Is A Cashless Society Feasible?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43645676
I see the Olivers are giving it a go but a lot of older people are struggling. Oddly enough I only use cash in places like bars and cafes etc but it would not be much of a leap to go cashless. I know that Gregorys are on the way out but do you think bangers and mash will follow?

[Buenchico]

>>> I don't think many beggars accept cards, also

Some Big Issue sellers now do though.

[Jackdaw33]

The only time I use cash is to pay my cleaner. I have on occasions paid her by BACS but I don't want her to get into trouble with the taxman.

[bhg481]

spath // It would require everyone to have a bank account //

Doesn't everyone now? All companies I know of insist you are paid into a bank account, all benefits, pensions etc paid into a bank account.

[andres]

Nothing will be private in a few years time. Everything we do will be recorded in electronic transactions. Where we are ,what we are spending etc.

[Mamyalynne]

There would need to be easier and freer access to cards for the child to learn to manage their own money, there are a few now but not enough.

[Garaman]

Why on earth is it feasible for a child to carry money, but not feasible for a child to carry a smart card on which you have put money?

[hc4361]

You give your child a GoHenry card.
https://www.gohenry.co.uk

[Jackdaw33]

I may be wrong here, but I believe that bank cards for under 18s are strictly for cash withdrawal and cannot be used in shops or online.

[rockyracoon]

Jackdaw, you're wrong. My kids have had debit cards for ages. They use it to buy stuff from Amazon and ebay etc, and also in the shops. If my daughter goes out for lunch with friends, I transfer a few quid into her account to pay for it.

[Baldric]

///I don't think many beggars accept cards///

Not a problem, we never give anything to Beggars, even if they have a cute dog.

[andres]

Rocky--How old are your children.?Spath is probably meaning very young kids.

[Garaman]

We are not just talking about bank cards, Spath, we are talking about cash cards. You wouldn't need a bank account, and if you lose it you've lost it, just like cash. Mondex did a lot of work on this twenty years or so ago. They were too far ahead of the game, and now there are probably better ways of doing it.

You buy a cash card, transfer whatever you want onto it, the same way you would draw cash out of your account. Maybe now though you would have the option of transferring it onto a card, or having an app on the phone that does the same job.

[Garaman]

//Sorry Garaman i don't see the point.. A bank card sounds even safer than these "cash cards". //

Bloomin 'eck, Spath, you have just explained the point yourself in previous posts. Of course bank cards would be safer, and you could pay with them, but if someone didn't have a bank account you could transfer money to a cash card, the same way you could give them cash.