Feed into MPs' inquiry - share your views on society becoming more 'cashless' with Coronavirus

Jeremy535897

There are a lot of people who are digitally excluded, some 12 million according to the NHS, and how many of those would be able to cope with a cashless society, and manage their money when they cannot see or count it?

Mickey666

68ComebackSpecial said:

MoneySeeker1 said:

What we need is a clamp down on the wealthy - like higher rates of tax and, as we have a National Minimum Wage - there should also be a National Maximum Wage.

How do you think the tax burden can be increased for the wealthy if you're going to reduce the income on which they pay taxes? 

LOL - exactly!   

The top 1% of earners already pay 25% of all income tax, while the top 50% of earners pay 90% of all income tax.  Imagine what a national maximum wage would do to all that!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39641222

ripplyuk

I have always used a credit card for the majority of my spending but I carry some cash too. I do not like the thought of having all my spending tracked by the government or banks. It’ll just encourage more data selling and feels like a breach of privacy. I like having the choice to use cash if I wish to. I don’t want anyone else controlling that. Where I live, many people have no mobile phone reception or broadband (Two don’t even have electricity!). I buy produce at the farm gate and cash is obviously essential for that. The same with giving money to charity collectors, pocket money to kids, paying tradesmen etc. I don’t always want to share my bank details so cash suits best. Many people I know have their savings in cash stuffed ‘under the mattress’ and I doubt they would appreciate being suddenly told that cash is worthless now. 

It’s unrealistic for any rural area. We don’t all live in London! I think MP’s often forget that. 

Mickey666

Yep -second only to bartering in many rural areas

Splatfoot

We probably use cash more over the last couple of years than we ever have. We have a lowish income and it seems much easier to keep track. My husband also gets paid in cash sometimes (not so he can cheat the taxman - some of his older customers just pay him that way), and instead of putting it in the bank, which is miles away, we just use it. 

Marvel1

Tried to use contactless the other day in work for food by google pay, my card was declined, great! Lucky I had small cash on me. 

Former_MSE_Thiri

Thanks so much for all of your responses so far Forumites! They'll be really valuable for us to pass on to the Committee! 

strawb_shortcake

I don't like having cash, I swear my children can smell it when I do and it's gone in no time. 
The main difficulty I find is car parking, I'm happy to pay by phone but often there is no internet signal for me to do so. This year, seems lots of car parks have gone cashless so you are depending on technology to work to pay and it's just not there at the moment.

MoneySeeker1

annabanana82 said:

I don't like having cash, I swear my children can smell it when I do and it's gone in no time. 
The main difficulty I find is car parking, I'm happy to pay by phone but often there is no internet signal for me to do so. This year, seems lots of car parks have gone cashless so you are depending on technology to work to pay and it's just not there at the moment.

I'm in an area (pretty rural) where that happens.

Have you complained that you have paid (as far as you are concerned) and provided evidence you tried to - but they wouldnt let you (ie because their system was set up for only cashless payment)?

I have had to "bite the bullet" and been forced into the fact I have to buy a car soon (against my will and better judgement) and I'm darn sure I will be providing the evidence I tried to pay/but their system wouldnt let me if it comes to that. So "not my choice/not my fault".

mooresud

• What are your attitudes to cash?  Barely ever use cash. Have debit and credit cards for everything. Even the market now take card.
• Have your attitudes to cash changed over the last 10 years? If so, why? Yes, am less likely to ever carry cash at all now compared to 10 years ago, and plan to not return to cash
• Have your attitudes to cash changed in light of Coronavirus? If so, why? Not really, although am happy that more businesses accept card or bank transfer. With more people having mobile apps, transfers and paypal can be done simply
• Have you been negatively affected by society becoming more ‘cashless’? If so, why? n/a