keitha
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Post by keitha on Feb 10, 2021 20:07:59 GMT
Following on from the discussion about Cheques, I've been thinking about it.
The benefits are manifold, for a start it stops all the cowboy builders etc who do lots of jobs "on the black" for cash that goes nowhere near the books.
I also stops all the elderly ladies near me having an excuse to go to the post Office every day to draw £10 of the pension.
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registerme
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Post by registerme on Feb 10, 2021 20:33:58 GMT
And it punishes the poor, and the digitally left behind.
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on Feb 10, 2021 21:55:30 GMT
At some point the poor get punished. Being poor isn't fun. If being poor meant you had the same opportunities as richer people, what would be the incentive to become rich? Or at least have a bit of money?
I'm not saying don't have a safety net but citing the poor as a reason not to consider abolishing cash isn't in my view good enough. I'm sure there are many solutions including cash cards etc.
Isn't what you're saying a bit like saying "we shouldn't run on the pavement because it would disadvantage those who cannot walk let alone run" ?
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registerme
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Post by registerme on Feb 10, 2021 23:26:02 GMT
Isn't what you're saying a bit like saying "we shouldn't run on the pavement because it would disadvantage those who cannot walk let alone run" ? Perhaps. Maybe we should install treadmills to generate the coins required by coin operated gas meters whilst we're at it. Put all that useless poor person energy to good use. Sorry, I'm feeling particularly bleak, misanthropic, and nihilistic tonight, which explains the sarcasm. But the (broader) point is real nonetheless. The homeless and the beggars round by me are grateful when they're acknowledged as human beings, let alone when somebody gives them a sandwich, or God forbid a fiver. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big believer in a cashless world, to the extent that I put a six figure sum into an equity investment as an "angel" in a cashless payments platform in.... February 2020. But I don't advocate a totally cashless world. There need to be largely frictionless, largely traceless routes for people to utilise. At least on a small scale. Lose that route and they'll be more suffering and ugliness.
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registerme
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Post by registerme on Feb 11, 2021 0:45:12 GMT
Both poverty and the digital divide need addressing. No argument about that. But they need proper addressing ... leaving cash in place or paper forms in place is merely the equivalent of putting some TCP on a gaping wound.
No argument there. When you come up with a solution I'll go in with you .
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Post by bracknellboy on Feb 11, 2021 8:21:46 GMT
I'm a big fan of cashless. But to actually eradicate cash entirely ? As one example, the elderly prefer cash (and cheques) not just because its what they have grown up with, but because its easier (assuming you can get your hands on it in the first place). Despite thank god having got my father into using a computer many years ago, at 88 he is now seriously struggling to even remember a pin code on a card. He recently had to go several months without usable cards having buggered them up and then the banks screwing up sending new codes then his failing to use it properly thereby rendering them useless again. And so on. It also took him about 25 minutes on the phone with him yesterday to get him through the process of setting up a new payee online. No wonder he prefers to keep a wedge of cash.
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toffeeboy
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Post by toffeeboy on Feb 11, 2021 11:53:40 GMT
Isn't what you're saying a bit like saying "we shouldn't run on the pavement because it would disadvantage those who cannot walk let alone run" ? Perhaps. Maybe we should install treadmills to generate the coins required by coin operated gas meters whilst we're at it. ...... Do they still have these anywhere? Thought they had all been changed to top up cards now. I can remember my nan having to keep putting 50p in the meter at her house to keep the electricity on. As for ending cash, we are gradually moving away from it but I think it will be a generational thing that eventually does it in, similar to writing cheques as I still know several older people who still choose to write cheques. Must confess I still have a chequebook somewhere in my drawer.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2021 12:05:32 GMT
I like cashless, but, I think the fees payed are too high. Right now it is a way to tax life and I believe that there is a cheaper way, it's called cash.
Once the cashless backbone learns how to do it cheaper than 0 it will be a no-brainer.
The other backbone people who piss me off are all the others who say "it is only 1%" for what other financial service I get. Why not it's only 0.1%?
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Feb 11, 2021 18:31:34 GMT
I was doing my usual weekly stint as a covid steward in the local town's street market today (and the shopping). A few of the bigger stalls take plastic, using iZettles or similar. Mostly, it works. The mobile phone signal's fairly rubbish, though, so it doesn't always. Most, though? Cash. Nothing else. iZettle charges 1.75%, and that's described as lower than most competitors... merchantmachine.co.uk/izettle/
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keitha
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Post by keitha on Feb 12, 2021 17:51:29 GMT
Well I can see it's Street Markets that are one issue and having been in one today, yes the majority of payments are cash, And I went in a couple of shops and there were a lot of cash payments. But then I was shocked went to put air in a car tyre and the Air Machine at My local TESCO ( in rural Wales ) is card only !
One thing I have noticed ( and it may be a Welsh thing ) It seems the "poorer" young people are the more likely to have a flash new phone, and a full sky subscription
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adrianc
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Post by adrianc on Feb 12, 2021 18:37:59 GMT
But then I was shocked went to put air in a car tyre and the Air Machine at My local TESCO ( in rural Wales ) is card only ! That's to stop the scrotes vandalising it and nicking the 20ps.
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travolta
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Post by travolta on Feb 12, 2021 21:53:36 GMT
Get a life. My plumber only ever takes folding money. How many of you can actually get hold of a plumber? They (are) like gold dust too.
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registerme
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Post by registerme on Feb 12, 2021 22:00:26 GMT
Get a life. My plumber only ever takes folding money. How many of you can actually get hold of a plumber? They (are) like gold dust too. Find a good one, feed them lots of business, and not surprisingly you're always close to the top of their queue. Worked for me for years. And he takes Paypal, direct transfers, cheques and cash. Unfortunately no credit cards (yet).
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2021 8:31:23 GMT
In Yorkshire getting a plumber is easy. 24 hrs notice or emergency. Paying cash is going out of fashion. Bank transfer is my norm for most such deals.
I have distant family members who live in London and still work in the "black" but such things are not necessary in god's county.
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daveb
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Post by daveb on Feb 13, 2021 21:53:00 GMT
I haven't had to pay a tradesman cash for years. They all (even the window cleaner) give you their sort code and account number by text or whatever
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