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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

334 replies

sicknote26 · 29/12/2022 01:20

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.

OP posts:
magicthree · 29/12/2022 03:55

I rarely use cash, but if I wanted to and the business didn't accept it then I would simply place the goods on the counter and walk out.
As for a cashless society, there are actually quite a few places where you do need cash, markets, stalls, kids fundraising etc.
My ex always has cash in the house now after being caught in an earthquake when it was the only way to pay for anything. Also, where I live, if you pay for a taxi with cash it is cheaper than any other option!

704703hey · 29/12/2022 04:15

It's a bit limbo at present as we were forced into using cards more at present due to covid.

I paid for something with cash yesterday and it felt a bit odd. Some greengrocers and the local fish and chip shop only accept cash.

Whatifthegrassisblue · 29/12/2022 04:36

Cash definitely has its purposes, the only people who really don't want you to use it is the banks!

sashh · 29/12/2022 05:06

LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet · 29/12/2022 02:34

YANBU.

My grandad is 88 and fairly savvy but he os visually impaired and can’t see the numbers of the chip and pin machine. So he goes into the bank once a week and takes enough cash out to last him. He’s very sad that increasingly he can’t enjoy places because they won’t take his cash.

I always think places that do this are run by privileged people who don’t think of those who may not be able to always pay by card and that they must alienate so many potential customers

He can get a card that requires a signature instead of a pin.

www.sightadvicefaq.org.uk/money-benefits/banking-bills-finance/credit-debit-cards

But I do think there should be a chip and pin a]machine with big digits.

Nat West now issue all bank cards with a couple of adjustments.

They can also issue a 'signature stamp' so he doesn't even need to write anything.

supportcentre.natwest.com/Searchable/913205842/What-is-an-accessible-card-and-how-do-I-order-one.htm

noworklifebalance · 29/12/2022 05:20

Major downside for me is trying to remember my PIN, as I so rarely use it.

Augend23 · 29/12/2022 05:36

Jasmino1o · 29/12/2022 02:41

I personally don’t mind because I tend to pay with Apple Pay, however, I have worked in retail
in the past where there have been older customers forgetting their pin at the checkout and then blocking their card, or who have asked me to type in their pin for them because they couldn’t see the keypad, this could potentially put them in a vulnerable position.

My GM has her pin written in a little book that she’ll take in her handbag if she’s taking her debit card with her, so if she had her handbag stolen then the thief would have access to all the money in her bank (we live in a rural area so not able to quickly pop into the bank to cancel the card), whereas if she was shopping with cash she wouldn’t be carrying all her bank account’s contents.

Your GM could also switch to using a chip and signature card if you wanted? They can be used as an adaptation if people can't remember a PIN.

Another option would be to set up a savings account so she only has her "living" money in her bank account rather than everything.

ivykaty44 · 29/12/2022 05:43

With cash it’s not free to bank, plus time spent physically going to the bank. Digital transaction cost but the larger the company the smaller the charge per transaction. Easier banking and less chances if staff taking from the till and till not balancing at end of day

TerfOnATrain · 29/12/2022 05:43

Mum is 86, she likes to keep a bit of cash to pay the window cleaner and mobile hairdresser but she uses a card everywhere else and she never mastered texting.

I will bank transfer for her if necessary, like paying a larger bill such as the roofer.

Porridgeislife · 29/12/2022 05:48

We always have a bit of cash around for Facebook marketplace purchases (mainly) but I almost never use cash in a shop.

My local cafe no longer takes cash and the reason is that with bank branches shutting, it’s impossible to pay it in regularly/daily. Our affluent market town has lost HSBC, Lloyds and Santander branches in the last year, the only remaining option is NatWest.

It might be “nice” to pay cash but it means that someone on the other side of the counter has to drive half an hour+ to bank it during short branch hours or is stressing about storing it securely overnight.

WineDarkNo308 · 29/12/2022 06:12

LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet · 29/12/2022 02:34

YANBU.

My grandad is 88 and fairly savvy but he os visually impaired and can’t see the numbers of the chip and pin machine. So he goes into the bank once a week and takes enough cash out to last him. He’s very sad that increasingly he can’t enjoy places because they won’t take his cash.

I always think places that do this are run by privileged people who don’t think of those who may not be able to always pay by card and that they must alienate so many potential customers

Get him to contact his bank (also easier said than done sometimes) and get his card changed from chip and pin to chip and sign. Under the disability discrimination act banks have to offer this option as some people can’t remember a pin or struggle with the pin keyboard like your father.

WineDarkNo308 · 29/12/2022 06:13

@LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet grandfather, sorry

WineDarkNo308 · 29/12/2022 06:27

Cash does not discriminate, banks do. It’s a slippery slope we just don’t know it yet.

That aside we went to a card only restaurant recently and there was a table reserved for 10 people. Me and DH were discussing that if the card was declined or the card reader went down and they were offered cash they would surely accept it. At the end of our meal I paid on my card but they accepted the tip in cash, funny that.

newname12345 · 29/12/2022 06:30

magicthree · 29/12/2022 03:55

I rarely use cash, but if I wanted to and the business didn't accept it then I would simply place the goods on the counter and walk out.
As for a cashless society, there are actually quite a few places where you do need cash, markets, stalls, kids fundraising etc.
My ex always has cash in the house now after being caught in an earthquake when it was the only way to pay for anything. Also, where I live, if you pay for a taxi with cash it is cheaper than any other option!

Mobile Card readers are now so cheap that even small businesses can have them if they want. I even had a charity collector somewhere abroad(probably Athens) a few years ago produce one when I said "sorry no cash" as I walked by. DS's school does take cash donations on the day, but they actually prefer online payments in advance.

NoelleSnowman · 29/12/2022 06:35

YABU. They don’t have to take cash. You don’t have to shop/go there.

The older generation have had decades to get used to cards when they weren’t even part of the “older” generation. They’ve no excuse not to use them.

FelicityFlops · 29/12/2022 06:41

A lot of the reason to becoming cashless is fraud prevention and anti-money laundering. It also enables transaction monitoring, so sums of money are traceable PLUS your bank builds up a profile of your spending habits, so if an unusual transaction goes through they can pick it up, alert you and prevent fraud etc.
I resent the tone on here about the older generation, too. Who do you think devised and implemented these technical advances? Spotty teenagers?

londonrach · 29/12/2022 06:41

Yanbu. However I carry cash due to budget reasons as it's amazing how many times the machines are down.

WineDarkNo308 · 29/12/2022 06:48

NoelleSnowman · 29/12/2022 06:35

YABU. They don’t have to take cash. You don’t have to shop/go there.

The older generation have had decades to get used to cards when they weren’t even part of the “older” generation. They’ve no excuse not to use them.

My DH takes his wages out of the bank in cash every week and only leaves enough in his account to cover his phone bill. He pays cash or he doesn’t shop there. He’s always done it, he’s 54. Just prefers cash. Once it’s accumulated into a few hundred pounds spare I’ll get it from him as I don’t like it in the house and pay it into the savings account. After 26 years I’m not going to try and change him.

TodayInahurry · 29/12/2022 06:50

Cashless is beneficial for business as staff cannot steal any cash. But also the costs and risks of transporting cash to a bank are high. My elderly relations can use cards and most don’t need a PIN the majority of the time. Even our wonderful village shop takes cards for small amounts as well as cash.

Lincslady53 · 29/12/2022 06:53

If a business is cashless, it makes it more difficult for the staff to thieve. With cash, it is easy for the staff to not ring up a sale and slip the money up their sleeve, in their bra or in other hidden places. When I worked at Sainsburys in the 70s one cashier was suspected of theft so was targeted by the security team. She was hiding the money stolen up her vag. You cant do this if you are cashless. It also stops businesses not declaring takings for tax purposes.

Roselilly36 · 29/12/2022 06:55

LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet · 29/12/2022 02:34

YANBU.

My grandad is 88 and fairly savvy but he os visually impaired and can’t see the numbers of the chip and pin machine. So he goes into the bank once a week and takes enough cash out to last him. He’s very sad that increasingly he can’t enjoy places because they won’t take his cash.

I always think places that do this are run by privileged people who don’t think of those who may not be able to always pay by card and that they must alienate so many potential customers

This ^ I was speaking to a lady in the same position last week. Totally wrong not to accept cash. My late MIL always dealt with cash & cheque etc. why should the elderly need to change. If people don’t use cash it will go,
I read a paper a few years back about the BOE and digital currency. I don’t think it will be a good thing personally.

C1N1C · 29/12/2022 07:08

It annoys me when I walk around lots of Europe and they ONLY take cash! Yeah, we know you're not declaring this... I like to know where my money is going.

DozyFox · 29/12/2022 07:21

BashfulClam · 29/12/2022 02:43

I haven’t carried cash for about 6 years now and have never experienced the ‘machines being down’. Where are people shopping that this happens weekly or monthly?

Same here, and I live in the arse end of nowhere so I'd expect it to be more common round here, but I've genuinely never encountered it.

Also as a PP suggested, I'm not "proud" of not carrying cash... what an odd thing to assume. I just don't. I have no feelings about it. Why would anyone be proud? I think you may be reading into it a little...

LynetteScavo · 29/12/2022 07:29

I get more annoyed at cash only places. It's inconvenient for me, and I bet their books are dodgy.

themanwho · 29/12/2022 07:30

Cash causes lots of problems for businesses. The banks charge you more to handle cash and cards, you get lower rates if you choose one way. Also cash makes staff theft easier. A big problem in retail.

Lots of small businesses like cash so they can tax Dodge. Think about that when you complain about NHS and schools being underfunded

Personally I get annoyed of places don’t accept cards. I don’t carry cash as the norm

DozyFox · 29/12/2022 07:35

Porridgeislife · 29/12/2022 05:48

We always have a bit of cash around for Facebook marketplace purchases (mainly) but I almost never use cash in a shop.

My local cafe no longer takes cash and the reason is that with bank branches shutting, it’s impossible to pay it in regularly/daily. Our affluent market town has lost HSBC, Lloyds and Santander branches in the last year, the only remaining option is NatWest.

It might be “nice” to pay cash but it means that someone on the other side of the counter has to drive half an hour+ to bank it during short branch hours or is stressing about storing it securely overnight.

This is bang on the reason my previous workplace stopped taking cash. It was a small business, all women staff at the time we stopped taking cash, and only two staff worked at a time. Once the banks put their opening hours down, it meant we had to go alone as one of us needed to man the shop. We felt unsafe, and the owner quickly realised it was risky so we just stopped taking cash.

Had a few grumblers who shouted and wanted me to change company policy on the spot for them. But other than that, no problems. If that makes us privileged as a pp suggested then do be it. I do actually see the point about the risks of a cashless society. But I'm not about to put my personal safety above the principle that would apply in the potential scenario that a totally cashless society happens, I'm afraid 🤷‍♀️