentioned the, it would be nice to know the details of the specific what if situation you're talking about if it was all banks/terminals etc

crunchymint · 06/03/2018 00:36

That is not what you said you did not believe. You said you did not believe when I said I could not use cards in local shops for a few hours.
I am not stupid you know.
And of course systems are going to be attacked by hackers.

Gingaaarghpussy · 06/03/2018 00:36

*shrapnel

crunchymint · 06/03/2018 00:37

The aye that happened. I do know what that means. I am not stupid.

Jaleto · 06/03/2018 00:39

That is not what you said you did not believe. You said you did not believe when I said I could not use cards in local shops for a few hours.
I am not stupid you know.

.... Erm that's exactly what I said, you're talking about two different posters, I said:

"Have you got a link for all the banking services going down on 7/11, I remember the mobile network being under strain but not anything to do with banking."

marmitetoastie · 06/03/2018 00:42

I often go out with just my phone now as I can pay for most things with it. I normally have cash in my bag, I often forget/can’t be bothered to take my bag; so my cash hangs around (until my dc notice it’s going off & needs spending quickly).

safariboot · 06/03/2018 01:19

The presenter on Absolute Radio today mentioned he'd received a £100 penalty charge because he parked in a car park which was pay-before-leaving, then upon returning found the machine wouldn't accept his card payment or Apple Pay, he had no cash and implied he was too far away to walk to the cashpoint. Seeing no other option he left without paying.

He plans to dispute the charge, but the issue wouldn't have arisen in the first place if he'd carried cash.

safariboot · 06/03/2018 01:21

As for "all banking systems never go down", I feel confident in saying many people only have cards with one bank, especially lower-income or prudent people who don't have multiple credit cards.

LoniceraJaponica · 06/03/2018 06:33

Can you pay for goods over £30 with your phone?

Jaimx86 · 06/03/2018 06:44

Lonicera, I did a shop of £78 this weekend on my phone. Was a spur of the moment shop after I'd been on a run so didn't have a bag/purse on me. I just had to tap my phone three times (£30,£30,£18).

TheDailyMailIsADisgustingRag · 06/03/2018 06:47

@safari

That exact thing happened when I was in a local car park a few months ago. I didn’t actually need to pay, because I’d been to the swimming pool and they write off the charge. But there was a van driver giving someone hell down the phone as he couldn’t pay with card or phone. He’s walked the mile into town to go to a cash point, come back and the machine wouldn’t take his money either! Technology will occasionally shaft you.

BarbaraofSevillle · 06/03/2018 07:08

Lonicera, I did a shop of £78 this weekend on my phone. Was a spur of the moment shop after I'd been on a run so didn't have a bag/purse on me. I just had to tap my phone three times (£30,£30,£18

Does this also work for contactless cards? I do pay by card for petrol, supermarket shopping etc, but I was of the impression that if I spent more than £30 I had to use chip and pin.

Or does the retailer have to treat it as three transactions? I bet they love people doing that.

Jaimx86 · 06/03/2018 07:09

Barbara, I'm not sure as my card isn't contactless. I'm due a new card this month so will have to test it out.

bananafish81 · 06/03/2018 07:13

As for "all banking systems never go down", I feel confident in saying many people only have cards with one bank, especially lower-income or prudent people who don't have multiple credit cards.

So then in such situations people would be prudent to carry cash

Those of us who do carry only cards may already have thought about this and carry different cards (eg multiple cards assigned to apple or Android pay, plus a physical credit / debit card)

There seems to be a campaign by the 'I like to carry cash' brigade to tell the 'I prefer not to carry cash' folk all the reasons why they think this is foolhardy.

But amazingly enough, no one is forcing anyone to go completely cashless. If we choose to go cashless it's because we have decided that it suits our lives better to do so

You also suggest that people who do have multiple cards are not prudent. Some of us just use different card providers for different things. I have multiple cards but pay all my credit card bills off in full every month

Amex cc - use for points
visa cc - mbna provide a visa card for the same account as the Amex to use if somewhere doesn't take Amex. Same bill, just fewer reward points
Mastercard debit - Monzo current account
Mastercard credit - my business card for business expenses

Doesn't make me less prudent, or better or worse than someone who has one card - means we have different circumstances.

Trills · 06/03/2018 07:25

What is this 7/11 that you are talking about?

Radio presenter was being an idiot - if you park in a car park you should check how you need to pay as you leave your car.

BatshitCrazyWoman · 06/03/2018 07:32

In reply to a pp, leetchi wouldn't work in my tiny and unusual workplace. Without being completely outing, quite a few people don't have a bank account at all.

I use cash and cards interchangeably, and my budget relies on neither, it's in my head. I don't buy takeaway coffee, lunch etc so most days are no spend days.

bananafish81 · 06/03/2018 07:38

In reply to a pp, leetchi wouldn't work in my tiny and unusual workplace. Without being completely outing, quite a few people don't have a bank account at all.

Again, it's unlikely then that anyone in your workplace is likely to decide that leetchi is the best way to manage an office collection, isn't it?

I work in a technology firm with offices in London and Paris. The preferences of our staff are likely to be very different to smaller businesses in small towns or rural areas

Again. No one is saying that those who prefer to use cash should stop doing so.

The thread is asking those of us who don't carry cash how we find that's workable. We are sharing how that works

I can go cashless because any office collections are done electronically.

If I work somewhere where they're done with cash in an envelope, then I'll get some cash out at lunchtime.

No one is forcing your workplace to go cashless!

BatshitCrazyWoman · 06/03/2018 07:49

I didn't say they were. Just giving my own experience. I am neither cashless nor cash only. I don't much mind what others do.

Lweji · 06/03/2018 07:52

What is this 7/11 that you are talking about?
Interesting example of a meme propagating with false information.
It looks like 7/7 and 9/11 got mixed up in someone's head and almost nobody noticed it was wrong. And reused it as true