Cashless Society - Cannot happen

1stPPi

Despite what lawyers, non lawyers, Martin Lewis says. IT IS ILLEGAL TO REFUSED CASH.
When coinage was first introduced, it was ordered that it must be accepted as a means of payment for buying and selling.
In England and Wales, all coinage, must be embossed with the king's head.
As there were no banks at the time, people kept their money where they wanted, some used to bury it..
There is an old law, which is still in-force, which makes it illegal to use anything apart from coinage to sell and buy. This law makes the use of paying by Credit Cards, Direct Debits, Standing Orders, etc., illegal. I will research and find the legislation. The Government could try and repeal it, but this could be fought in the courts.

Aylesbury_Duck

1stPPi said:

Despite what lawyers, non lawyers, Martin Lewis says. IT IS ILLEGAL TO REFUSED CASH.
When coinage was first introduced, it was ordered that it must be accepted as a means of payment for buying and selling.
In England and Wales, all coinage, must be embossed with the king's head.
As there were no banks at the time, people kept their money where they wanted, some used to bury it..
There is an old law, which is still in-force, which makes it illegal to use anything apart from coinage to sell and buy. This law makes the use of paying by Credit Cards, Direct Debits, Standing Orders, etc., illegal. I will research and find the legislation. The Government could try and repeal it, but this could be fought in the courts.

Which king?

jon81uk

Can you link to this law please?

According to the Bank of England no such requirement exists. From What is legal tender? | Bank of England
"A shop owner can choose what payment they accept. If you want to pay for a pack of gum with a £50 note, it’s perfectly legal to turn you down. Likewise for all other banknotes, it’s a matter of discretion. If your local corner shop decided to only accept payments in Pokémon cards that would be within their right too. But they’d probably lose customers."

Undervalued

1stPPi said:

Despite what lawyers, non lawyers, Martin Lewis says. IT IS ILLEGAL TO REFUSED CASH.
When coinage was first introduced, it was ordered that it must be accepted as a means of payment for buying and selling.
In England and Wales, all coinage, must be embossed with the king's head.
As there were no banks at the time, people kept their money where they wanted, some used to bury it..
There is an old law, which is still in-force, which makes it illegal to use anything apart from coinage to sell and buy. This law makes the use of paying by Credit Cards, Direct Debits, Standing Orders, etc., illegal. I will research and find the legislation. The Government could try and repeal it, but this could be fought in the courts.

Even if this is true, which I doubt, as you yourself suggest it is largely a moot point as the government could (and would) repeal the law.

I seem to remember that have been instances where people have tried to pay tax, fines etc with a ridiculous number of coins and courts have upheld the recipient's right to refuse. 

So, if you really are going to "research" this, make sure you look at every aspect and not just any points that agree with your agenda.

Olinda99

as far as I am aware, the only thing you cannot refuse cash for is setlement of a debt.

When it comes to 'shopping', the seller can ask for payment in any form they wish. 

Ergates

1stPPi said:

Despite what lawyers, non lawyers, Martin Lewis says. IT IS ILLEGAL TO REFUSED CASH.
When coinage was first introduced, it was ordered that it must be accepted as a means of payment for buying and selling.
In England and Wales, all coinage, must be embossed with the king's head.
As there were no banks at the time, people kept their money where they wanted, some used to bury it..
There is an old law, which is still in-force, which makes it illegal to use anything apart from coinage to sell and buy. This law makes the use of paying by Credit Cards, Direct Debits, Standing Orders, etc., illegal. I will research and find the legislation. The Government could try and repeal it, but this could be fought in the courts.

Firstly even if such a law did exist, you do realise it's possible to change laws, right?

Secondly, don't you think it highly unlikely that we still have, in place, a law that would make nearly all forms of modern commerce illegal?  Don't you think someone might have noticed that in the last 80 years and done something about it?

Also, with regards to what is and isn't legal - I'd suggest that maybe lawyers might have a better idea than some random webpage/video you've stumbled across.  Given they spend years studying the law and all day working with it.

What you're saying here sounds about a hair's breadth away from sovereign citizen guff.

Andy_L

jon81uk said:

Can you link to this law please?

According to the Bank of England no such requirement exists. From What is legal tender? | Bank of England
"A shop owner can choose what payment they accept. If you want to pay for a pack of gum with a £50 note, it’s perfectly legal to turn you down. Likewise for all other banknotes, it’s a matter of discretion. If your local corner shop decided to only accept payments in Pokémon cards that would be within their right too. But they’d probably lose customers."

its probably maritime law 

Spies

1stPPi said:

Despite what lawyers, non lawyers, Martin Lewis says. IT IS ILLEGAL TO REFUSED CASH.
When coinage was first introduced, it was ordered that it must be accepted as a means of payment for buying and selling.
In England and Wales, all coinage, must be embossed with the king's head.
As there were no banks at the time, people kept their money where they wanted, some used to bury it..
There is an old law, which is still in-force, which makes it illegal to use anything apart from coinage to sell and buy. This law makes the use of paying by Credit Cards, Direct Debits, Standing Orders, etc., illegal. I will research and find the legislation. The Government could try and repeal it, but this could be fought in the courts.

Cash isn't king.

Jenni_D

Andy_L said:

jon81uk said:

Can you link to this law please?

According to the Bank of England no such requirement exists. From What is legal tender? | Bank of England
"A shop owner can choose what payment they accept. If you want to pay for a pack of gum with a £50 note, it’s perfectly legal to turn you down. Likewise for all other banknotes, it’s a matter of discretion. If your local corner shop decided to only accept payments in Pokémon cards that would be within their right too. But they’d probably lose customers."

its probably maritime law 

And it's probably a guideline more than an actual law (code).  

sheramber

 From the Bank of England link above

Legal tender has a narrow technical meaning which has no use in everyday life. It means that if you offer to fully pay off a debt to someone in legal tender, they can’t sue you for failing to repay.

So what’s actually classed as legal tender?

What’s classed as legal tender varies throughout the UK. In England and Wales, it’s Royal Mint coinsOpens in a new window and Bank of England notes. In Scotland and Northern Ireland it’s only Royal Mint coins and not banknotes.

There are also some restrictions when using small coins. For example, 1p and 2p coins only count as legal tender for any amount up to 20p.

Many common and safe payment methods such as cheques, debit cards and contactless aren’t legal tender. But again, it makes no difference in everyday life.

TELLIT01

There are many archaic laws still on the statute book, that doesn't mean to say they are enforced or that they can't be repealed.  Very obviously the one referred to by the OP, if it ever existed is no longer enforced.  I would hate to have a situation where cash couldn't be used.  It's far too easy to lose or damage a payment card and then you are well and truly stuck.