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!

@JustAnotherPoster00

I think people over generalise when it comes to cash. Often people suggest cashless doesn't work for the elderly.

Youll always have those people who reject change some of the 'reasons' why we shouldnt go cashless on this thread are ridiculous, were almost at the point of 'my nannas best friends third cousin's dog walker only accepts cash, why would you want to see a dog walker go out of business, wont you think of the animals'

Absolutely Justanother. Some of these excuses are ridiculous and are just because the poster is scared of change. The one poster who proudly stated that she was a technology ignoramus in her 50s but that’s ok as she has a son who is good with tech was a great example. Becoming infantilised and dependent is nothing to be proud of

Absolutely Justanother. Some of these excuses are ridiculous and are just because the poster is scared of change. The one poster who proudly stated that she was a technology ignoramus in her 50s but that’s ok as she has a son who is good with tech was a great example. Becoming infantilised and dependent is nothing to be proud of

Bloody spot on! Why with around 30+ years of life left would you not want to be independent!

Astonished at that justanother - I can't imagine anyone wanting a papertrail in that situation! Also not sure why they couldn't use cash - it's not like they're going to be sticking to the guidelines?

@Pootles34

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?

How do you think it would stamp out crime and drug dealing exactly?

How do you think it would stamp out crime and drug dealing exactly?

It would certainly massively reduce a lot of low-level amateur crime, like tradesmen doing small jobs for cash, people buying duty free fags in pubs, small scale drugs, etc. The kind of crime that your "normal" neighbour type of person would indulge in.

Nothing will stop large scale organised crime. The organised crime syndicates already use alternatives, such as buying/selling artworks, race horses, cars, caravans, boats, arms, bitcoins, etc - the kinds of thing that aren't supervised by a regulatory/monitoring body. At least art work trading has recently been brought into the money laundering regulation regime so that's another avenue blocked.

Astonished at that justanother - I can't imagine anyone wanting a papertrail in that situation! Also not sure why they couldn't use cash - it's not like they're going to be sticking to the guidelines?

Drug traffickers will probably have false identities, so money going into "their" bank account under a different name won't bother them. Not difficult to create a false identity if you know how to do it (which organised criminal gangs do) and forged documents aren't hard to come across in certain social circles if you don't have time to create a new identity in other ways.

@Holyrivolli I didn't say I was a tech ignoramus, go back and reread what I actually wrote before you comment. I said I choose what tech I use. If I were a tech ignoramus, how am I managing to comment on MN, transfer money between countries, use a satnav, use a computer and all the usual things? I don't need a smartphone, so don't have one, and having a contactless debit card was pointless when I was living in Belgium as they have only recently adopted them there, so it was chip and pin, and cash during the sales in the shops I used. I was only back in UK to do the university run, and as my purchases when in the UK were well over the contactless limit, it would have been equally useless in UK.

Having your life and tech needs set up so that it works for you, rather than adopting every new thing that comes along, before it has actually been proved to be of use makes more sense to me than buying the newest piece of Apple kit, 'because'.

I am independent and will remain so, and I hope I have a bit more than 30 years of my life left. I wasn't planning to shuffle off my mortal coil any time quite so soon. However, the tech I use has to fit into my life and be of some use, rather than it ruling my life. I also object to the planned obsolescence that the tech manufacturers build into things. I want things to last for a bit more than 18 months before needing to buy another one.

I think you and Coronabegone are actually fucking rude. I am neither infantilised nor dependent; I just make different choices to you, and use what suits me as opposed to following the herd.

@vanillandhoney

There's a difference between not wanting to use something because it'll make you sick, and not wanting to use something because it's abit gross.

I don't want to shake anyone's hand after they've picked their nose
I don't want to pick up dog poo with my bare hands
I don't want to unblock the toilet without gloves on.

None of these will make me ill if I wash my hands after/before eating or licking anything but they're damn gross still

I would still like to know how a cashless society is progress? Progress doesn't mean that we get rid of the old and embrace new inventions.
And...
If you want to use card/cashless payment methods why does it bother you that other people use cash? You don't have to use it.

There's a difference between not wanting to use something because it'll make you sick, and not wanting to use something because it's abit gross.

True, but at the moment cash is a perfectly accepted method of payment. If people wish to pay by cash, they should be able to. I don't like the idea of limiting people's choices in this way at all.

I work for a credit union and there are an awful lot of vulnerable people out there who come in and we help them with their finances and there would be no way they would cope with card payments. Some come in and save a couple of pounds a week using cash, others have small loans.

A lot have no bank accounts, they withdraw their benefits in cash from a post office account. A lot don't have smartphones so wouldn't be able to use monzo or other apps.

There are people with learning disabilities and mental health difficulties who would end up being excluded from society even more than they are already.

I would still like to know how a cashless society is progress? Progress doesn't mean that we get rid of the old and embrace new inventions.

It's progress because it limits the need for plastic/paper/coins which when lost you actually lose money rather than just being able to cancel a card. It's far more environmentally friendly. Makes tracking payments/money easier. Would help limit some types of crime. The list goes on.
*
True, but at the moment cash is a perfectly accepted method of payment. If people wish to pay by cash, they should be able to. I don't like the idea of limiting people's choices in this way at all.*

In some places it's a perfectly acceptable method of payment. In others it's not. If you choose to only use and carry cash you can't kick off when a business refuses it anymore than someone who only carries cards going into a 'cash only' place. You've made your choice, they've made theirs. You might not like it but it is up to the individual business and the cost/benefit to them of what form of payment they accept

In some places it's a perfectly acceptable method of payment. In others it's not. If you choose to only use and carry cash you can't kick off when a business refuses it anymore than someone who only carries cards going into a 'cash only' place. You've made your choice, they've made theirs. You might not like it but it is up to the individual business and the cost/benefit to them of what form of payment they accept

The problem with this, is that it marginalises the most vulnerable people in our society - the homeless, those with criminal backgrounds, those with learning disabilities and those with mental health issues.

While yes, you're right that, for now, businesses can pick and choose whether they take cash or not, it's not a very fair system and it's not fair on those who have absolutely no choice but to use cash. If you have no fixed address, you've got no chance of getting a bank account or a card. So, then what?

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.

What a weird thing to say. Of course cash has value. Absolute nonsense.

tradesmen doing small jobs for cash

What since when was this a crime??

People are stupid and ignorant if they believe this.

The prepare who want cashless are truly selfish as others using cash does not impact on their choice to use apple pay, Google pay or a card.

Hardbackwriter

Why on earth are you paying a plumber or roofer in cash (other than tax fraud)?! We pay all of those things by bank transfer and I don't understand why anyone would find that surprising? Paying the window cleaner and cleaner by bank transfer is loads more convenient than remembering to get cash for them and then leaving it somewhere for them if we'll be out (particularly annoying for the window cleaner as it meant hiding it in the garden).

This is exactly the stupid attitude I hate. Why is paying in cash dodging tax? Dont be so stupid. I had saved it in cash so then I'll pay it out in cash. And yes I paid in £20s for my bathroom refit last year. Cash is legal tender. My plumber didn't gain anything as I paid his normal rate. He has a flat rate not a cash rate.

People who evade tax will do so with any method of payment. People who pay tax and who are honest will be so with any method of payment.

Cash should always be allowed to be used. Why if people like other methods are they wanting to see cash removed? They are not being forced to use cash but they are wanting to force their choice on others. So very very selfish.

Also not everyone lives the same type of live, it just marginalises the most vulnerable in society. But the people advocating cashless are clearly not thinking of these people.

Others having a choice does not impact your choice. Why is that so hard to understand?

People not prepare.

Got so angry reading this thread. Truly didn't think people were this selfish.

Others having a choice does not impact your choice. Why is that so hard to understand?

I know right! My grandmother still barters with eggs and cauliflower! I’ve told her we now use decimal coins but she won’t accept change.

My wish is that all retailers offered all options. I'm the opposite of OP's family in that I very rarely have any cash on me. I've lost track of the number of shops I've not been able to go to because I haven't got cash. When we have an office whip-round I send money to a colleague via PayPal. I much prefer paying contactless (or at least with chip and pin) for everything, but I also agree that cash needs to remain an option for those people who prefer or need to use it.

I can't say what Age Concern/Age UK are doing about access to cash, but I know Which? was campaigning about this:
campaigns.which.co.uk/freedom-to-pay/

Inuse my card a lot, but I have an adult son with learning disabilities and deliberately got him an account that doesnt have the option of a debit card. I act for him on financial matters and get cash out for him for the occasions he needs it. A card would be lost in five minutes or as he thinks everyone is his friend, he would give someone his card and probably his pin number too. At least with cash he can only lose/spend/be conned out of the amount he has on him!