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Will yesterday's fiasco make supermarkets change their cards only policy?

(54 Posts)
mum2three Sun 02-Feb-25 10:18:24

Yesterday, Barclays Bank had an IT breakdown and no customers had access to money. People in supermarkets were unable to pay for their groceries. If all those customers then went to another grocery store to buy what they needed, I wonder how much money the supermarkets lost.
Will this put an end to the intention to abolish cash?

Casdon Sun 02-Feb-25 17:51:47

I think it caused many people a major problem because for them 31st January was the first payday since Christmas, and it was on a Friday, so affected millions of weekly paid workers too. I can imagine how people had run their food stocks down to the bone and desperately needed to stock up this weekend, because many people have no savings to fall back on.

grandMattie Mon 03-Feb-25 12:00:26

Hymnbook

I shall change my bank if Barclays buy Santander.
I've been with Santander since 1979
When we had our butchers shop Barclays did not treat us well they'd weren't helpful at all.

When I worked in a bank in the 70s, Barclays were notoriously difficult to deal with!
On not changed then…

petra Mon 03-Feb-25 12:06:01

Hymnbook

I shall change my bank if Barclays buy Santander.
I've been with Santander since 1979
When we had our butchers shop Barclays did not treat us well they'd weren't helpful at all.

My beef with Barclays goes back to the 70s.
I too will shut the 3 accounts.

Casdon Mon 03-Feb-25 12:08:32

Me too. I’ve been with Santander since they took over A&L, and I can’t fault them. There’s no way I’m transferring to Barclays.

Barleyfields Mon 03-Feb-25 12:17:58

I have been with Barclays since I first opened a bank account. So has my husband. Never had any problem whatsoever with them, and in fact when I was going through a very difficult time they were understanding, supportive and helpful.

They are not the only bank to have had an IT glitch like this and they won’t be the last. Of course if you don’t want to carry enough money for a big supermarket shop, and I wouldn’t want to, there’s always the good old fashioned cheque if the shop will take one.

It’s a salutary lesson not to leave paying your tax at the eleventh hour, nor to agree to moving house on a Friday.

Landloper Mon 03-Feb-25 12:18:33

Cash is King! I use shops and pubs that accept cash. Those that don't accept cash can do wothout my custom. [The last time I had a problem was in a pub. I ordered a round of drinks then when it came time to pay I offered cash. The barman snootily said, 'We don't do cash, it is the 21st century after all.'

Barleyfields Mon 03-Feb-25 12:21:03

Do you stop to think about the safety of the staff of the staff who have to take the cash to the bank, or those living over the shop if there’s a break-in?

TerriBull Mon 03-Feb-25 12:29:24

I thought all supermarkets take cash and so they should. Restaurants often don't take cash, Cote always remind customers of that. Like most I got out of the habit of using cash during Covid, but
I hope cash doesn't become obsolete that could become a massive disadvantage to many.

I bank with Barclays, as yet, haven't had a problem.

Cambia Mon 03-Feb-25 12:36:11

If shops refuse cash, I shop elsewhere. It is our legal currency after all. I do use cards of course but you should always be given a choice. Once we are a cashless society, they will introduce charges for using cards no doubt!

keepingquiet Mon 03-Feb-25 12:44:02

I use both- but sometimes the cash machines don't work either...maybe back to mattress bank?

Barleyfields Mon 03-Feb-25 13:10:35

I use both, but wouldn’t want to be seen peeling notes off a big wad. Foolhardy in the extreme.

David49 Mon 03-Feb-25 13:20:15

Barleyfields

I use both, but wouldn’t want to be seen peeling notes off a big wad. Foolhardy in the extreme.

It’s not just the Cash Machines the scanners and tills are also connected online a breakdown or power cut stops everything working.

Barleyfields Mon 03-Feb-25 13:32:18

I think we all know that!

wibblywobblywobblebottom Mon 03-Feb-25 14:31:23

My supermarket takes cards and cash. If there is some sort of IT problem they take cash only or other cards besides the cards affected by IT problem.

petra Mon 03-Feb-25 14:59:35

fancythat
And it depends on whether they have a work pension or not
Not always. We were able to retire in 2004. My partner was 55 and I was 58.

Barleyfields Mon 03-Feb-25 15:41:03

Some people have made their money and have plenty of savings. Someone who has been self employed won’t have an occupational pension and they may not have invested in a private pension.

Catterygirl Mon 03-Feb-25 20:55:18

Cash is King. Ask Bank of Dave and even Martin Lewis. I use card payments sometimes and know how it works and I prefer cash as I know what is going on.

Barleyfields Mon 03-Feb-25 21:20:41

The saying ‘cash is king’ has nothing to do with notes and coins.

Maribr Tue 04-Feb-25 09:26:56

Primrose yes the trades you mentioned prefer cash , unfortunately much of which will go straight into their pockets a not be declared to HMRC .

flappergirl Tue 04-Feb-25 09:32:46

I shop at Tesco, Asda, Waitrose and sometimes Morrisons, depending on how I feel and what I want. All of those stores still take cash without question. I also use smaller local stores like the chemist, convenience store and greengrocers and they all take cash too. Additionally I go out for pub/restaurant lunches to a variety of places and they don't raise an eyebrow at cash. I don't go to Starbucks or fast food places, so maybe they have stopped as their selling point is fast service.

Mt61 Tue 04-Feb-25 16:28:26

TerriBull

I thought all supermarkets take cash and so they should. Restaurants often don't take cash, Cote always remind customers of that. Like most I got out of the habit of using cash during Covid, but
I hope cash doesn't become obsolete that could become a massive disadvantage to many.

I bank with Barclays, as yet, haven't had a problem.

Our local restaurant wanted card payment but a tip payed in cash 🙄

Barleyfields Tue 04-Feb-25 16:30:28

Ah well, HMRC have a way of estimating how much people receive in tips.

Mt61 Tue 04-Feb-25 16:35:09

An older lady in our local Sainsburys was trying to pay for groceries with cash, the young lady behind the till was tut- tutting 🙄 I said you treated that person like they were committing a crime, well she said, she’s holding up the queue!
it’s no crime to want to pay with cash, I said. I left my trolly & walked out in disgust.

Mt61 Tue 04-Feb-25 16:36:32

Barleyfields

Ah well, HMRC have a way of estimating how much people receive in tips.

How would they know that? not everyone pays a tip, especially young people.

Barleyfields Tue 04-Feb-25 16:52:18

They have some formula they use. The taxpayer can always challenge it. You never know if the diner or person having a haircut is an undercover tax inspector. They also have ways of estimating how much prostitutes earn, how they get that information I have no idea!