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Original poster

To think that we are being forced into a cashless society?

655 replies

rockingthelook · 12/07/2020 21:54

My parents really don't like to use debit cards, especially the contactless ones, however , due to C19 this seems to be the way forward? They like to take their money from the bank and use the cash rather than cards, really don't want to bank or pay for anything online because they don't trust it, but everything seems to be geared towards contactless. They had a walk today and wanted to buy a cup of tea from a takeaway cafe and couldn't, not only because the place wouldn't take cash, but the cards had to be contactless, and their cards aren't (they asked not to have this feature as frightened of them being stolen and used) It seems to be that the banks etc are using the C19 situation to force things through, my mum was even told by the cashier in the bank the other day to use the cash machine in the bank rather than get the cash over the counter because of the 'risks', fgs it's THEIR money, can't believe Age Concern/UK aren't all over this!

OP posts:
BakedBlossoms · 13/07/2020 20:45

I mean I actually spent the last few posts explaining how I helped my gran to be independent, but you crack on with whatever suits your narrative.

Coronabegone · 13/07/2020 20:47

Cash also isn’t in the past, presently it’s still very much in circulation.

Not at the moment

And

Not for long!

Things move on.

Coronabegone · 13/07/2020 20:47

Cash also isn’t in the past, presently it’s still very much in circulation.

Not at the moment

And

Not for long!

Things move on.

Daisychains20 · 13/07/2020 20:48

@Coronabegone of course it’s still in circulation! It’s being used every day!

Coronabegone · 13/07/2020 20:54

Gosh @Daisychains20 I thought this post was started by someone saying they felt we are being forced to use contactless and cards......

I must be mistaken!

I make OP right and will fully support contactless and cards! Including banks telling people to get cash out of the cash point, which hopefully will soon be a thing of the past!

Previous elderly people liked to queue up for their pension, outside the post office even in thick snow.

Doesn't happen now... things change.

vanillandhoney · 13/07/2020 20:56

@Coronabegone

Gosh *@Daisychains20* I thought this post was started by someone saying they felt we are being forced to use contactless and cards......

I must be mistaken!

I make OP right and will fully support contactless and cards! Including banks telling people to get cash out of the cash point, which hopefully will soon be a thing of the past!

Previous elderly people liked to queue up for their pension, outside the post office even in thick snow.

Doesn't happen now... things change.

I must live in the past - happens here every single week without fail!
Daisychains20 · 13/07/2020 20:59

@vanillandhoney the queue for a post office on a pension day is still there! That’s not changed Hmm

Coronabegone · 13/07/2020 20:59

Not here @vanillandhoney, South London!

thegcatsmother · 13/07/2020 21:01

My 87 year old gran uses contactless, has WiFi, has a smart phone etc. There really is no excuse.

It's about choice and priorities, not excuses. I am 54, refuse to have a contactless card, and I don't want or need a smartphone either. I bank online (but still get paper statements). I don't want to pay for a smartphone either with or without a contract...I have other things I'd prefer to spend money on.

It is also not about how things change. Governments have decided that there will still be resilience in the system, and will keep cash, despite what the banks might like, for security purposes. Afaik, the banks don't yet run the country.

Coronabegone · 13/07/2020 21:01

@Daisychains20 so all the pensioners are out queuing for their pension during a pandemic........ really???

When they're being told to stay home etc?

Madness!!

And then everyone is outraged and saying that the elderly were not looked after!

SpeedofaSloth · 13/07/2020 21:03

I agree, this has crept in everywhere recently. I gave a busker £3 on Saturday, it must have been in my purse since March. DS fretted slightly about how the musician would pick it up without getting ill, so the message is now deeply ingrained in him that cash = germ-laden, and he doesn't even spend cash very often as he's only 11 Confused.

amijustparanoidorjuststoned · 13/07/2020 21:04

My mother is very old school with money - she has a debit/credit card but pays her credit card off with a cheque every month Hmm she's only 57!!

I've told her she needs to get with the times and get online banking/PayPal etc but she is hesitant.

vanillandhoney · 13/07/2020 21:05

[quote Daisychains20]@vanillandhoney the queue for a post office on a pension day is still there! That’s not changed Hmm[/quote]
I know - that's what I said Smile

Daisychains20 · 13/07/2020 21:05

@Coronabegone you didn’t say during the pandemic though. Before the pandemic there was queues, they might be quieter at the minute but there is a very good chance that within the next couple of months they will go back to normal with the normal long queues on pension day.

Daisychains20 · 13/07/2020 21:07

@vanillandhoney sorry I tagged the wrong person. You did say the same thing as me. Smile

BakedBlossoms · 13/07/2020 21:10

DS fretted slightly about how the musician would pick it up without getting ill, so the message is now deeply ingrained in him that cash = germ-laden

Yeah. He's right though.

Coronabegone · 13/07/2020 21:10

@Daisychains20 the pandemic gas changed things, like using cash!

That's life, it may not suit everyone but it suits the vast majority.

The more that use cards, cash will become less and less and everyone will need to deal with that.

vanillandhoney · 13/07/2020 21:12

[quote Daisychains20]@vanillandhoney sorry I tagged the wrong person. You did say the same thing as me. Smile[/quote]
No worries - easily done! Smile

Floella4 · 13/07/2020 21:16

I’ve not read 16 full pages so this might have already been mentioned, apologies if it has.

But everyone seems to be forgetting about drugs ?? We won’t have a fully cashless society while people are still dealing and buying drugs

Floella4 · 13/07/2020 21:20

Also I don’t necessarily have an issue with a cashless society - my issue is with what comes next and that is a microchip in your hand for payment. (This is something that is being trialed rn, it’s definitely happening)

I’m a Christian and in the bible this technology is literally spelled out word for word as the mark of the beast. Isn’t it incredible that 50 years ago they weren’t able to accurately predict future technology but 2000 years ago they got it exactly right and in exact alignment with several political events.
If a chip ever comes in my lifetime, I won’t be taking it

StarUtopia · 13/07/2020 21:21

OK so not one person has put two and two together.

Once we are cashless, and everything you do/spend/receive is monitoring via a computer, you have no control. Zero.

There you are, boarding a plane to Portugal when you're stopped at the gate. Sorry. You are denied access. You are not a good citizen. The right to travel has been denied to you. You go home. On the way, you stop to buy a bottle of wine to cheer yourself up. Nope. Sorry. None of your payment methods work at the local off licence because you've been banned.

Anyone who thinks this sounds like some bizarre futuristic film needs to do some research.

Without cash, you have no control over your life. None.

It's not about avoiding tax.

It's funny however how everyone who doesn't have a problem with it sounds as though they have plenty of money!

Hardbackwriter · 13/07/2020 21:23

The thing is @thegcatsmother (and @amijustparanoidorjuststoned, this is why you're quite right) actively choosing not to engage with new technology when you're 50 is how people end up totally helpless when they're 80 because by then it's ubiquitous and expected but they can't catch up on three decades worth of technology that they never used.

Coronabegone · 13/07/2020 21:25

@StarUtopia do I have to be ashamed at having "plenty of money", your reasoning is mad, if you go to a cash point and it won't give you cash because you're overdrawn, what difference is that than having a card decline? I really do not understand.

BakedBlossoms · 13/07/2020 21:27

I’m a Christian and in the bible this technology is literally spelled out word for word as the mark of the beast. Isn’t it incredible that 50 years ago they weren’t able to accurately predict future technology but 2000 years ago they got it exactly right and in exact alignment with several political events.

CorianderLord · 13/07/2020 21:29

It's just the way things are - they. Change. As a 25 year old I have to say I haven't used cash for anything but paying my cleaner in maybe... 18mo?

I use card or Apple Pay. Perfectly easy to create budgets, spend limits, apps, spending trackers on Monzo/ Starling and the like.

Give it 20 years and I can't see why we need cash tbh... except maybe fun fairs and kids pocket money etc.

  • cashless is cleaner and doesn't transfer Covid. That's why it's cashless right now. it's rude to try and use cash when the poor servers are already at risk.

I'm not sure why they're scared of it being used - they could only do £30 a time and if you report it stolen they check the last payment you made and refund the rest as fraud.

I don't see why anyone thinks they're spying on your milk buying or that you spend £30 in the local boozer.