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The Dangers of a Cashless Society.

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  • Rob7Lee said:
    Interesting to hear from people who work in the financial services sector and their take. Since the pandemic I have to admit leaving cash in a drawer and relying on cards to pay for anything and everything. In fact the only time I have had to carry cash at all was on a visit to Japan (one of the most advanced technological countries but still a society which prefers the colour of your money when making transactions).

    High Street banks are pushing for their customers to take responsibility for their own banking through the use of apps. All well and good for those who prefer the tech...but perhaps not for older customers who often have the more substantial accounts. I still insist on monthly paper statements so I have a record in writing of my transactions. 

    The 'cash or card' title of this thread is already moving towards being obsolete given that increasing numbers of people are relying on their phones to pay for everything. Great if this is how you like to spend. So easy and accessible. Not so great if you lose your phone or it's nicked. 
    You have to take your hats off to them, they are doing less and less and earning more and more. And people just meekly accept it for the "convenience" of waving a phone at a terminal.  
    Have to call this one out.

    for the man (or woman) on the street, with a current account waving their phone at a terminal - what exactly is the cost? Nothing additional over cash and still 99% of people pay nothing for their day to day banking.

    100% this - Apple/Google Pay is immeasurably convenient, and online and mobile banking allowing you to do pretty much all that could be done in a branch but without the faff and you are in control of when and where you do your banking transactions. All of that free of charge for the vast majority - if the banks still had to maintain a vast physical estate of branches that are barely used then free banking would disappear.

    Access to basic financial services for everyone has always been a challenge but basic bank accounts have to a huge degree removed that barrier. Also the access and use of techology may be an issue for some but the Post Office network pretty much fills that gap.
  • Rob7Lee said:
    Interesting to hear from people who work in the financial services sector and their take. Since the pandemic I have to admit leaving cash in a drawer and relying on cards to pay for anything and everything. In fact the only time I have had to carry cash at all was on a visit to Japan (one of the most advanced technological countries but still a society which prefers the colour of your money when making transactions).

    High Street banks are pushing for their customers to take responsibility for their own banking through the use of apps. All well and good for those who prefer the tech...but perhaps not for older customers who often have the more substantial accounts. I still insist on monthly paper statements so I have a record in writing of my transactions. 

    The 'cash or card' title of this thread is already moving towards being obsolete given that increasing numbers of people are relying on their phones to pay for everything. Great if this is how you like to spend. So easy and accessible. Not so great if you lose your phone or it's nicked. 
    You have to take your hats off to them, they are doing less and less and earning more and more. And people just meekly accept it for the "convenience" of waving a phone at a terminal.  
    Have to call this one out.

    for the man (or woman) on the street, with a current account waving their phone at a terminal - what exactly is the cost? Nothing additional over cash and still 99% of people pay nothing for their day to day banking.
    I thought the merchant paid the bank for the "service"?

  • I was listening to a podcast this morning, "This is not a Drill", it just auto played off the back off of The News Agents. On there a listener asked, "with the decline of cash why are countries printing such huge amounts of actual currency?" Apparently the USA have two plants that print money, they are flat out printing, so much so that the US is building a third print works to keep up. I doubt its just to replace worn out notes, it must add to the amount in circulation.

    I very, very rarely use actual cash these days, I find it  inconvenient. Everything card or phone nowadays, I can't remember the last time I paid for anything with money. The carwash guy up at Coolings said that they prefer cash but I had to disappoint him. To me there is no real difference, cards have become my cash.  
  • edited July 15
    I was listening to a podcast this morning, "This is not a Drill", it just auto played off the back off of The News Agents. On there a listener asked, "with the decline of cash why are countries printing such huge amounts of actual currency?" Apparently the USA have two plants that print money, they are flat out printing, so much so that the US is building a third print works to keep up. I doubt its just to replace worn out notes, it must add to the amount in circulation.

    I very, very rarely use actual cash these days, I find it  inconvenient. Everything card or phone nowadays, I can't remember the last time I paid for anything with money. The carwash guy up at Coolings said that they prefer cash but I had to disappoint him. To me there is no real difference, cards have become my cash.  
    There clearly is CK, and you have just explained why (to you) card is better...  :D
  • Rob7Lee said:
    Interesting to hear from people who work in the financial services sector and their take. Since the pandemic I have to admit leaving cash in a drawer and relying on cards to pay for anything and everything. In fact the only time I have had to carry cash at all was on a visit to Japan (one of the most advanced technological countries but still a society which prefers the colour of your money when making transactions).

    High Street banks are pushing for their customers to take responsibility for their own banking through the use of apps. All well and good for those who prefer the tech...but perhaps not for older customers who often have the more substantial accounts. I still insist on monthly paper statements so I have a record in writing of my transactions. 

    The 'cash or card' title of this thread is already moving towards being obsolete given that increasing numbers of people are relying on their phones to pay for everything. Great if this is how you like to spend. So easy and accessible. Not so great if you lose your phone or it's nicked. 
    You have to take your hats off to them, they are doing less and less and earning more and more. And people just meekly accept it for the "convenience" of waving a phone at a terminal.  
    Have to call this one out.

    for the man (or woman) on the street, with a current account waving their phone at a terminal - what exactly is the cost? Nothing additional over cash and still 99% of people pay nothing for their day to day banking.
    I thought the merchant paid the bank for the "service"?

    As does the merchant to take (bank) cash. Ask most smaller businesses/shops and cash is far less convenient, cost of the banking and the hassle of cashing up, taking to the bank etc.

    For the end user, paying by cash or paying by card/phone etc is no different - it’s free to them.
  • Rob7Lee said:
    Rob7Lee said:
    Interesting to hear from people who work in the financial services sector and their take. Since the pandemic I have to admit leaving cash in a drawer and relying on cards to pay for anything and everything. In fact the only time I have had to carry cash at all was on a visit to Japan (one of the most advanced technological countries but still a society which prefers the colour of your money when making transactions).

    High Street banks are pushing for their customers to take responsibility for their own banking through the use of apps. All well and good for those who prefer the tech...but perhaps not for older customers who often have the more substantial accounts. I still insist on monthly paper statements so I have a record in writing of my transactions. 

    The 'cash or card' title of this thread is already moving towards being obsolete given that increasing numbers of people are relying on their phones to pay for everything. Great if this is how you like to spend. So easy and accessible. Not so great if you lose your phone or it's nicked. 
    You have to take your hats off to them, they are doing less and less and earning more and more. And people just meekly accept it for the "convenience" of waving a phone at a terminal.  
    Have to call this one out.

    for the man (or woman) on the street, with a current account waving their phone at a terminal - what exactly is the cost? Nothing additional over cash and still 99% of people pay nothing for their day to day banking.
    I thought the merchant paid the bank for the "service"?

    As does the merchant to take (bank) cash. Ask most smaller businesses/shops and cash is far less convenient, cost of the banking and the hassle of cashing up, taking to the bank etc.

    For the end user, paying by cash or paying by card/phone etc is no different - it’s free to them.
    Businesses that don’t take any card payments are highly questionable in this day and age. 

    I haven’t used cash in a pub (the example given above) for a very long time. In truth I’d come unstuck if the policy was cash only. 
  • Rob7Lee said:
    Rob7Lee said:
    Interesting to hear from people who work in the financial services sector and their take. Since the pandemic I have to admit leaving cash in a drawer and relying on cards to pay for anything and everything. In fact the only time I have had to carry cash at all was on a visit to Japan (one of the most advanced technological countries but still a society which prefers the colour of your money when making transactions).

    High Street banks are pushing for their customers to take responsibility for their own banking through the use of apps. All well and good for those who prefer the tech...but perhaps not for older customers who often have the more substantial accounts. I still insist on monthly paper statements so I have a record in writing of my transactions. 

    The 'cash or card' title of this thread is already moving towards being obsolete given that increasing numbers of people are relying on their phones to pay for everything. Great if this is how you like to spend. So easy and accessible. Not so great if you lose your phone or it's nicked. 
    You have to take your hats off to them, they are doing less and less and earning more and more. And people just meekly accept it for the "convenience" of waving a phone at a terminal.  
    Have to call this one out.

    for the man (or woman) on the street, with a current account waving their phone at a terminal - what exactly is the cost? Nothing additional over cash and still 99% of people pay nothing for their day to day banking.
    I thought the merchant paid the bank for the "service"?

    As does the merchant to take (bank) cash. Ask most smaller businesses/shops and cash is far less convenient, cost of the banking and the hassle of cashing up, taking to the bank etc.

    For the end user, paying by cash or paying by card/phone etc is no different - it’s free to them.
    I think many people don’t understand the cost of using cash - it was so common everyone assumes it’s free, but it’s wasn’t. Aside from printing non-counterfeitable notes, transporting them in secure transport to branches must have been a significant cost. In my limited time working in a branch, we had cash delivery in the morning, and pickup in the evening to ensure there wasn’t too much on site. There’s the opportunity cost of having to hold a whole bunch of cash to cover expected operations. Multiple staff to handle clients cash transactions, plus the cost to retailers of having to handle cash. It was never free, just hidden. 
    All true but with one caveat. The Bank of England splits its accounts into two: Banking Department and Issue Department. They do what they say on the tin.
    According to the Issue Department accounts for 2023 it cost the BoE £64mn to produce, store, transport and pay out banknotes. But because each banknote is secured against holdings of commercial or Govt. bonds, etc, the Bank gets to take in the dividends on that paper.  In 2023, that brought in a tasty little bonus paid over to the Govt. of £1,681mn. By way of contrast, the Banking Dept. only made £39mn net. A cynic might conclude that it is in the BoE's best interest (pun intended) to have as much cash in circulation as possible.
  • Rob7Lee said:
    Rob7Lee said:
    Interesting to hear from people who work in the financial services sector and their take. Since the pandemic I have to admit leaving cash in a drawer and relying on cards to pay for anything and everything. In fact the only time I have had to carry cash at all was on a visit to Japan (one of the most advanced technological countries but still a society which prefers the colour of your money when making transactions).

    High Street banks are pushing for their customers to take responsibility for their own banking through the use of apps. All well and good for those who prefer the tech...but perhaps not for older customers who often have the more substantial accounts. I still insist on monthly paper statements so I have a record in writing of my transactions. 

    The 'cash or card' title of this thread is already moving towards being obsolete given that increasing numbers of people are relying on their phones to pay for everything. Great if this is how you like to spend. So easy and accessible. Not so great if you lose your phone or it's nicked. 
    You have to take your hats off to them, they are doing less and less and earning more and more. And people just meekly accept it for the "convenience" of waving a phone at a terminal.  
    Have to call this one out.

    for the man (or woman) on the street, with a current account waving their phone at a terminal - what exactly is the cost? Nothing additional over cash and still 99% of people pay nothing for their day to day banking.
    I thought the merchant paid the bank for the "service"?

    As does the merchant to take (bank) cash. Ask most smaller businesses/shops and cash is far less convenient, cost of the banking and the hassle of cashing up, taking to the bank etc.

    For the end user, paying by cash or paying by card/phone etc is no different - it’s free to them.
    I think many people don’t understand the cost of using cash - it was so common everyone assumes it’s free, but it’s wasn’t. Aside from printing non-counterfeitable notes, transporting them in secure transport to branches must have been a significant cost. In my limited time working in a branch, we had cash delivery in the morning, and pickup in the evening to ensure there wasn’t too much on site. There’s the opportunity cost of having to hold a whole bunch of cash to cover expected operations. Multiple staff to handle clients cash transactions, plus the cost to retailers of having to handle cash. It was never free, just hidden. 
    My first job was with one of the big four retail banks and there were big costs to handling cash. Doing away with cash also reduces money laundering & tax evasion as it's not so easy to hide digital transactions. 
  • I lose about £50 a week in card fees unfortunately. About £200 a month which would be nice in my pocket but there is nothing I can do about it. I just have to suck it up. It's a shame the card machines have to be so greedy and charge a high percentage on my earnings.
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  • Don't really like the concept of every penny I spend being tracked. Also with everything being so phone based the opportunity for fraud and theft has increased. If somebody nicks your phone having shoulder surfed you pin if you have one, banking apps can be reinstalled and the code is sent to your nicked phone and they are off and running .... 
  • I lose about £50 a week in card fees unfortunately. About £200 a month which would be nice in my pocket but there is nothing I can do about it. I just have to suck it up. It's a shame the card machines have to be so greedy and charge a high percentage on my earnings.
    But conversely you would always have paid charges for paying in cash either directly or indirectly. 

    You may save on insurance by not having as much cash on the premises and save time by your receipts being automatically credited to your account. You / your staff have less risk of robbery etc. 

    We all want to pay the minimum fees naturally but there are mitigations / compensatory points to handling less cash is my observation. 
  • Rob7Lee said:
    Rob7Lee said:
    Interesting to hear from people who work in the financial services sector and their take. Since the pandemic I have to admit leaving cash in a drawer and relying on cards to pay for anything and everything. In fact the only time I have had to carry cash at all was on a visit to Japan (one of the most advanced technological countries but still a society which prefers the colour of your money when making transactions).

    High Street banks are pushing for their customers to take responsibility for their own banking through the use of apps. All well and good for those who prefer the tech...but perhaps not for older customers who often have the more substantial accounts. I still insist on monthly paper statements so I have a record in writing of my transactions. 

    The 'cash or card' title of this thread is already moving towards being obsolete given that increasing numbers of people are relying on their phones to pay for everything. Great if this is how you like to spend. So easy and accessible. Not so great if you lose your phone or it's nicked. 
    You have to take your hats off to them, they are doing less and less and earning more and more. And people just meekly accept it for the "convenience" of waving a phone at a terminal.  
    Have to call this one out.

    for the man (or woman) on the street, with a current account waving their phone at a terminal - what exactly is the cost? Nothing additional over cash and still 99% of people pay nothing for their day to day banking.
    I thought the merchant paid the bank for the "service"?

    As does the merchant to take (bank) cash. Ask most smaller businesses/shops and cash is far less convenient, cost of the banking and the hassle of cashing up, taking to the bank etc.

    For the end user, paying by cash or paying by card/phone etc is no different - it’s free to them.
    I don't know which costs the merchant more, cash or card, but either way ultimately the customer pays for it, it's not free. 
  • edited July 15
    Rob7Lee said:
    Rob7Lee said:
    Interesting to hear from people who work in the financial services sector and their take. Since the pandemic I have to admit leaving cash in a drawer and relying on cards to pay for anything and everything. In fact the only time I have had to carry cash at all was on a visit to Japan (one of the most advanced technological countries but still a society which prefers the colour of your money when making transactions).

    High Street banks are pushing for their customers to take responsibility for their own banking through the use of apps. All well and good for those who prefer the tech...but perhaps not for older customers who often have the more substantial accounts. I still insist on monthly paper statements so I have a record in writing of my transactions. 

    The 'cash or card' title of this thread is already moving towards being obsolete given that increasing numbers of people are relying on their phones to pay for everything. Great if this is how you like to spend. So easy and accessible. Not so great if you lose your phone or it's nicked. 
    You have to take your hats off to them, they are doing less and less and earning more and more. And people just meekly accept it for the "convenience" of waving a phone at a terminal.  
    Have to call this one out.

    for the man (or woman) on the street, with a current account waving their phone at a terminal - what exactly is the cost? Nothing additional over cash and still 99% of people pay nothing for their day to day banking.
    I thought the merchant paid the bank for the "service"?

    As does the merchant to take (bank) cash. Ask most smaller businesses/shops and cash is far less convenient, cost of the banking and the hassle of cashing up, taking to the bank etc.

    For the end user, paying by cash or paying by card/phone etc is no different - it’s free to them.
    I think many people don’t understand the cost of using cash - it was so common everyone assumes it’s free, but it’s wasn’t. Aside from printing non-counterfeitable notes, transporting them in secure transport to branches must have been a significant cost. In my limited time working in a branch, we had cash delivery in the morning, and pickup in the evening to ensure there wasn’t too much on site. There’s the opportunity cost of having to hold a whole bunch of cash to cover expected operations. Multiple staff to handle clients cash transactions, plus the cost to retailers of having to handle cash. It was never free, just hidden. 
    My first job was with one of the big four retail banks and there were big costs to handling cash. Doing away with cash also reduces money laundering & tax evasion as it's not so easy to hide digital transactions. 
    The real criminals will always find a way to launder money and evade tax, in huge amounts. Making society card only just reduces the chances of the little guy getting a break from the tax man... 
  • Rob7Lee said:
    Rob7Lee said:
    Interesting to hear from people who work in the financial services sector and their take. Since the pandemic I have to admit leaving cash in a drawer and relying on cards to pay for anything and everything. In fact the only time I have had to carry cash at all was on a visit to Japan (one of the most advanced technological countries but still a society which prefers the colour of your money when making transactions).

    High Street banks are pushing for their customers to take responsibility for their own banking through the use of apps. All well and good for those who prefer the tech...but perhaps not for older customers who often have the more substantial accounts. I still insist on monthly paper statements so I have a record in writing of my transactions. 

    The 'cash or card' title of this thread is already moving towards being obsolete given that increasing numbers of people are relying on their phones to pay for everything. Great if this is how you like to spend. So easy and accessible. Not so great if you lose your phone or it's nicked. 
    You have to take your hats off to them, they are doing less and less and earning more and more. And people just meekly accept it for the "convenience" of waving a phone at a terminal.  
    Have to call this one out.

    for the man (or woman) on the street, with a current account waving their phone at a terminal - what exactly is the cost? Nothing additional over cash and still 99% of people pay nothing for their day to day banking.
    I thought the merchant paid the bank for the "service"?

    As does the merchant to take (bank) cash. Ask most smaller businesses/shops and cash is far less convenient, cost of the banking and the hassle of cashing up, taking to the bank etc.

    For the end user, paying by cash or paying by card/phone etc is no different - it’s free to them.
    I think many people don’t understand the cost of using cash - it was so common everyone assumes it’s free, but it’s wasn’t. Aside from printing non-counterfeitable notes, transporting them in secure transport to branches must have been a significant cost. In my limited time working in a branch, we had cash delivery in the morning, and pickup in the evening to ensure there wasn’t too much on site. There’s the opportunity cost of having to hold a whole bunch of cash to cover expected operations. Multiple staff to handle clients cash transactions, plus the cost to retailers of having to handle cash. It was never free, just hidden. 
    My first job was with one of the big four retail banks and there were big costs to handling cash. Doing away with cash also reduces money laundering & tax evasion as it's not so easy to hide digital transactions. 
    The real criminals will always find a way to launder money and evade tax, in huge amounts. Making society card only just reduces the chances of the little guy getting a break from the tax man... 
    The little guy should pay their taxes as much as anyone else. Tax evasion is wrong whoever it is. 
  • I lose about £50 a week in card fees unfortunately. About £200 a month which would be nice in my pocket but there is nothing I can do about it. I just have to suck it up. It's a shame the card machines have to be so greedy and charge a high percentage on my earnings.
    But conversely you would always have paid charges for paying in cash either directly or indirectly. 

    You may save on insurance by not having as much cash on the premises and save time by your receipts being automatically credited to your account. You / your staff have less risk of robbery etc. 

    We all want to pay the minimum fees naturally but there are mitigations / compensatory points to handling less cash is my observation. 
    Unless im being dumb and missing any hidden charges, its never cost me a penny as I'm passing by a bank paying in the cash I get. I also don't have staff. Like I say there is nothing I can do as I can completely see its much easier to just tap a card as a customer. I do it myself at times but also always have a wallet with cash in. I just pick and choose who I pay cash or card with.

    It's just annoying someone always wants a cut of your earnings and the card machine i use takes around £10-£15 a day from me.
  • I lose about £50 a week in card fees unfortunately. About £200 a month which would be nice in my pocket but there is nothing I can do about it. I just have to suck it up. It's a shame the card machines have to be so greedy and charge a high percentage on my earnings.
    But conversely you would always have paid charges for paying in cash either directly or indirectly. 

    You may save on insurance by not having as much cash on the premises and save time by your receipts being automatically credited to your account. You / your staff have less risk of robbery etc. 

    We all want to pay the minimum fees naturally but there are mitigations / compensatory points to handling less cash is my observation. 
    Unless im being dumb and missing any hidden charges, its never cost me a penny as I'm passing by a bank paying in the cash I get. I also don't have staff. Like I say there is nothing I can do as I can completely see its much easier to just tap a card as a customer. I do it myself at times but also always have a wallet with cash in. I just pick and choose who I pay cash or card with.

    It's just annoying someone always wants a cut of your earnings and the card machine i use takes around £10-£15 a day from me.
    Most business bank accounts have a fee was my point. 

    Depending on the tariff cash may be a separate element. 

    If you have managed to avoid that due to volumes you pay cash in so be it. 

    As a minimum though cards must save you some modest time in going to the bank and Counting the cash etc. 
  • I lose about £50 a week in card fees unfortunately. About £200 a month which would be nice in my pocket but there is nothing I can do about it. I just have to suck it up. It's a shame the card machines have to be so greedy and charge a high percentage on my earnings.
    But conversely you would always have paid charges for paying in cash either directly or indirectly. 

    You may save on insurance by not having as much cash on the premises and save time by your receipts being automatically credited to your account. You / your staff have less risk of robbery etc. 

    We all want to pay the minimum fees naturally but there are mitigations / compensatory points to handling less cash is my observation. 
    Unless im being dumb and missing any hidden charges, its never cost me a penny as I'm passing by a bank paying in the cash I get. I also don't have staff. Like I say there is nothing I can do as I can completely see its much easier to just tap a card as a customer. I do it myself at times but also always have a wallet with cash in. I just pick and choose who I pay cash or card with.

    It's just annoying someone always wants a cut of your earnings and the card machine i use takes around £10-£15 a day from me.
    Most business bank accounts have a fee was my point. 

    Depending on the tariff cash may be a separate element. 

    If you have managed to avoid that due to volumes you pay cash in so be it. 

    As a minimum though cards must save you some modest time in going to the bank and Counting the cash etc. 
    Of course a card payment saves time as i get it paid into my bank account the next day rather than me going to a bank to pay it in however at a cost of £50 minimum a week in the fees id rather not be paying that but like i said i dont have much choice in this day and age.
  • I lose about £50 a week in card fees unfortunately. About £200 a month which would be nice in my pocket but there is nothing I can do about it. I just have to suck it up. It's a shame the card machines have to be so greedy and charge a high percentage on my earnings.
    But conversely you would always have paid charges for paying in cash either directly or indirectly. 

    You may save on insurance by not having as much cash on the premises and save time by your receipts being automatically credited to your account. You / your staff have less risk of robbery etc. 

    We all want to pay the minimum fees naturally but there are mitigations / compensatory points to handling less cash is my observation. 
    Unless im being dumb and missing any hidden charges, its never cost me a penny as I'm passing by a bank paying in the cash I get. I also don't have staff. Like I say there is nothing I can do as I can completely see its much easier to just tap a card as a customer. I do it myself at times but also always have a wallet with cash in. I just pick and choose who I pay cash or card with.

    It's just annoying someone always wants a cut of your earnings and the card machine i use takes around £10-£15 a day from me.
    Most business bank accounts have a fee was my point. 

    Depending on the tariff cash may be a separate element. 

    If you have managed to avoid that due to volumes you pay cash in so be it. 

    As a minimum though cards must save you some modest time in going to the bank and Counting the cash etc. 
    So they have that fee whether you use cash or card, and for some people cash is better. That being the case, leave it up to the individual. As I have said before on this thread, I am not advocating that people can't use their card, carry on if you want, but let those that prefer cash (or both options, as is my preference) carry on too. 

    As for the time taken banking, if it takes ten minutes and it saves £20, that's a rate of £120 an hour...   

    What doesn't save me time is standing behind a bloke in a pub whose watch doesn't work, so then he gets his phone out and is then told "No tap it on the top, not on the front" and then has to put his PIN in because it is his nth transaction, all to pay £4.90 for a pint...  :D
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  • Use Pay By Bank, all the benefits of card at a fraction of the cost 
  • I lose about £50 a week in card fees unfortunately. About £200 a month which would be nice in my pocket but there is nothing I can do about it. I just have to suck it up. It's a shame the card machines have to be so greedy and charge a high percentage on my earnings.
    But conversely you would always have paid charges for paying in cash either directly or indirectly. 

    You may save on insurance by not having as much cash on the premises and save time by your receipts being automatically credited to your account. You / your staff have less risk of robbery etc. 

    We all want to pay the minimum fees naturally but there are mitigations / compensatory points to handling less cash is my observation. 
    Unless im being dumb and missing any hidden charges, its never cost me a penny as I'm passing by a bank paying in the cash I get. I also don't have staff. Like I say there is nothing I can do as I can completely see its much easier to just tap a card as a customer. I do it myself at times but also always have a wallet with cash in. I just pick and choose who I pay cash or card with.

    It's just annoying someone always wants a cut of your earnings and the card machine i use takes around £10-£15 a day from me.
    Most business bank accounts have a fee was my point. 

    Depending on the tariff cash may be a separate element. 

    If you have managed to avoid that due to volumes you pay cash in so be it. 

    As a minimum though cards must save you some modest time in going to the bank and Counting the cash etc. 
    So they have that fee whether you use cash or card, and for some people cash is better. That being the case, leave it up to the individual. As I have said before on this thread, I am not advocating that people can't use their card, carry on if you want, but let those that prefer cash (or both options, as is my preference) carry on too. 

    As for the time taken banking, if it takes ten minutes and it saves £20, that's a rate of £120 an hour...   

    What doesn't save me time is standing behind a bloke in a pub whose watch doesn't work, so then he gets his phone out and is then told "No tap it on the top, not on the front" and then has to put his PIN in because it is his nth transaction, all to pay £4.90 for a pint...  :D
    Not really. You saving time is just one small part of what the fee could be argued to cover. 

    You get the terminal , automated and secure payment etc and id argue more prospective customers because you offer cards. 

    That can’t be for free realistically. But as I said of corse if the fees could be trimmed so much the better. 


  • I lose about £50 a week in card fees unfortunately. About £200 a month which would be nice in my pocket but there is nothing I can do about it. I just have to suck it up. It's a shame the card machines have to be so greedy and charge a high percentage on my earnings.
    But conversely you would always have paid charges for paying in cash either directly or indirectly. 

    You may save on insurance by not having as much cash on the premises and save time by your receipts being automatically credited to your account. You / your staff have less risk of robbery etc. 

    We all want to pay the minimum fees naturally but there are mitigations / compensatory points to handling less cash is my observation. 
    Unless im being dumb and missing any hidden charges, its never cost me a penny as I'm passing by a bank paying in the cash I get. I also don't have staff. Like I say there is nothing I can do as I can completely see its much easier to just tap a card as a customer. I do it myself at times but also always have a wallet with cash in. I just pick and choose who I pay cash or card with.

    It's just annoying someone always wants a cut of your earnings and the card machine i use takes around £10-£15 a day from me.
    Most business bank accounts have a fee was my point. 

    Depending on the tariff cash may be a separate element. 

    If you have managed to avoid that due to volumes you pay cash in so be it. 

    As a minimum though cards must save you some modest time in going to the bank and Counting the cash etc. 
    So they have that fee whether you use cash or card, and for some people cash is better. That being the case, leave it up to the individual. As I have said before on this thread, I am not advocating that people can't use their card, carry on if you want, but let those that prefer cash (or both options, as is my preference) carry on too. 

    As for the time taken banking, if it takes ten minutes and it saves £20, that's a rate of £120 an hour...   

    What doesn't save me time is standing behind a bloke in a pub whose watch doesn't work, so then he gets his phone out and is then told "No tap it on the top, not on the front" and then has to put his PIN in because it is his nth transaction, all to pay £4.90 for a pint...  :D
    Where are you drinking at that price? (And can I come?!)
  • Rob7Lee said:
    Rob7Lee said:
    Interesting to hear from people who work in the financial services sector and their take. Since the pandemic I have to admit leaving cash in a drawer and relying on cards to pay for anything and everything. In fact the only time I have had to carry cash at all was on a visit to Japan (one of the most advanced technological countries but still a society which prefers the colour of your money when making transactions).

    High Street banks are pushing for their customers to take responsibility for their own banking through the use of apps. All well and good for those who prefer the tech...but perhaps not for older customers who often have the more substantial accounts. I still insist on monthly paper statements so I have a record in writing of my transactions. 

    The 'cash or card' title of this thread is already moving towards being obsolete given that increasing numbers of people are relying on their phones to pay for everything. Great if this is how you like to spend. So easy and accessible. Not so great if you lose your phone or it's nicked. 
    You have to take your hats off to them, they are doing less and less and earning more and more. And people just meekly accept it for the "convenience" of waving a phone at a terminal.  
    Have to call this one out.

    for the man (or woman) on the street, with a current account waving their phone at a terminal - what exactly is the cost? Nothing additional over cash and still 99% of people pay nothing for their day to day banking.
    I thought the merchant paid the bank for the "service"?

    As does the merchant to take (bank) cash. Ask most smaller businesses/shops and cash is far less convenient, cost of the banking and the hassle of cashing up, taking to the bank etc.

    For the end user, paying by cash or paying by card/phone etc is no different - it’s free to them.
    I think many people don’t understand the cost of using cash - it was so common everyone assumes it’s free, but it’s wasn’t. Aside from printing non-counterfeitable notes, transporting them in secure transport to branches must have been a significant cost. In my limited time working in a branch, we had cash delivery in the morning, and pickup in the evening to ensure there wasn’t too much on site. There’s the opportunity cost of having to hold a whole bunch of cash to cover expected operations. Multiple staff to handle clients cash transactions, plus the cost to retailers of having to handle cash. It was never free, just hidden. 
    My first job was with one of the big four retail banks and there were big costs to handling cash. Doing away with cash also reduces money laundering & tax evasion as it's not so easy to hide digital transactions. 
    The real criminals will always find a way to launder money and evade tax, in huge amounts. Making society card only just reduces the chances of the little guy getting a break from the tax man... 
    The little guy should pay their taxes as much as anyone else. Tax evasion is wrong whoever it is. 
    Morally you are quite right of course Emme, and if the little guy had access to the same tax breaks the big guys did, I would agree, but while multi-millionaires are given the opportunity to reduce their tax bill left right and centre and poor people are not, I am not going after those the bottom of the food chain.

    Like I said, the real criminals will still find a way to launder money and evade tax, cashless society or not. 
    If you wanna "buy in" to a scheme just let me know. Will do you a special price. ;-)
  • I lose about £50 a week in card fees unfortunately. About £200 a month which would be nice in my pocket but there is nothing I can do about it. I just have to suck it up. It's a shame the card machines have to be so greedy and charge a high percentage on my earnings.
    But conversely you would always have paid charges for paying in cash either directly or indirectly. 

    You may save on insurance by not having as much cash on the premises and save time by your receipts being automatically credited to your account. You / your staff have less risk of robbery etc. 

    We all want to pay the minimum fees naturally but there are mitigations / compensatory points to handling less cash is my observation. 
    Unless im being dumb and missing any hidden charges, its never cost me a penny as I'm passing by a bank paying in the cash I get. I also don't have staff. Like I say there is nothing I can do as I can completely see its much easier to just tap a card as a customer. I do it myself at times but also always have a wallet with cash in. I just pick and choose who I pay cash or card with.

    It's just annoying someone always wants a cut of your earnings and the card machine i use takes around £10-£15 a day from me.
    Most business bank accounts have a fee was my point. 

    Depending on the tariff cash may be a separate element. 

    If you have managed to avoid that due to volumes you pay cash in so be it. 

    As a minimum though cards must save you some modest time in going to the bank and Counting the cash etc. 
    So they have that fee whether you use cash or card, and for some people cash is better. That being the case, leave it up to the individual. As I have said before on this thread, I am not advocating that people can't use their card, carry on if you want, but let those that prefer cash (or both options, as is my preference) carry on too. 

    As for the time taken banking, if it takes ten minutes and it saves £20, that's a rate of £120 an hour...   

    What doesn't save me time is standing behind a bloke in a pub whose watch doesn't work, so then he gets his phone out and is then told "No tap it on the top, not on the front" and then has to put his PIN in because it is his nth transaction, all to pay £4.90 for a pint...  :D
    But you used to (still do?) run a bar didn't you? You'll understand then that card payments cost a merchant fee but that they virtually eliminate the costs of staff pilfering of the folding stuff.
  • Rob7Lee said:
    Rob7Lee said:
    Interesting to hear from people who work in the financial services sector and their take. Since the pandemic I have to admit leaving cash in a drawer and relying on cards to pay for anything and everything. In fact the only time I have had to carry cash at all was on a visit to Japan (one of the most advanced technological countries but still a society which prefers the colour of your money when making transactions).

    High Street banks are pushing for their customers to take responsibility for their own banking through the use of apps. All well and good for those who prefer the tech...but perhaps not for older customers who often have the more substantial accounts. I still insist on monthly paper statements so I have a record in writing of my transactions. 

    The 'cash or card' title of this thread is already moving towards being obsolete given that increasing numbers of people are relying on their phones to pay for everything. Great if this is how you like to spend. So easy and accessible. Not so great if you lose your phone or it's nicked. 
    You have to take your hats off to them, they are doing less and less and earning more and more. And people just meekly accept it for the "convenience" of waving a phone at a terminal.  
    Have to call this one out.

    for the man (or woman) on the street, with a current account waving their phone at a terminal - what exactly is the cost? Nothing additional over cash and still 99% of people pay nothing for their day to day banking.
    I thought the merchant paid the bank for the "service"?

    As does the merchant to take (bank) cash. Ask most smaller businesses/shops and cash is far less convenient, cost of the banking and the hassle of cashing up, taking to the bank etc.

    For the end user, paying by cash or paying by card/phone etc is no different - it’s free to them.
    I think many people don’t understand the cost of using cash - it was so common everyone assumes it’s free, but it’s wasn’t. Aside from printing non-counterfeitable notes, transporting them in secure transport to branches must have been a significant cost. In my limited time working in a branch, we had cash delivery in the morning, and pickup in the evening to ensure there wasn’t too much on site. There’s the opportunity cost of having to hold a whole bunch of cash to cover expected operations. Multiple staff to handle clients cash transactions, plus the cost to retailers of having to handle cash. It was never free, just hidden. 
    My first job was with one of the big four retail banks and there were big costs to handling cash. Doing away with cash also reduces money laundering & tax evasion as it's not so easy to hide digital transactions. 
    The real criminals will always find a way to launder money and evade tax, in huge amounts. Making society card only just reduces the chances of the little guy getting a break from the tax man... 
    The little guy should pay their taxes as much as anyone else. Tax evasion is wrong whoever it is. 
    Morally you are quite right of course Emme, and if the little guy had access to the same tax breaks the big guys did, I would agree, but while multi-millionaires are given the opportunity to reduce their tax bill left right and centre and poor people are not, I am not going after those the bottom of the food chain.

    Like I said, the real criminals will still find a way to launder money and evade tax, cashless society or not. 
    People on PAYE have to pay their share of tax, so should everyone else. We all.lose out when others cheat the system. 
    How many Billionaires do you think are on PAYE 

    What they get away with compared to say a window cleaner taking cash only is ridiculous. 
  • Rob7Lee said:
    Rob7Lee said:
    Interesting to hear from people who work in the financial services sector and their take. Since the pandemic I have to admit leaving cash in a drawer and relying on cards to pay for anything and everything. In fact the only time I have had to carry cash at all was on a visit to Japan (one of the most advanced technological countries but still a society which prefers the colour of your money when making transactions).

    High Street banks are pushing for their customers to take responsibility for their own banking through the use of apps. All well and good for those who prefer the tech...but perhaps not for older customers who often have the more substantial accounts. I still insist on monthly paper statements so I have a record in writing of my transactions. 

    The 'cash or card' title of this thread is already moving towards being obsolete given that increasing numbers of people are relying on their phones to pay for everything. Great if this is how you like to spend. So easy and accessible. Not so great if you lose your phone or it's nicked. 
    You have to take your hats off to them, they are doing less and less and earning more and more. And people just meekly accept it for the "convenience" of waving a phone at a terminal.  
    Have to call this one out.

    for the man (or woman) on the street, with a current account waving their phone at a terminal - what exactly is the cost? Nothing additional over cash and still 99% of people pay nothing for their day to day banking.
    I thought the merchant paid the bank for the "service"?

    As does the merchant to take (bank) cash. Ask most smaller businesses/shops and cash is far less convenient, cost of the banking and the hassle of cashing up, taking to the bank etc.

    For the end user, paying by cash or paying by card/phone etc is no different - it’s free to them.
    I think many people don’t understand the cost of using cash - it was so common everyone assumes it’s free, but it’s wasn’t. Aside from printing non-counterfeitable notes, transporting them in secure transport to branches must have been a significant cost. In my limited time working in a branch, we had cash delivery in the morning, and pickup in the evening to ensure there wasn’t too much on site. There’s the opportunity cost of having to hold a whole bunch of cash to cover expected operations. Multiple staff to handle clients cash transactions, plus the cost to retailers of having to handle cash. It was never free, just hidden. 
    My first job was with one of the big four retail banks and there were big costs to handling cash. Doing away with cash also reduces money laundering & tax evasion as it's not so easy to hide digital transactions. 
    The real criminals will always find a way to launder money and evade tax, in huge amounts. Making society card only just reduces the chances of the little guy getting a break from the tax man... 
    The little guy should pay their taxes as much as anyone else. Tax evasion is wrong whoever it is. 
    Morally you are quite right of course Emme, and if the little guy had access to the same tax breaks the big guys did, I would agree, but while multi-millionaires are given the opportunity to reduce their tax bill left right and centre and poor people are not, I am not going after those the bottom of the food chain.

    Like I said, the real criminals will still find a way to launder money and evade tax, cashless society or not. 
    People on PAYE have to pay their share of tax, so should everyone else. We all.lose out when others cheat the system. 
    How many Billionaires do you think are on PAYE 

    What they get away with compared to say a window cleaner taking cash only is ridiculous. 
    What do they actually get away with though ? I know the statement is made but does it bear scrutiny?

    Thats not to say some sort of Wealth Tax isn’t appropriate. 

    The real issue remains the gap between the top and bottom earners. 


  • Rob7Lee said:
    Rob7Lee said:
    Interesting to hear from people who work in the financial services sector and their take. Since the pandemic I have to admit leaving cash in a drawer and relying on cards to pay for anything and everything. In fact the only time I have had to carry cash at all was on a visit to Japan (one of the most advanced technological countries but still a society which prefers the colour of your money when making transactions).

    High Street banks are pushing for their customers to take responsibility for their own banking through the use of apps. All well and good for those who prefer the tech...but perhaps not for older customers who often have the more substantial accounts. I still insist on monthly paper statements so I have a record in writing of my transactions. 

    The 'cash or card' title of this thread is already moving towards being obsolete given that increasing numbers of people are relying on their phones to pay for everything. Great if this is how you like to spend. So easy and accessible. Not so great if you lose your phone or it's nicked. 
    You have to take your hats off to them, they are doing less and less and earning more and more. And people just meekly accept it for the "convenience" of waving a phone at a terminal.  
    Have to call this one out.

    for the man (or woman) on the street, with a current account waving their phone at a terminal - what exactly is the cost? Nothing additional over cash and still 99% of people pay nothing for their day to day banking.
    I thought the merchant paid the bank for the "service"?

    As does the merchant to take (bank) cash. Ask most smaller businesses/shops and cash is far less convenient, cost of the banking and the hassle of cashing up, taking to the bank etc.

    For the end user, paying by cash or paying by card/phone etc is no different - it’s free to them.
    I think many people don’t understand the cost of using cash - it was so common everyone assumes it’s free, but it’s wasn’t. Aside from printing non-counterfeitable notes, transporting them in secure transport to branches must have been a significant cost. In my limited time working in a branch, we had cash delivery in the morning, and pickup in the evening to ensure there wasn’t too much on site. There’s the opportunity cost of having to hold a whole bunch of cash to cover expected operations. Multiple staff to handle clients cash transactions, plus the cost to retailers of having to handle cash. It was never free, just hidden. 
    My first job was with one of the big four retail banks and there were big costs to handling cash. Doing away with cash also reduces money laundering & tax evasion as it's not so easy to hide digital transactions. 
    The real criminals will always find a way to launder money and evade tax, in huge amounts. Making society card only just reduces the chances of the little guy getting a break from the tax man... 
    The little guy should pay their taxes as much as anyone else. Tax evasion is wrong whoever it is. 
    Morally you are quite right of course Emme, and if the little guy had access to the same tax breaks the big guys did, I would agree, but while multi-millionaires are given the opportunity to reduce their tax bill left right and centre and poor people are not, I am not going after those the bottom of the food chain.

    Like I said, the real criminals will still find a way to launder money and evade tax, cashless society or not. 
    People on PAYE have to pay their share of tax, so should everyone else. We all.lose out when others cheat the system. 
    How many Billionaires do you think are on PAYE 

    What they get away with compared to say a window cleaner taking cash only is ridiculous. 
    What do they actually get away with though ? I know the statement is made but does it bear scrutiny?

    Thats not to say some sort of Wealth Tax isn’t appropriate. 

    The real issue remains the gap between the top and bottom earners. 


    Your last sentence is bang on the money 
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