Don’t Kill Cash Petition

vintage1950

What about craft markets, small stallholders, local societies? Most of them at least prefer cash, because signals are often hard to establish and they have to pay for the device, much more of a fiddle than simply taking cash.

All of the above where I live (Sweden) take card or Swish(a cash transfer app on mobile phones) and have done for years. I've bought everything from cheese to Santas made from pine branches using card ... come to think of it - it was cashless at the pensioners' association plant sale and the year 6 bake sale as well.

My daughters' look at me as though I'm a sad person when I ask if we should take out cash although I do keep a tin of money for emergencies

Germanshepherdsmum

I think you need some advice from an accountant Primrose. You have a very casual attitude to the way you make money, and the provenance of the cash you’re paid with.

And you have a very patronising attitude! I don’t need an accountant because I am not “making money” by selling my own unwanted belongings.

Really?

NotAGran55

I would always be suspicious of anyone who wanted to pay or be paid in large amounts of cash.

some groups like to pay in cash for weddings, funerals, horses, cars and so on

Primrose53

NotAGran55

Primrose in our business I would consider £750 + dubious if one of the trades wanted to pay their bill to us in cash. We do reluctantly accept it but it is a pain in the neck.

Really? Wouldn’t bother us at all. At least it’s a bill paid. We would rather that than a non payer.

Yes, really. We run a legitimate business and don’t want to be associated with other’s dodgy dealings.
There is no reason why a tradesman would need to withdraw cash from a business account to pay a supplier. Their accountant would not condone it.

karmalady

NotAGran55

I would always be suspicious of anyone who wanted to pay or be paid in large amounts of cash.

some groups like to pay in cash for weddings, funerals, horses, cars and so on

Luckily we don’t trade in any of those areas! 😅

Germanshepherdsmum

How else would you have expected to be alerted?

The message was on my answerphone at home.

Cold
That works well when you have good internet connection. I m going to a concert at Sandringham next month. They have sent print at home tickets because the signal there is not reliable.
Not sure how that works for the traders.
If the King can’t guarantee connectivity then is there any hope for the rest of us?

Both signed here although I'm guilty of nearly always using my card but people should have a choice.

I am mindful that not everyone is comfortable with a cashless society.

What about the joy of young children saving up their money in a piggy bank and then going to the toy shop to spend it?

Young children popping to the sweet shop with their pocket money from parents or grandparents?

I am aware that there are now cards targeted at children which can be loaded with money, but these cards have hefty charges which add up if there is more than one child in the and money is tight for families now…

The only time I use cash is when I do my supermarket shop. I get change and then I can put that in my various tins for saving 20p and 50p
I really don’t want to go cashless, but it’s down the line and it’s heading to us…🤷‍♀️

I sympathise with businesses refusing cash, particularly small businesses. As banks are closing, it is becoming more and more difficult to pay cash in. There are longer journeys carrying the cash and that becomes a safety problem, as does storing large sums of money until able to get it to the bank.

Having said that, I also feel for those who, for whatever reason, cannot or would rather not use cards. Cheques are rarely an option now either.

I’m with GSM here primrose. I don’t think she’s being patronising at all but seems to me she knows exactly what she’s talking about. You can’t move with large wads of cash ( I mean travel ) without authorities wanting to know the ins and outs ….
It’s just a fact these days.

Nicenanny3

Both signed here although I'm guilty of nearly always using my card but people should have a choice.

Same here - we went to a large 3 day festival in a field last year, and the internet connection was poor. Everyone had been told it was to be a cashless event - luckily we had some cash on us, enough to buy food & drink, and weren't camping there!

*VBOOO *Some toilets we went in it was 40p I only had two 20pences (I always try to have a couple) so my husband said you go anyway turns out you could use your card lol how times have changed using your bank card to have a wee 😊

I'm not resistant to change - so, like others, rarely carry cash or have a need for it. I keep a coin box in the house for tips or ice creams - and that's it. I can't think of any reason to carry it with me as I take my credit and debit cards about. Maybe some people just need to get with the times?

Im involved in the antiques trade where cash is still widely accepted at antiques fairs and markets, although most of us are also set up for card or other cashless payments. Try paying by card at a car boot sale! hahaha

I agree with GSM that the petition is poorly worded but I would not like to see cash disappear and doubt if it will in my lifetime. As for small businesses most post offices allow you to pay in cash for a main bank account so I dont see a problem there. I would prefer to see a petition which makes it compulsary to accept cash as a payment method.

It must be very difficult to manage without cash if you are homeless or have very little money. Cash can still be widely used in the supermarket, on public transport, and for paying other people who do jobs for you.

dogsmother

I’m with GSM here primrose. I don’t think she’s being patronising at all but seems to me she knows exactly what she’s talking about. You can’t move with large wads of cash ( I mean travel ) without authorities wanting to know the ins and outs ….
It’s just a fact these days.

No she doesn’t know what she’s talking about in this instance. If you sell your own car or anything else of your own for that matter you do not have to report it to HMRC. Ridiculous suggestion.

There was a company up here recently asking for gold, broken watches, old banknotes, medals etc. I took some stuff I didn’t want any more and got £150. It’s my stuff and nothing to do with the tax man.

Primrose
If you are selling possessions obviously you need to consider capital gains tax. You can’t simply say it’s never necessary to declare such transactions. I do make capital gains from time to time so please don’t suggest I don’t know what I’m talking about. Regardless of tax implications, I still say that insisting on paying £1500 in cash for a mattress is not the norm. Whatever you may think, most people would consider having big bundles of notes odd, even suspicious. People who deal in cash frequently do so because it’s not easy to trace.

For many reasons, it's essential that we keep cash as a viable payment option. I believe that Which? are also running a campaign.

I've signed the petition.

Well most things that I sell certainly haven’t made any gains. It’s usually when a local charity holds a table top sale and they go for next to nothing.
Whilst what GSD says about capital gains may have some merit I can just see the Inland Revenue being totally delighted to hear from me reporting that I’ve just made a couple of hundred £ on a table I bought 4years ago from an auction. They are another service that can’t cope with their workload.
If I was selling a painting for a few hundred thousand more than I paid for it then it would be a matter for my accountant.
If I was selling lots of things on a regular basis I think it could be perceived that I was running a small business. A totally different thing.

You have an annual allowance of £6k of capital gains before tax kicks in and you can carry unused amounts of allowance forward to the next year so for most of us any increase in value of an asset between acquisition and disposal won’t be taxable.
You’re absolutely right that a regular pattern of buying and selling can be trading which is a totally different thing and professional advice is needed if you’re doing that.

Callistemon21

^When there is an event in our church it is cash only.^

Will the collection plate be changed to a card machine?

Already happening in Paris!

biglouis I agree with GSM that the petition is poorly worded but I would not like to see cash disappear and doubt if it will in my lifetime. As for small businesses most post offices allow you to pay in cash for a main bank account so I dont see a problem there. I would prefer to see a petition which makes it compulsary to accept cash as a payment method.

It must be very difficult to manage without cash if you are homeless or have very little money. Cash can still be widely used in the supermarket, on public transport, and for paying other people who do jobs for you.

I'd dislike cash to disappear for a myriad of reasons.

Plus how would we give little gifts to GC, they love cash?

Here in the countryside, people sell a few excess eggs or fruit / veg outside their homes for next to nothing when they have a glut. I am sure that they are making no profit as such. No one would bother doing this with the hassle of card or phone payment. What a shame it would be to lose an old tradition like this if cash disappeared.