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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:
malmi · 14/07/2020 17:35

@Pinkyyy

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.

Not on its own it doesn't, it is a useless bit of paper. It's an "IOU" from the bank. It's only worth anything as long as people trust the bank that backs it. That's what money is. Everyone agrees that we all trust the bank, so we all treat their pieces of paper as if they were actually valuable. It works, as long as we all believe in it.
MotherMorph · 14/07/2020 17:39

I work for a small business, we prefer customers to pay by BACS and most do, but several pay by cash or cheque. The cash is logged in a book coming in and going out if being paid to a supplier, or paid into the bank, then entered on the xero accounts and appropriate vat paid.
I cant understand why people want to pay large amounts in cash as I would not be happy carrying that sort of money around, (I saw a tv programme once where someone took 12k out of their bag in cashConfused ) but I'd pay for small purchases (up to £10) in cash.

Theoldwrinkley · 14/07/2020 17:40

I think the use of cash is, sadly, on the way out. This means that ‘the powers that be’, ie mostly zetas people will know exactly what you spend on what commodity when. All a bit ‘big brother’. Also, when I used to work in a supermarket (years ago, I know, but I really really loved my job despite its unskilled nature, speaking as someone with a degree) a lot of elderly, or those who had to be very aware of their spending, used cash only. They’d get X amount out of the bank/cash machine every Monday, and that would have to last until the next Monday. If you didn’t have the cash, you couldn’t have it. Also much easier for children to learn money management.

Sandii · 14/07/2020 17:40

Maybe more people would be made to shoulder the responsibility of paying tax if couldn’t hide behind the cash-in-hand culture that allows them to swerve it 🙄

pleasehelpwi3 · 14/07/2020 17:42

We are decorating.£10k in cash got a cheaper price, so cash alive and well for tax avoidance in the UK

KetoWinnie · 14/07/2020 17:44

I havent used cash in 16 weeks but i dont care

KetoWinnie · 14/07/2020 17:44

@Sandii

Maybe more people would be made to shoulder the responsibility of paying tax if couldn’t hide behind the cash-in-hand culture that allows them to swerve it 🙄
True
DanceItOut · 14/07/2020 17:46

This always seems to be a pretty split discussion. Some people love cash some don’t use it.

Personally I can’t remember the last time I used cash. I never have cash on me.

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 14/07/2020 17:51

When you withdraw cash from an ATM or pay it into the bank at the counter, the bank just updates its records using exactly the same computer system as when you use a debit card (contactless or otherwise) or buy something online. Casb is no more or less secure than any other transaction. Its all just numbers in the same global computer.
All cash does is increase your chances of getting mugged.

GreenTulips · 14/07/2020 17:53

starfishmummy

Get a gohenry card or similar

Lots of options

rushmess · 14/07/2020 17:53

Less tax avoidance means more money for government to spend on elderly people...I think that should be an incentive for everyone both young and old to use less cash.🤔

safariboot · 14/07/2020 17:54

I took my duvets to the launderette today. Cash only.

But then people where I live don't seem to care. The narrow pavements on the high street were as busy and crowded as ever and less than 10% of people were wearing face coverings.

safariboot · 14/07/2020 17:54

I took my duvets to the launderette today. Cash only.

But then people where I live don't seem to care. The narrow pavements on the high street were as busy and crowded as ever and less than 10% of people were wearing face coverings.

vanillandhoney · 14/07/2020 18:06

@TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum

When you withdraw cash from an ATM or pay it into the bank at the counter, the bank just updates its records using exactly the same computer system as when you use a debit card (contactless or otherwise) or buy something online. Casb is no more or less secure than any other transaction. Its all just numbers in the same global computer. All cash does is increase your chances of getting mugged.
Yeah, but they can't see what you spend it on, which is the difference. I could spend £200 on my card and they'd know exactly where it was spent. And, retailers can also reconcile debit card receipts with till receipts and work out exactly what you spent your money on.

But cash is anonymous. Cash is also something you can access and spend on whatever you fancy without needing a bank account. Lots of people don't have bank accounts (and can't get them either) - so how would they buy anything if cash didn't exist?

Lisa82sim · 14/07/2020 18:08

Money is dirty. It's never washed and handled by thousands of people. An average note has 3000 different bacteria on it.... A public loo is cleaner!
Its not fair on staff having to accept money especially right now. Are till staff supposed to use hand sanitizer each time they take money? Have you seen what hand sanitizer does if over used? It drys out your hands until they crack and bleed and then the hand sanitizer hurts like hell from the alcohol on the open wounds.
You do realise also that most people are pretty grubby? They are coughing and sneezing, using the loo and not washing their hands.... Keeping their money in their bra and then licking their fingers to separate the notes, and then expect till staff to take the notes and count it etc... And this money just gets passed back in change to the next customer... Your parents possibly. About time you sorted them out.

FelicisNox · 14/07/2020 18:21

Oh give over.

We're in the middle of a pandemic, what do you expect? Why should shop assistants etc be forced to handle dirty money because you lot think you're in the middle of a conspiracy?

Do you realise how dirty money really is and something like 9/10 notes have traces of cocaine on them? (Just as an example).

If you have cash, by all means use it but it's the shops right to refuse cash right now and I fully support it.

For me, card is definitely the way forward: this is the 1st pandemic, it won't be the last.

You're priorities are skewed.

sst1234 · 14/07/2020 18:22

@Pinkyyy

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.

🤦‍♀️
vanillandhoney · 14/07/2020 18:37

We're in the middle of a pandemic, what do you expect? Why should shop assistants etc be forced to handle dirty money because you lot think you're in the middle of a conspiracy?

Because not everyone has access to bank accounts. Homeless people, those with learning disabilities, women in abusive marriages - just a handful of people who don't have access to bank cards and who have to rely on cash. Why should they be even further marginalised and disadvantaged because some people would rather pay by card?

If you want to pay by card, go for it. Nobody's trying to stop you. But why the need to take other people's choices away from them?

libra101 · 14/07/2020 18:46

Which? ran a campaign against a totally cashless society.

You know where you are using cash - if there's nothing in your purse, you can't spend any money! You can budget easily, and cash isn't being tracked by anyone but me! Swiping a card against a machine seems meaningless, but the debits mount up. Unless you check your balance daily, there could be less money there than you thought.

What if you lose your card? You have to wait for a new one to be issued before you can buy essentials. And what about older people who may use computers or mobiles? It would reduce their independence, having to rely on others to buy their shopping.

In my opinion, a cashless society could lead to more debt.

libra101 · 14/07/2020 18:47

Should read may NOT use computers or mobiles

Bananalanacake · 14/07/2020 19:00

Will Car Boot Sales become a thing of the past.

riceuten · 14/07/2020 19:39

At least this has some kind of reasonable story behind it - meanwhile, far off in social media land, this is being done to introduce a one world governing dictatorship where they confiscate all your money.

skodadoda · 14/07/2020 19:59

Greenestolives Funnily enough, I've just started using cash again over about the last week
Same here, haven’t used a cash machine since lockdown, purse full of change, but I do ask if it’s ok.

Carpetdweller · 14/07/2020 21:07

@Lisa82sim

Money is dirty. It's never washed and handled by thousands of people. An average note has 3000 different bacteria on it.... A public loo is cleaner! Its not fair on staff having to accept money especially right now. Are till staff supposed to use hand sanitizer each time they take money? Have you seen what hand sanitizer does if over used? It drys out your hands until they crack and bleed and then the hand sanitizer hurts like hell from the alcohol on the open wounds. You do realise also that most people are pretty grubby? They are coughing and sneezing, using the loo and not washing their hands.... Keeping their money in their bra and then licking their fingers to separate the notes, and then expect till staff to take the notes and count it etc... And this money just gets passed back in change to the next customer... Your parents possibly. About time you sorted them out.
Yes, but in normal times people don't tend to get ill from handling cash.
Sparkle5 · 14/07/2020 21:42

I work in a high street bank and the reason we request that customer use machines is to cut down on person to person exposure and reduce the risk of staff being exposed to the virus by reducing the amount of cash we handle. In these strange and difficult times I feel we all need to do our bit to help stamp out this virus and if that means using a cash point or paying in machine then so be it.
The amount of verbal abuse and threats that frontline staff experience has quadrupled during COVID 19 predominantly from the over 50’s who feel they have the right to be abusive. I am well over 50 myself and would never speak to a member of staff as we are spoken to.