Cash payments for transport services

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Shops and services may have to be forced to accept cash in the future to help protect vulnerable people who rely on it, MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) have said.

A Treasury Committee report into cash acceptance stopped short of recommending a change in the law, but said the government had to improve its monitoring of the issue.

"There may come a time in the future where it becomes necessary for HM Treasury to mandate cash acceptance if appropriate safeguards have not been implemented for those who need physical cash," the report said.

Some countries, such as Australia or parts of the EU^» (European Union - about), are planning requirements to accept cash for essential services in some circumstances.

[PhilWakely]

I am surprised at the number of customers who take cash out of a brown envelope to pay for their goods today.

[ChrisB]

Those that refuse cash shouldn't then be allowed to accept it during power outages - either you do or you don't, 100%. No changing to suit....but I voted that everyone should accept cash 100%

[Ralph Ayres]

Those that refuse cash shouldn't then be allowed to accept it during power outages - either you do or you don't, 100%. No changing to suit....but I voted that everyone should accept cash 100%

I suspect that other than very small outlets they would probably throw in the towel and shut up shop anyway.  Their stock control systems and tills would rely on that same power supply, few staff members would be able to add up prices in their head or even on paper, and they probably wouldn't have the capacity to store/bank large volumes of cash.  Then there's the lights and heating/cooling not working and so on.

[GBM]

As a now ex bus driver, most of us hated cash!
Have to pay in the exact amount every night when your shift ends.
A large queue at the paying in machine many times.
On some very popular summer routes, a driver could easily pay in upwards of £500, frequently £750 plus.
Drivers didn't get paid overtime for paying in such amounts.
A few of us claimed!

[Mark A]

Driving the bus, managing the other traffic on the road, managing the public, dealing with cash transactions, handling a float, balancing the books and putting the takings into the system - and all that with little opportunity for physical exercise. One of society's more taxing jobs, and underappreciated too.

Mark

[Witham Bobby]

Cash is important

Whatever your politics, everyone needs to be wary of those who seek to rule.  Maybe you're okay with the present government.  But it needs to be remembered that those we elect, if they were so minded, could introduce digital ID and/or a central bank digital currency.  It would be only a small step from there for a malign government to decide that, for example, you cant travel for more than 15 minutes from your home, or that your carbon allowance has already been used this month and you can't travel at all.

Fanciful?  Conspiracy theorist stuff?  Well, who would have foreseen that, just because Boris Johnson's government (and he one who purported to lean towards individual freedoms) told the nation to stay indoors for months except for "permitted purposes", there was almost universal meek compliance

Cash is important

The government has no right to decide how you should legally spend your legally gained earnings.  Giving up cash yields too much power to authority.