To think retailers should think about going card only.

[Ginnyrellas]

How likely is It that the corona virus can be passed on via cash handling?
it is undoubtably the dirtiest thing on planet earth and when you think about how many hands can pass over a simple note on a daily basis would it be unreasonable to think this could lead to the spread of COVID-19?

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion.
nice anchor man reference by the way!

I don't really fancy wearing gloves to be honest. I wouldn't be able to fight the sudden urge of moonwalking up the isles. Plus it would make handling the new notes an absolute nightmare they are slippery as hell!

Well it’s rare for people to use cash these days. It’s not exactly a big issue.

Which planet do you live on? One of my clients is a convenience store - over 50% of their takings are in cash. So cards aren't even the majority there yet.

A pub in our city centre made a big song and dance about going card only. Six months later, they've just announced they're going to start accepting cash again! The only reason for that is that they lost business when they went card only!

YABU because, unless the card machine is being sprayed and cleaned after each use, people can still touch a contaminated area...... which is the keyboard of the card machine.

Plus of course, not everyone uses card for everything blablabla

I use cash. I take a set amount out every week as I'm on a tight budget and need to know exactly what I have for weekly expenses plus some "petty cash" for incidentals. I don't intend to stop doing this unless told otherwise.

Yes, I think card users can just continue to use card/their device for payment instead of there being a complete ban on cash payment.

@Ginnyrellas, so let me get that right.
YU have an issue with cash so expect everyne to use a card. But you rent ready to wear gloves 'because theyre too much of a pain'.

Sorry but at that point you lost me.
Either you are really worried about yourself and your health and you are happy to make the effort OR its not such a huge issue and you are making a fuss over little.

Fwiw the virus is said the be bale to live on surfaces for about 12 hours. Its unlikely that you will get the virus from bank notes, regardless of where they have been

I'll be stopping using touchscreens before I stop using cash. The self service tills at supermarkets and McDonalds etc must be a hot bed of germs with all those dirty fingers touching them.

I'm in Ireland and several businesses have appealed to people via Facebook to try and do contactless card payments where necessary.

@NomDeDieu

No I don't have an issue with cash at all. I actually Use cash more than my bank card. I am just Genuinely interested on weather the use of cash could and/or is contributing to the spread of the virus and if it is.
Would it be reasonable to expect retailers to do something about it.
Im sorry if you could see my Obvious humour in my PP. Of course if I had to wear gloves I would.

I wonder what the COVID-19 spread is like in Amsterdam? When DH and I were there in 2018 there was virtually no cash used and I should think there’s even less now

We don't use a lot of cash here, no. Many businesses don't accept it, either. Right now the biggest spread of the virus is in the southern province of North-Brabant, where they have found that a considerable number of hospital staff are infected (www.rivm.nl/node/153361). There are currently 503 people in the country infected though, so I don't know how much the cashless society bit is helping.

Well it’s rare for people to use cash these days. It’s not exactly a big issue.
Not as rare as you would think. I handle thousands of £ of cash in a days shift in retail. Lately our tills have had to be emptied twice a shift instead of the usual once with all the extra buying!

The self service tills at supermarkets must be a hot bed of germs with all those dirty fingers touching them.
Ours are wiped down fairly regularly as are the other tills, belts, packing areas. Probably not as much s people would like but there isnt time!

Its unlikely that you will get the virus from bank notes, regardless of where they have been
Actually when customers lick their fingers then pass you wet notes I know exactly where they have been! Or cough or sneeze all over their hands then get out the notes to pay for stuff its a no brainer whats on them!

Meant to say: yesterday 382 people infected. So the numbers are rising rapidly.

Arrgh posted by accident.

Unless banks etc stop charging for using card machines then many small businesses wont use them for small amounts of £, its not worth it. And sometimes card machines play up and customers have to try more than once to get their card accepted which is a pia. And seeing first hand the amount of times using your phone to pay has not worked and left the customer having to pay in cash anyway its another system thats not perfect. And of course paying by card isnt a choice with lots of places/situations. Until they invent a better system then we will still need cash.
I have to admit I like to know I have cash on me as a back up but I also know how grotty money is

I would imagine that the virus cans survive on bank notes for a certain amount of time just like it can any other surface.

I tend to use cash. I take out a certain amount each week and we have started using it to teach my toddler about paying and change etc. Then any money left over at the end of the week my toddler gets to put in hers and her sister's piggy banks which she really enjoys doing. She knows how to use contactless and remembers my husband's pin number, but not as good for learning to concept of how much things cost and counting

@TheFormidableMrsC there’s nothing stopping you from managing a tight budget with your card/card payments either though, it’s all down to your own self restraint I suppose - I personally don’t fritter away money just because I’m paying with card not cash.

@Willow2017 I pay using my phone for every single transaction, and have literally never had an issue across 100s of transactions - I don’t think these problems are as common as you describe.

Until they invent a better system then we will still need cash.

Indeed. Loss of mobile signal and loss of electricity supply mean you have to default back to cash. In Storm Desmond, our town had no electric for nearly a week and no mobile phone signal for the first couple of days (nor landline telephones). The few shops that managed to open were cash only, as were taxis, etc. Lots of people really struggled because they didn't have any cash (and couldn't get any because the cash machines were down too due to no power/telecomms). I don't think we're resilient enough yet to be fully dependant on electronic/telecomms based systems, especially outside the big cities who, of course, will be first to be reconnected!!

@mnthrowaway202020 I find I spend more and don't think as much about purchases if I use my card. Using cash works for me and I intend to continue. Using my method has had a very positive impact on my finances.

OK, hearts you've changed it now, originally you hadn't qualified that it was you who didn't need it, you said there was no need.

coconuttelegraph No, I haven’t changed anything. I said:

I never use cash anymore; haven’t for years. There’s just no need. Whether the transaction is pennies or hundreds, I always use card.

I have bolded the I’s to make it easy for you so you can see I was clearly talking about myself.

I find I spend more and don't think as much about purchases if I use my card.

TheFormidableMrsC I find the opposite. Cash is easy to fritter away; unless you keep lots of receipts you have no idea where you’ve spent anything and how much.

With card, you can just go on the app and see all in one easy place exactly how much you spent and where you spent it at, and it patterns your spending so you can have an idea where you might be overspending or saving money.

You can’t do that with cash without flittering through many receipts, keeping paperwork and taking up a lot of time.

MarvellousMonsters
I never said it was every time but Ok.what do i know dealing with customers 8 hrs a day? I will tell all the customers in future that its not happening that will make it go away!

With card, you can just go on the app and see all in one easy place exactly how much you spent and where you spent it at, and it patterns your spending so you can have an idea where you might be overspending or saving money.
which app is that?

Oh and btw many places dont take phone transactions over £30 just like other 'tap' card transactions. And despite the big sign beside the card machine telling people this many people are still surprised when their payment is rejected😀

Cash use will be down which is good, people who can will use contactless and give the notes a swerve.
You can't take cash out completely for all the baby reasons above.

Wouldn't he able to pay maths tutor, guitar teacher, flute teacher, riding school lessons, after school club or have a take-away without cash!

You can "go on the app" if you have a smart phone....

@PopcornZoo
Wow You're going to have some seriously talented children! I can't remember the last time I paid for takeaway with cash, ive used JustEat for years. Mainly Because if no money exchanged hands it never happened right? right?