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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think paying with cash is a faff?

101 replies

Newtrick · 12/01/2023 11:55

Are you put off by cash only businesses?
We have a local cafe that I like, and was hoping to take a group of friends to this weekend for a booked after noon tea

They've just announced that they will only be accepting cash going forward, aibu to then cancel my booking and tell them why?

I completely get the harshness of card processing fees so get when then there is a spending limit before you use cards eg. One donut= cash but it feel like if the total is more than £10 pound like their meals, can be then you should be able to use card
I rarely have any cash on me, but when I do its usually never more than 10-15 pound

The shop it's self is on a country route so its at least a few miles from the nearest cash point so its going to make it hard to pop in for things

The people that run the cafe are fairly alternative in their views so the announcement has got a lot of support in the form of "wake up, cash is king, government is tracking you via card" type responses.

Ultimately I'm probably going to cancel my booking because its a pita to tell each friend that they need to bring £25 cash each for the afternoon tea, knowing that if they forget that they will have at least a 6 mile drive to get cash out if that cash point is even open

Yabu- just use cash
Yanbu- cash is a pain

OP posts:
MidnightMeltdown · 12/01/2023 15:10

My local Chinese only accepts cash which I find annoying given that the purpose of a takeaway (for me) is convenience

I assume that it's for tax fiddling purposes

1FootInTheRave · 12/01/2023 15:12

Yanbu

Cash only is a faff and I do find it off putting.

luckylavender · 12/01/2023 15:18

It's completely up to you. They can chose their rules. You can chose to go somewhere else.

luckylavender · 12/01/2023 15:19

Shade17 · 12/01/2023 14:52

YANBU, I refuse to use any business that won’t accept card payments

Entirely your choice

DanaScully53 · 12/01/2023 15:19

I always carry cash and have in the past gone elsewhere if a shop won't accept it. I went to currys to get something but they didn't have it. They said I could order it but I had to pay by card. Thank you but no. Argos got my order. Same with card/phone only parking. When did this become a thing? I had to ask a kind stranger to pay for me and give them the cash. I always check now before parking up. Each to their own though.

starfishmummy · 12/01/2023 15:26

I'm more put off by card only businesses. Personally I am a cardnuser but I have an older child with SN who wants to be able to go up without me and order our coffees for us, and it's good for him to do that (and I know that it's a cafe and not a school but its how people learn) but he doesn't have a card so I have to hover

Baconand · 12/01/2023 15:40

I’d cancel. I rarely have any cash on me at all, hate it. If I can’t use my phone it’s not for me.

housemaus · 12/01/2023 15:50

I haven't used cash for years - I just use my phone. If a shop didn't accept card I'd go somewhere else, but even our tiny corner shop uses a card machine these days. The carpark I use for work does, our milkman does, our window cleaner is pay online, our plumber asked for Paypal... I just haven't had a genuine need for cash for years.

I've never had an issue with my phone not working - I do usually have a card on me just in case, but I can't remember the last time I had to use it.

Mum2jenny · 12/01/2023 15:55

I prefer cash as it’s easier to keep track of expenditure.

DPotter · 12/01/2023 15:59

You don't have to be far about of an urban area even in the south of England to be on the receiving end of dodgy wifi & phone connections. So I can totally understand small businesses, cafes, restaurants etc warning their customers to bring cash. Go nothing to do with conspiracy theories just plain ol' dodgy tech or not wanting to pay 1.8% commission charge for each transaction

DubLynn · 12/01/2023 16:15

I would assume they're dodging paying tax and that in itself would annoy me. I’d cancel the booking too.

Vates · 12/01/2023 16:23

YANBU. It is a faff and apart from the local chippy that only takes cash, I don't bother with/or wouldn't bother purchasing from a business that only takes cash. The nearest free cash machine is in town and I just cannot be bothered apart from every other week when I have to withdraw cash to top up my gas and electric meter which is a pain in the ass to be honest. I only went for the first time in 5 months on Tuesday to my chippy because I had cash, not convenient so not interested most of the time. I think people would rather buy online and get it delivered for takeaway.

It personally annoys me when a business only takes cash but am all up for choice. I.e. it my choice to take my business elsewhere.

WestBridgewater · 12/01/2023 16:48

I think retailers should all take cash. It’s those on a low income that are more likely to suffer or those being financially controlled.

We went to a card only restaurant, but when I asked would they take a tip, funnily enough they said yes.

lieselotte · 12/01/2023 16:54

My pet peeve is people insisting on putting their pin in when they can tap. Just tap the bloody thing

I often do if it's a larger amount so that the next time I use it for £2 it won't "randomly" ask me to put in my PIN eg when paying for car parking. Also those people putting in their PIN might have lower contactless limits, some banks let you set on, I have a £50 limit on one of my cards.

As for people forgetting their PIN, I actually think it should ask you every five transactions like it used to, so you don't forget your PIN. My phone makes me put my PIN in every 72 hours.

Soubriquet · 12/01/2023 16:56

I never carry cash. It’s easier for me to just stick my card out.

However, if I knew a place I wanted to go to was cash only, I would make sure I got the cash.

lieselotte · 12/01/2023 17:01

I can manage with card or cash businesses but hate hate hate car parks that only let you pay by app. Even with a smartphone and good eyesight it is annoying, and assumes a good signal, no rain, no sun on the screen etc.

Southwig22 · 12/01/2023 17:03

YANBU. I actively avoid anywhere like this. Too much hassle.

I also don't like supporting businesses that are trying to avoid paying the taxman their fair share. We should all be pro cashless, maybe then we'll have more money circulating in the economy to fund our services

Disneyforaweek · 12/01/2023 17:04

YANBU, I never have cash on me and would find this a pain.

If they don't want to accept cash then that's fine but I also think it's fine not to frequent those businesses as a customer

burnoutbabe · 12/01/2023 17:14

Yes that would annoy me. Fine for a brownie at a market stall, not a cafe that does afternoons tea (so £20 maybe)

We have a local Thai place that has always been cash only (whilst waiting for a machine they say -it's been years). A trek away from any cash point and the sort of place you'd spend £40-60 as a couple. Only time we went we luckily had £40 but meant no alcohol and just soft drinks.

I assume tax evasion with this place

maddy68 · 12/01/2023 17:25

I never use cash so it definitely puts me off using a business that does

SlashBeef · 12/01/2023 17:53

Yanbu I can't remember when I last used cash. I'd cancel too.

lljkk · 12/01/2023 17:57

Are you put off by cash only businesses?

No, lots of local businesses are cash only. This is zero problem to me or anyone I socialise with.

Fairyliz · 12/01/2023 18:05

Card only is great until the system goes down which it did in my local coop last year.
Fortunately I had cash so I could take my goods unlike the people who only had a card.

Baconand · 12/01/2023 18:07

Fairyliz · 12/01/2023 18:05

Card only is great until the system goes down which it did in my local coop last year.
Fortunately I had cash so I could take my goods unlike the people who only had a card.

The odd occasion that happens is far less inconvenient to me than paying with cash though. It’s happened to me twice that I can remember. Getting cash out regularly is far more hassle.

BarbaraofSeville · 12/01/2023 18:11

Fairyliz · 12/01/2023 18:05

Card only is great until the system goes down which it did in my local coop last year.
Fortunately I had cash so I could take my goods unlike the people who only had a card.

Exactly.

The 'system', whether within the particular retailer, or card processing service, can go down.

Or cards or phones can be lost, stolen or damaged, or phones can run out of battery.

Not so long ago, I was buying lunch from a takeaway, but they were unable to accept electronic payments because their card machine wasn't working.

Fortunately I could pay by cash, as I try to always have £10/20 on me but they probably lost a lot of business that day from those who never carry cash. Plus those people probably were disappointed to miss out on a nice lunch, because it was a very popular place that people travel to from miles around.