Cash and the cashless society

[Rillington]

I'm surprised that there isn't a discussion about our attitudes to cash and the move towards a cashless society, both in terms of more businesses refusing cash and bank branch/ATM closures making it harder to get access to cash.

Therefore, what are people's views of the move to a cashless society and are we having to start to accept that in the digital, online world that cash is a relic from the past?

Also, what are the pros and cons for all of us in a world where cash is slowly starting to become less and less welcome?

[Taf]

With cashless, it is perfectly possible for your every purchase and money movement to be known to those who have access to the systems. The DWP has announced that it will be demanding that banks inform them of how much is sitting in accounts that could exceed the maximum allowed for certain State Benefits.

I drilled holes into my contactless card to stop it acting as such, basically cutting the aerial. It is not a chore for me to enter the PIN each time, but would block anyone stealing it and then using it before I had it blocked by the bank.

[Matthew]

You know you can do your banking at the majority of Post Offices these days, paying in, withdrawing etc. I use my Post Office for this quite a bit as its closer than anything else plus they are often open as the shop that hosts it is so till 10pm most nights around here.

I use my card for most things, keep very little cash now, its only the chippy, kebab house, haircut and car park in town that I frequently use cash for. Suites me fine, I spend far less using my card than I do with cash as I look down my statement and realise where I am wasting my money at times!

[peanut]

Cash is making a bit of comeback due to cost of living. It's easier to budget with cash. I prefer to use cash over card even though it's easier to just tap a card and go.

Banks are closing but cashpoints are still popping up and has to be within a certain distance like 3 miles or something or other, so that's still helpful.

[heero_yuy]

I keep sufficient cash in my wallet to cover the debit card if it doesn't go through at the supermarket. Not being able to pay would be embarrassing and occasionally the banks have had a meltdown on debit cards.

The only cash transaction these days is to buy the daily paper at the newsagent.

Originally Posted by Rillington

bank branch/ATM closures making it harder to get access to cash.

You can get cashback from pretty much any supermarket, and many other shops as well.

I rarely use cash, I have about £80 in my wallet from last summer, it was £100 but I used £20 as a gift for someone at christmas.

Everything I buy is pretty much paid for by card, and/or gift card/voucher.

[ I get a lot of gift cards and vouchers at a discount, either via work, or Jam Doughnut ].

[Kursk]

Originally Posted by Paul

....it was £100 but I used £20 as a gift for someone at christmas.

Well it's nice to hear that romance is still alive you ol' charmer. I hope the wife didn't squander your benevolence on herself.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Kursk

Well it's nice to hear that romance is still alive you ol' charmer. I hope the wife didn't squander your benevolence on herself.

She's saving it for his birthday

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by Taf

With cashless, it is perfectly possible for your every purchase and money movement to be known to those who have access to the systems.

Yes thats 1 bad thing.. I like getting stuff and not have it able to be tracked by anyone!

[Ken W]

Originally Posted by Matthew

You know you can do your banking at the majority of Post Offices these days, paying in, withdrawing etc. I use my Post Office for this quite a bit as its closer than anything else plus they are often open as the shop that hosts it is so till 10pm most nights around here.

I use my card for most things, keep very little cash now, its only the chippy, kebab house, haircut and car park in town that I frequently use cash for. Suites me fine, I spend far less using my card than I do with cash as I look down my statement and realise where I am wasting my money at times!

My local chippy wants cash only

[tweetiepooh]

Without cash it would be possible for a controlling agency to stop someone from trading. It would be sold as a benefit e.g. someone sent to prison could only deal in prison scrip, link to age system could stop juniors buying products they shouldn't. But there would be no guarantee a future government would target "you".

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

Without cash it would be possible for a controlling agency to stop someone from trading. It would be sold as a benefit e.g. someone sent to prison could only deal in prison scrip, link to age system could stop juniors buying products they shouldn't. But there would be no guarantee a future government would target "you".

All you have to do is look at what China has done and could do. Do you believe that couldn't be done here? Think about it.

Another concern relates to privacy invasion by the government. Technology giants Tencent and Alibaba, have data on what anyone has ever bought using their apps, and some citizens view this as a form of monitoring. In China, an individual’s social credit system is linked to everything. There are concerns that if a citizen is critical of the government, this may limit their ability to buy things or to travel. In 2019, China stopped millions of people from buying train or train tickets through their social credit system which has been introduced to improve the behaviour of people living there. Those blocked from travelling may have committed minor offences such as smoking on a train. In 2018 China’s National Development and Reform Commission reported that 128 people were banned from leaving China due to unpaid taxes. Therefore, the government can be seen to control how people live their lives through digital devices.

I don't worry too much about tracking. I don't think the Government would be competent enough to amalgamate all this data, let alone do anything useful with it even if they did. It's going to be a lot of data all siloed off in different systems.

I find contactless extremely useful. I don't even use my card that much, just Apple Pay on my phone. It's quick and easy.

The biggest problem at the moment would be people who struggle to get bank accounts or are otherwise vulnerable and don't have access to a card. Homeless people and those with mental health problems.

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by Damien

I don't worry too much about tracking. I don't think the Government would be competent enough to amalgamate all this data, let alone do anything useful with it even if they did. It's going to be a lot of data all siloed off in different systems.

I find contactless extremely useful. I don't even use my card that much, just Apple Pay on my phone. It's quick and easy.

The biggest problem at the moment would be people who struggle to get bank accounts or are otherwise vulnerable and don't have access to a card. Homeless people and those with mental health problems.

Companies love people like you. You mainly use Apple Pay what do you think Apple does with that infomation now? Your buying habits are sold on to other companies, would it be that hard for the Government to get that information also?

Originally Posted by Damien

would it be that hard for the Government to get that information also?

Our Government ?
They couldnt get it unless Apple printed it, and mailed it to them.
Even then, they'd probably file it in the wrong draw, and eventually lose it.