To be annoyed that lots of companies won't take cash

[sicknote26]

Hi,

Been to lots of places that don't take cash, but starting to get really annoyed at not having the option of paying by cash.

Been to a couple of places today, first a well known activity place and a well known restaurant. Both completely cashless.

Aibu or is this a sigh of the times now.

What about the older generation who prefer to pay with cash.

Well yes, but I was just responding to the 'it's never happened to me' comment.

I live in the heavily populated Boston-Washington corridor, but there are still many local spots that you are lucky to get 3G. As for everyone having smartphones, it’s impractical. Young people need to make and receive calls, and text on a Sindy size pull out keyboard. Apps, cameras, and Internet access on their phones only leads to drama and trouble. Adults may not want these things, choosing a more affordable option.

"Legal tender" is relatively meaningless as it only applies to settling court appointed debts, even then there are limitations e.g., you can't pay a £100 fine in 1 pence pieces.

When if comes to selling goods and services providers are free to set their own payment terms, if a shop doesn't want to accept cash/only accepts cash that's up to them. If you don't like it you don't have to shop there, that's the long and short of it.

@KousaMahshi

Have you read the title of the thread ?

That's the point of the thread is that she can't do both.

You are misunderstanding the thread completely

Companies are refusing to accept cash. Only card payments.

Well to go back to my ancient past, my 1980s employer had fallback positions if the network went down. The branches maintained stocks of the paper-based systems that they had used prior to computerisation, and could continue to serve customers then 'catch up' once the network resumed.

The bank relied on technology so much they made sure they had a non-computer safety net available.

And that was before banks became as vulnerable to foul play and 'technical issues' as they are now. And they probably don't have the multiple fallback positions they had then because they're more focussed on cost-savings than continuity of service these days.

I'm guessing the idea of how vulnerable your money actually is, when you consider that banks are just people and computers are just machines, is a bit of a mind-fuck; because you have faith in computers.

I'm nearly cashless since I've been using Google pay , it's amazing. If I forget my wallet no problems. I have maybe £10-20 at home.

We'll be a cashless society soon so people either need to get up to speed or drop out of society.

How old are this “older generation” that prefer to use cash? My parents would be in their 80s if they were still around and they mastered the art of using a card a very long time ago. I am in my 50s and have been using cards for decades and I pay with my phone these days.

She CAN do both though. A few places are card only, it couldn't be simpler to not go there. Bjut if she used her card like a normal person, she wouldn't have the issue, would she?

But again, youre still not understanding my question to you. I'm not sure how much simpler I can phrase it, I've already pitched at young child level and you're still unable to grasp. I guess that's ok. You and your sister don't understand how money works in the 21st century. As we can see from this thread, many are similarly challenged.

I had to leave a cafe today to find a cashpoint because their card reader went down. The last time this happened to me was in 2005 or 6, I remember it because it was so unusual.

Very far from the weekly occurrence people suggest.

@LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet would he be ok with contactless? Easier than carrying/having lots of cash around (as he takes out once a week) and running the risk of losing/being stolen

@Ericaequites at least in the uk you can use applepay without signal. A debit card will prevent all the problems that a smartphone brings as you describe

Ultimately tho, how are people going to do coke lines now that cash and plastic straws aren’t a thing anymore?????

I'm with you and agree. OP's sister pointlessly made it harder for herself.

I am not sure why people think cash would be a back up in the event of a big disaster.

People will want food, water, petrol - not useless bits of paper.

@Orangepolentacake I don’t use a debit card because dealing with the bank if there is a problem is so hard. There is still a market for non smart phones, and they should stay useable. The best way to conserve resources is not buying a new item. Use it up/Make it do/Wear it out/Or go without!

No for much longer. 2G and 3G signals will be switched off in the next few years.

Tons of downsides. If you're waiting for a new card after a scam then how do you pay? If a kid wants to pay with pocket money and doesn't have a card how do they pay? Kids having to get debit cards from a young age. If the store WiFi goes down how do you pay? Not getting change for places that need coins e.g. launderettes etc etc.

Don't know if this has already been said - a big part of businesses going cashless is down to banks making it so difficult to deposit cash or obtain change!
The business I work for went cashless over COVID times but trialled a return to cash over the summer. It had to be cut short as they couldn't get any coin to use as float or give as change. So many banks have now closed, post office will only issue change on production of a card (presumably so that the charge can be passed on) but these are only issued by UK banks which my business doesn't use!
Hopefully cash will make a comeback but I can totally see why businesses are saving themselves the hassle!!

The government literally knows everything about you. Everything. Your medical details, blood group, fingerprints, your bank account, your physical movements, your browsing history on the internet, your credit file. There is nothing that they don’t know. Using government controlled currency in paper form is not going restore any long lost autonomy.

In general the government couldn't give a fuck about what you are up to. Most people are very very dull. You sound like my old housemate's stoner boyfriend who wouldn't get an Oyster card as "TfL would track him."
Steve mate, TfL have more to worry about than your weekly bus trips to Tesco and your dealer.

We’re all encouraged to go online for our banking, use our phones etc effectively closing our local branches of banks. There are some occasions when a branch is necessary. People already hand cards over to friends and family members to pay contactless, give log in details for their online banking to spouses and partners. For every family that are controlling an elderly relatives accounts online legitimately but not lawfully how many are skimming off the top whilst they do it. So many people are so lacking when it comes to guarding their finances, very naively.
Yes my DH is stubborn but that’s another post, he doesn’t have the mindset that no one is going to tell him what to do. He has worked for the same company since 1989 and at 21 he would draw his weekly salary out, pay his board to his parents and leave the rest of the cash in his wallet, slightly different set up since getting married but it works for us. If Starbucks don’t take cash he will just get a coffee elsewhere but if I’m with him I’ll pay on my card. Like I commented earlier a restaurant that was card only were more than happy to take the tip we left in cash.

Not just the elderly but the vulnerable and immigrants. A couple of threads about this fairly recently. Always interesting.

Majority of payments we accept are card or contactless, and a tiny amount of cash for those people (older generally) who prefer that method.

@WineDarkNo308 that sort of behaviour also happens with cash - elderly people handing over cash to carera and relatives to buy things or keeping cash at home.

A few years ago our elderly neighbour in a small block of flats were were renting in had a fall and was taken to hospital. As Inwas already feeding her cat and we shared a landlord, she asked me to ensure her rent was paid (she still paid weekly in cash) she told me to go in to a drawer in her bedroom, it was filled with aboit £30k in twenty poind notes. I am trustworthy but she had no way to know that for sure, we were just short term tenants who took the time to chat to her and pet her cat.

Yes, but she was only 56, 40 years ago when cash machines and credit cards were introduced. Yes, for her, it's probably too late now, but she had plenty of time when she was younger and more able to embrace "new" things that everyone else was doing. How did computers, the internet, online/telephone banking, debit/credit cards pass her by for all those years when she was a lot younger and more able to cope with change, but apparently she didn't notice and made no attempt to learn how to use any of it?

You do realise 96 is a fairly advanced age, and people of that age get forgetful and confused - and just because cash machines and credit cards were introduced 40 years ago it doesn't mean the entire populace rushed to embrace them - there were still plenty of other options available. My father is 89 and has never used a computer in his life, nor online banking (and he worked in offices for the later part of his working life), nor had my late DM. He uses a debit card and a mobile phone (not a smart phone), but that's about it. Have you never been to a supermarket and seen older people struggle to remember things when paying? I see it all the time. If people prefer to use cash, then they should be allowed to. I also know people who are considerably younger who aren't great with computers, and I know very few old people who are confident with technology.