Re: Contactless cards and the future of cash
 

I'm surprised that something like fingerprints aren't now used instead of a PIN on cashpoint machines.

Re: Contactless cards and the future of cash
 

Your biometric data would have to be securely collected by your card issuer at the time you open the account. It’s not impossible to do but it would complicate the process a lot. ATMs would have to be updated and then card processing companies would come under pressure to replace every card reader with one that can read a thumb print. That would cost a fortune.

Most Americans don’t even have chip and pin yet, which is a pain in the ass when you’re trying to take a card payment off them with one of the small business friendly card readers out there, that work in conjunction with your phone or iPad because you end up asking them to sign your screen, and the result is illegible and rarely comparable with whatever’s on the back of their card.

Re: Contactless cards and the future of cash
 

You mean like this

https://www.rbs.com/rbs/news/2019/10...edit-card.html

Re: Contactless cards and the future of cash
 

Who would be crying If cash was abolished? Answer: all the bad guys. People smugglers, drug dealers, thieves and cheats.
A huge amount of crime would be switched off overnight, robberies, muggings, car theft.
Ok, a lot of honest folk like you and me would be inconvenienced but we would manage.
For sure, some of the very elderly might struggle at first but that is also manageable.

We’ve all done it, paid cash for Joe to do a cheap job on the house or car. Although it’s not a bad crime, it’s still naughty. Also, when the work is no good, it can be impossible to get recompense.
I think society would be far richer if we phased out cash. Starting with the £50 note; its introduction (IMhO) was a big mistake.

Re: Contactless cards and the future of cash
 

True, though muggings would still happen for mobile phones etc.

Re: Contactless cards and the future of cash
 

Most modern smartphones can be "bricked" remotely, or even traced through a "find my phone" app.

Re: Contactless cards and the future of cash
 

Plus what would they do with it? I assume that they sell them on for cash these days.

I read that the system of blocking mobiles by something to do with the IMEI number can be circumvented by thieves:

https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/...at+do+I+do+now

Is there some newer technology that improve upon this?

Re: Contactless cards and the future of cash
 

As in my earlier post - yes cashless could block some of the low level criminal types (the high flyers would find ways and crime would move even more to the cyber space arena). But what if a future regime declares you or your social/racial/sexual/religious/etc group "bad guys"? What if the "good guys" are the one that agree to vote/follow/believe/accept what the rulers dictate? Yes you can vote electronically for the opposition, that's you democratic right as it is ours to control the spending of subversives out to destroy our wonderful way of life.



Cash prevents or at least reduces this risk as people can still trade without that trade being logged or controlled. It's always worth asking "what if?".



And no I haven't knowingly paid cash to avoid VAT/taxes other that very small jobs less than £20 or so and the last few of those the trader wasn't VAT registered.

Re: Contactless cards and the future of cash
 

These are pretty big 'ifs.' Even in a society entirely without card payments, your cash has to go in and out of the bank unless you're going to keep it all in your mattress. The last place I saw giving out wages in little brown envelopes on a Friday was a shop my missus worked in part time when we were first married, 20 odd years ago. These days almost everyone is paid electronically and you have to transact with a bank to get the cash in your hand. Almost every domestic service provider you deal with will resist cash payments very hard indeed, more or less compelling you to use the electronic banking system for online payment or direct debit, which uses electronic payment for every transaction even though you only authorise it once to start it off. There are a multitude of opportunities for an oppressive regime to control you by interfering with this system whether or not you pay with cash in your corner shop.

As a side note, I would suggest putting a little less faith in eschatological readings of Revelation that hang on 19th century American hysteria around the tribulation. Such things have become wildly popular in Charismatic circles but they were not the orthodox belief of the church for most of the last two millennia. We are not on the cusp of having beastly payment barcodes stuck to our wrists or foreheads. ;)

Re: Contactless cards and the future of cash
 

I use cash whenever I can, call me an old farty luddite, I care not a jot :p:

I find cash very useful around birthdays, anniversaries etc, the wife knows I've taken £200 from the account, but has no idea where I've spent it. If I use card payments, she knows where I've spent the money and probably what on.

oh, and I will gladly pay (for example) a plumber £20 cash to replace a tap instead of £40 'through the books'. This may be due to the fact I am unable to claim tax relief on my 3rd London residence, for a fancy structure to house my ducks in the duck pond, and for the 4 members of close family I claim are personal secretaries :D

Re: Contactless cards and the future of cash
 

Went shopping this morning for the first time with no cash in my wallet, I put it in a birthday card the other day, I always pay by card but usually carry cash with me just in case the card machine is on the blink.

Re: Contactless cards and the future of cash
 

I went to a shop and they wanted cash only no cards

Re: Contactless cards and the future of cash
 

Perhaps you could help me (us?) understand and list even one thing that you have purchased that you would want to keep private. In other words, what is it that you buy that would embarrass you if the authorities knew?

As for controlling your spend - I am totally lost.

Sure, if you're dealing in dodgy cat-converters, I can understand your point. Otherwise, please explain. Thanks.

Re: Contactless cards and the future of cash
 

Likewise. I carry enough cash to cover just in case. I only have the one debit card and no credit cards.

Re: Contactless cards and the future of cash