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

[rockingthelook]

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!

@NotMyTimes
I bank with Nat West. Branch in my village closed, branch in the next town along closed, branch near my work closed, all in the last few years. So nearest branch is in the centre of city, takes me 30 minutes to drive and park plus parking fee and walk through city.
Reason for shutting branches? Reduced footfall I.e. people not going to get cash out.
So yes branches do close and people do lose their jobs but that’s fine as long as the banks keep making their massive profits.

I keep all my savings in cash and I would never trust a bank with them.

Cash is just bits of inherently worthless paper and the only reason that it has any value is because of the inherent trust that society has in those very banks.

I keep all my savings in cash and I would never trust a bank with them.

House fire or a robbery could take away all of it why would you risk that?

@Pinkyyy

I would never go fully cashless. I keep all my savings in cash and I would never trust a bank with them.

Probably a good idea and I have thought of doing that recently especially in the current circumstances and the amount I keep seeing about wealth taxes and deflation, not that I am wealthy but I would like to keep all of the small savings that I have

YABU. I felt so bad giving the staff member at McDonalds cash the other day. He was polite but I could tell he doesn't want to touch germ ridden cash at this time and he shouldn't have to.

Those coming up with examples where people prefer cash - the onus is on you to recognise the direction that society is heading and come up with solutions to those problems, not present them as reasons for us all to put progress on hold.

China have largely abandoned cash and people use mobile apps for money transfers. Right down to street traders, markets, buskers and beggars. Everyone has their little 2D barcode that you can scan to transfer money to them, with no fees. If you try to pay with cash they roll their eyes. Electronic payments are just so much more convenient.

Currently in the UK we have the traditional debit/credit card system, prepaid cards you can load a balance onto and spend, online banking, Google Pay/Apple Pay, PayPal, BitCoin, and other payment apps that come and go. These options have varying levels of alignment to the traditional banking system, and varying levels of attractiveness for merchants and consumers. The picture is still very much in flux.

There's always going to be a choice of some sort, but a payment system is only useful if people are actually willing to accept it. People will soon start to view cash the same way they currently view cheques. Technically still exist but very few will accept them for purchases and many people will have probably never come across them.

@LovingLen I honestly think it's the best way. Whether you have a small or a large amount, you know exactly where it is at all times and you don't need to ask permission from the bank to access your own money. If you do consider it be sure to get a secure safe and try and have it hidden within your house.

I would be happy never to use cash again. It's so inconvenient, and I only ever carry it if I really must.

@sanityisamyth errr you do know that Covid wasn't caused because of ‘germ ridden cash’ don’t you??? Cash hasn’t made the world come to a standstill!

I would be happy never to use cash providing that the system was more robust - I've tried to use my card in shops and the system has been down more than once. Luckily I normally have a few pounds on me so could use that, but many people won't have, and that shop probably lost a lot of trade (in perishable goods, it was a streetfood takeaway) that day. Customers without cash would have also gone hungry as not able to buy food.

Shops and other providers also need to make sure they're on appropriate terms with their card provider (a percentage with no minimum charge) because I don't want to be forced into a minimum spend or for goods to be priced to take card charges into account in case someone buys a single mars bar, bottle of water etc with a card.
Same for parking meters, those in our city charge extra to use a card, despite being much better for the council, as they don't need to collect the money or risk it being stolen.

But I suspect that a lot of the time, prices will just go up for everyone. People might think 'its only a few pence' but that adds up to a lot for multiple daily purchases.

[quote Fairyliz]@NotMyTimes
If everyone stops wasting the cashiers time getting money out, the cashier will very quickly find themselves out of a job when the branch closes.
But isn’t this the whole point of a cashless society for the banks to save money?[/quote]
Not this again. Seriously. What happens whenever there is a change? Do people go out of business overnight or do they over time switch trades. Come on, think for yourself.

Why is not using cash 'progress' though??

People keep throwing about the word 'progress' but what does that actually mean??

I work in retail. Card isn't much faster than cash.

It's not progress to give up more and more of your privacy.

*Those coming up with examples where people prefer cash - the onus is on you to recognise the direction that society is heading and come up with solutions to those problems, not present them as reasons for us all to put progress on hold.

There's always going to be a choice of some sort, but a payment system is only useful if people are actually willing to accept it. People will soon start to view cash the same way they currently view cheques. Technically still exist but very few will accept them for purchases and many people will have probably never come across them.*

This hits the nail on the head.

It's all well and good to say 'well I like cash' but if you refuse to or limit how much you engage with modern society and progress then you have to accept a limit to how much you will be able to participate in modern society. You can live your life however you want but don't expect others to pander to or make allowances for your preferences.

If you refuse to have a debit/contactless card you can't complain if you come across a cafe that refuses to take your cash/chip and pin. You've made your choice and they've made theirs. Exactly the same as those of us who only carry cards accepting it and moving on when we come to a place that is cash only. You can't suddenly expect amazon to start doing delivery to pay with cash at the door just because someone 'doesn't trust it'. They can choose not to shop at amazon but can't expect amazon to change for the tiny minority of people who don't like it, the system is clearly working for them as a company already so they're under no obligation.

[quote Daisychains20]@sanityisamyth errr you do know that Covid wasn't caused because of ‘germ ridden cash’ don’t you??? Cash hasn’t made the world come to a standstill![/quote]

The pandemic was caused by a virus. You seemed to deride "germs".

If everyone stops wasting the cashiers time getting money out, the cashier will very quickly find themselves out of a job when the branch closes.

With EVERY technological change, some jobs disappear, others are created. Huge numbers of people will be employed in programming, supporting, designing, building, maintaining and installation cash machines, card machine infrastructure, card terminals, card admin systems, etc etc.

@Pinkyyy

I would never go fully cashless. I keep all my savings in cash and I would never trust a bank with them.

You do know how the monetary system works, right? Your cash on its own doesn’t have any value, it’s a token of the banking systems worth.

@feelingthefearbutnotdoingit

Why is not using cash 'progress' though??

People keep throwing about the word 'progress' but what does that actually mean??

I work in retail. Card isn't much faster than cash.

It's not progress to give up more and more of your privacy.

Do you have a phone? If you do, you gave up your “freedoms” already

Malmi I posted a link to what shops in Belgium are doing for taking cash payments. China is not a void example, I piosted a link to a DT article about what China does with the information it gleans on its citizens, as have others. Not everyone can afford, or wants to buy into the Apple hegemony, or wants Google to have all their transaction details.

Cheque books are needed; the DVLA only takes cheques or postal orders when you reimport a car and need to pay the car tax before they issue you with your new V5, and that was in November 19 for me and January this year for dh.

Electronic payments only work as long as the electronics and their systems do. What do you do in the face of a cyber attack that takes down the grid, or various payment systems? You need cash, which as I've repeatedly said on this thread, is why various governments are legislating to keep cash in circulation.

@saintyisamyth yes covid was a virus but not caused by cash which you stated above.

If people realised what percentage of bank notes have cocaine residue on and therefore have been stuck up strangers noses, they’d probably be quicker to use cards.

Seriously, every single bank note is contaminated within weeks of circulation in the UK.

Yes you and I imagine if we do go cashless that would help stamp out drug dealing would it not? As well as lots of other crime, surely?

@YouAreTheEggManIAmTheWalrus

If people realised what percentage of bank notes have cocaine residue on and therefore have been stuck up strangers noses, they’d probably be quicker to use cards.

Seriously, every single bank note is contaminated within weeks of circulation in the UK.

See, that really doesn't bother me. I don't lick my hands after I've paid for something. Just carry sanitiser or wash your hands before eating (which people should do anyway) and you'll be fine.

Using cash won't make you sick unless you don't follow decent hygiene procedures.

Yes you and I imagine if we do go cashless that would help stamp out drug dealing would it not? As well as lots of other crime, surely?

The local dealers switched to BACS and paypal over the lockdown I'm told, im guessing from the very nature of their 'business' they have to be adaptable