Cash

[Deleted]

I probably use mostly cards/electronic transfers etc but I also always have cash. Again for things like restaurant tips (so the money goes to your server) or small shops/small purchases.

I do like having all my 'big' purchases logged on my bank account, so I don't think I've ever bought Theatre Tickets with cash in the UK, however I have when in the U.S not most recently, but I always travel with some local currency because again you never know about getting to a country and finding your bank card frozen the first time you use it. Equally, if I'm out away from home in the UK, even just to London, I tend to take extra cash just on the off chance you lose a card/get it stolen/your phone dies. Not so much an issue when you're going back to your own house/have friends/family nearby to bail you out. But if you're 100s of miles from home and it's a Sunday, a bit of cash as a back up is handy!

[Backdrifter]

We are zombies, shuffling dead-eyed into 100% reliance on technology which will scoop us up, tip us into its jaws and grind us to a sludgy pulp before spitting us out into a spatter of pavement gloop.

Ah well, you've got to laugh.

[49thand8th]

Apr 15, 2019 11:57:35 GMT @thematthew said:

What bothers me about all this talk of cashless societies is that nobody tackles the issue of what happens when the technology fails. A purely electronic payment system needs to work 100% of the time, because if it only works 99.99% of the time then that's tens of thousands of failed transactions every day. It's easy to have a payment system that works reliably in a city, but you also need it to work when your car is almost out of fuel and you're at the only petrol station for miles (in Scotland, for example) and someone's just dragged a backhoe through the phone line.

You need a fallback. "Sucks to be you, then" is not a fallback.

Yes, this.

I have two credit cards, I use cash quote often, not just because I have participated in Where's George (a bill-tracking website) for fun for years. Along with the failsafe factor, it just feels creepy to be able to have all your transactions recorded somewhere.

[Deleted]

Apr 15, 2019 14:56:55 GMT Backdrifter said:

We are zombies, shuffling dead-eyed into 100% reliance on technology which will scoop us up, tip us into its jaws and grind us to a sludgy pulp before spitting us out into a spatter of pavement gloop.

Ah well, you've got to laugh.

[Backdrifter]

Apr 15, 2019 15:06:55 GMT @baemax said:

Apr 15, 2019 14:56:55 GMT Backdrifter said:

We are zombies, shuffling dead-eyed into 100% reliance on technology which will scoop us up, tip us into its jaws and grind us to a sludgy pulp before spitting us out into a spatter of pavement gloop.

Ah well, you've got to laugh.

"durr hburr"?

[49thand8th]

Apr 15, 2019 14:56:55 GMT Backdrifter said:

We are zombies, shuffling dead-eyed into 100% reliance on technology which will scoop us up, tip us into its jaws and grind us to a sludgy pulp before spitting us out into a spatter of pavement gloop.

Ah well, you've got to laugh.

OK, OK, I enjoyed The Veldt too, but...

[Backdrifter]

Apr 15, 2019 15:17:24 GMT 49thand8th said:

Apr 15, 2019 14:56:55 GMT Backdrifter said:

We are zombies, shuffling dead-eyed into 100% reliance on technology which will scoop us up, tip us into its jaws and grind us to a sludgy pulp before spitting us out into a spatter of pavement gloop.

Ah well, you've got to laugh.

OK, OK, I enjoyed The Veldt too, but...

😄
I didn't know what you meant so looked it up. Excellent!

[49thand8th]

There Will Come Soft Rains is a good argument against smart homes, too.

[nick]

Apr 14, 2019 18:48:25 GMT Phantom of London said:

Also I find it very attractive in that it would stop cash a lot of crimes, backhanders and also will make tax avoidance and tax evasion impossible.

But hasn't cashless transactions created many new crimes? Big news about the TSB (I think) agreeing to compensate people who have been scammed to give away details so their bank accounts are drained. And on a smaller scale, I found a contactless card on the street and could have gone around spending £29 in a variety of shops until the card was stopped. (FYI I posted it back to the bank).

BTW it is still possible for both backhanders and tax avoidance/evasion - using an offshore cashless system (like Paypal) is the way to go. Or Bitcoin if you're brave.

On the other hand shops like contactless. There's a fair number of places that only accept cards now. That's because it costs business to deposit cash so the card charges are offset by this and the time saved having to count up at the end of the day and go to the bank.

I like cashless but I hope cash stays around. They each have their strengths and weaknesses.

However I'd remove copper tomorrow. Of no use at all. And I'd love to see the back of the £3.99 etc prices.

[alece10]

One thing that has pushed people towards paying by cards is the closure of high street banks and of cash points.
I have heard of shops only taking card payments as there is no bank in the town to bank the cash.
The town my dad lives in now doesn't have a bank and the nearest branch is a 40 minute drive. There is a mobile bank but only there for 30 minutes once a week.

[sf]

Apr 15, 2019 14:56:55 GMT Backdrifter said:

We are zombies, shuffling dead-eyed into 100% reliance on technology which will scoop us up, tip us into its jaws and grind us to a sludgy pulp before spitting us out into a spatter of pavement gloop.

Ah well, you've got to laugh.

Well, yes.

I use contactless cards too, more than I use cash - but if you want a good argument against a society going completely cashless, read The Handmaid's Tale.

[theglenbucklaird]

Apr 14, 2019 20:05:39 GMT talkingheads said:

Apr 14, 2019 19:24:35 GMT @thematthew said:

2) Tips when I've had a meal. Some PIN Entry Devices allow the addition of a gratuity, but if they don't I have to use cash.

Another good reason for cash in this instance, as you can be sure it goes to the waiter or server. If you add it to the bill paying by card it is likely to just go into the boss's pocket rather than the waiter

Cash for homeless donations and pubs. 'One for yourself' in pubs

[kimbahorel]

Apr 15, 2019 17:43:34 GMT @theatremonkey said:

Apr 14, 2019 21:45:37 GMT kimbahorel said:

Because of certain situation I can't at the moment or have I ever had a debit or credit card.

Not even the pre-pay tourist type that you just load up and go?

I don't know where or how to get one. I have searched but you either need ID or have to pay for it online which I of course can't do.

[Dawnstar]

Apr 14, 2019 21:58:31 GMT Tibidabo said:

Oh, I'd say roughly the same number as those who have touched the card machine keypad before it's your turn.🤮🤮

Apr 14, 2019 22:47:25 GMT Backdrifter said:

When you are out and about in public do you wear disposable gloves and carry disinfectant with you, while wearing a surgical mask, to avoid all the germs, dirt, skin flakes, mites, snot, phlegm, urine and other bodily fluids that exist on every single object and surface you come into contact with and inhale with every breath?!

I always wear gloves when I'm out and about. When I get money out of a cash point I use an old receipt or some other bit of paper so I don't have to touch the keypad or touchscreen. Contactless is great - as are automatic taps! All the supermarkets installing self checkouts is nightmare as they won't work unless you have bare skin.

[Jon]

I wonder if they'll be a time when entertainment venues like the theatre or concert venues become cash free.

[Backdrifter]

Apr 15, 2019 17:12:52 GMT sf said:

if you want a good argument against a society going completely cashless, read The Handmaid's Tale.

Mrs B watched the TV series and is now reading the book. I'll nab it after she's read it.

Apr 15, 2019 18:14:43 GMT Dawnstar said:

All the supermarkets installing self checkouts is nightmare as they won't work unless you have bare skin.

I can't think why that is, I must be missing something.

[49thand8th]

From January 2018 (I've long been an admirer of Mikki Kendall's work):

www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-op-0107-cashless-society-20180103-story.html

"Doing away with cash may indeed sound appealing. Proponents often note that China and India have already gone further in this direction than the United States. But a few drawbacks are obvious: Card companies such as Visa charge merchants high processing fees, the risk of fraud balances out the lower risk of theft, older customers may not wish to make the change, and consumers will lose yet more privacy. (Corporations will have the ability to track every purchase made.)"

[Dawnstar]

Apr 16, 2019 16:44:20 GMT @theatremonkey said:

Apr 15, 2019 18:14:43 GMT Dawnstar said:

All the supermarkets installing self checkouts is nightmare as they won't work unless you have bare skin.

I carry anti-viral / anti bacterial spray. If I have to use a touch-screen with a bare finger, I spray that on first. The liquid helps the connection anyway. After use, another spray.

I think I'll stick to telling the shop assistants that I have OCD, I'm not prepared to take off my gloves & can they please either serve me at a proper till or deal with the touch screen for me. It usually works.

[Backdrifter]

Apr 16, 2019 18:21:42 GMT Dawnstar said:

Apr 16, 2019 16:44:20 GMT @theatremonkey said:

I carry anti-viral / anti bacterial spray. If I have to use a touch-screen with a bare finger, I spray that on first. The liquid helps the connection anyway. After use, another spray.

I think I'll stick to telling the shop assistants that I have OCD, I'm not prepared to take off my gloves & can they please either serve me at a proper till or deal with the touch screen for me. It usually works.

Don't those rubbery blobs on the ends of pens people use for phones work?

[Dawnstar]

Apr 16, 2019 18:56:56 GMT Backdrifter said:

Don't those rubbery blobs on the ends of pens people use for phones work?

I never thought of that. I will have to investigate...

[Deleted]

I still prefer to pay cash for smaller things but will use debit card for larger items and online purchases of course. I detest booking fees so will always try to pay cash if there it is cheaper that way for theatre/musicals and concerts etc.

Also I think that the daily cash dispenser limit needs to be at least doubled it was £500 back in early 2000's but got taken down to a measly £300 due to card fraud. If you were going to the races or a casino and needed cash how do you get it?

[49thand8th]

Apr 16, 2019 19:40:10 GMT Dawnstar said:

Apr 16, 2019 18:56:56 GMT Backdrifter said:

Don't those rubbery blobs on the ends of pens people use for phones work?

I never thought of that. I will have to investigate...

Also, gloves made for texting.

[49thand8th]

Apr 16, 2019 19:43:04 GMT @hitster said:

Also I think that the daily cash dispenser limit needs to be at least doubled it was £500 back in early 2000's but got taken down to a measly £300 due to card fraud. If you were going to the races or a casino and needed cash how do you get it?

Plan ahead for a week.

[distantcousin]

I would not pay by card for anything less than £5 - utterly ridiculous.

[distantcousin]

Apr 15, 2019 18:14:43 GMT Dawnstar said:

Apr 14, 2019 21:58:31 GMT Tibidabo said:

Oh, I'd say roughly the same number as those who have touched the card machine keypad before it's your turn.🤮🤮

Apr 14, 2019 22:47:25 GMT Backdrifter said:

When you are out and about in public do you wear disposable gloves and carry disinfectant with you, while wearing a surgical mask, to avoid all the germs, dirt, skin flakes, mites, snot, phlegm, urine and other bodily fluids that exist on every single object and surface you come into contact with and inhale with every breath?!

I always wear gloves when I'm out and about. When I get money out of a cash point I use an old receipt or some other bit of paper so I don't have to touch the keypad or touchscreen. Contactless is great - as are automatic taps! All the supermarkets installing self checkouts is nightmare as they won't work unless you have bare skin.

Do you have a condition?