Cashless society ?

[markcoznottz]

markcoznottz said:

gothatway said:

markcoznottz said:

gothatway said:

markcoznottz said:

As an aside how the hell do those places present thier accounts etc.

What problem does cash present when preparing accounts ?

Quite a lot when you can't establish how much has passed through the business, basically a work of fiction.

No issue at all; it's just a question of record keeping. Not difficult.

Been to a hand car wash recently? Lots of illegals (maybe) who can't understand each other, they don't have any h&s, cosshh safety sheets , contracts, tills, safety wear, high viz jackets, customer toilets, etc etc it just goes on and on, plus suspected modern slavery,wage theft, passport confiscation and unfit sleeping areas . Surely the worst run businesses since Victorian times.

I wasn't, I simply don't know how they get away with it, no other trade does.

[technodup]

wiggy001 said:

I was the same when you needed to enter a PIN, but with contactless it's quicker than paying by cash so preferable in every way.

Have you read the link above, about -ve interest rates once they do away with cash?

[gothatway]

Kermit power said:

I honestly can't remember the last time anyone told me they couldn't take a card payment, except for our window cleaner. With him, I have to get all old school and do an online bank transfer.

I had a piece of kit delivered today. The chap handed over the invoice (for a few thousand pounds), and when I remarked on there being no bank details he said "a cheque will be fine". Took me aback and ferreting around my desk drawers for the chequebook!

[Kermit power]

bigdog3 said:

Kermit power said:

I honestly can't remember the last time anyone told me they couldn't take a card payment, except for our window cleaner. With him, I have to get all old school and do an online bank transfer.

You're lucky he doesn't insist on cash or at least a cheque

He used to insist on cash, until he realised just how much time it was costing him. He'd always had to go back in the evening because so many people were at work when he was doing the windows during the day, but said it was getting to be a complete nightmare having to go back multiple times as few people have cash on them as a matter of routine any more and hardly anyone still has a cheque book.

Far easier for him to just sit down in his lounge and text customers to remind them it's time to transfer him a tenner!

[Thankyou4calling]

markcoznottz said:

I wasn't, I simply don't know how they get away with it, no other trade does.

How on earth would you know a hand car wash is employing illegal immigrants, has no h and s policy, no COSHH, no staff contracts, etc etc?

Do you have a working knowledge or are you simply guessing?

[magooagain]

When my business had to go Vat registered it was amazing how many clients wanted to do a cash deal.

[bad company]

magooagain said:

When my business had to go Vat registered it was amazing how many clients wanted to do a cash deal.

This. Our house is being painted this summer, they’ll want cash.

[Frimley111R]

markcoznottz said:

Been to a hand car wash recently? Lots of illegals (maybe) who can't understand each other, they don't have any h&s, cosshh safety sheets , contracts, tills, safety wear, high viz jackets, customer toilets, etc etc it just goes on and on, plus suspected modern slavery,wage theft, passport confiscation and unfit sleeping areas . Surely the worst run businesses since Victorian times.

I heard the opposite. Because it was assumed they are all doing the above car washes have to be squeaky clean financially. The ones near me all operate on major petrol station sites and I am sure the major oil companies don't overlook them in terms of H&S etc. Not sure why a car wash needs toilets though?

[bad company]

Frimley111R said:

Not sure why a car wash needs toilets though?

For the people working there. Do you go all day without a pee?

[Lemming Train]

Spare tyre said:

I always check the tray, out whatever is left behind in the machine then pay the rest by card

In fact that’s how I get rid of all my fiddly change

A simple but genius tip! I often find myself with a pocket full of coins but never enough to pay for my shopping so I just pay the whole lot on card and the coins remain in my pocket. I had completely forgotten that you can do split payments on them.

[foxbody-87]

I use my card for most transactions and admittedly it is very easy, but still don't fully trust the idea of a cashless society. At the risk of sounding like a bit of a tin-foil hatter, there is something comforting in knowing you have the option of spending money that isn't tracked (especially in times of ever-intrusive and ingenious marketing techniques). Cashless society would be a wet dream for a totalitarian regime as it would have full control of your spending. Banks love it essentially because it allows them to reduce costs and lay off branch staff.

[markcoznottz]

Thankyou4calling said:

markcoznottz said:

I wasn't, I simply don't know how they get away with it, no other trade does.

How on earth would you know a hand car wash is employing illegal immigrants, has no h and s policy, no COSHH, no staff contracts, etc etc?

Do you have a working knowledge or are you simply guessing?

Good working knowledge. A lot of the staff that used to work for me frequented these places. So not hearsay. Obviously some are worse than others, but if they aren't wearing safety gear, for example, they are breaking the law. Try doing that on a building site. I guess regarding illegals, the border agency don't have the staff given the number of sites.

[98elise]

wiggy001 said:

OzzyR1 said:

I'd also feel a bit of an arse buying a drink or a pack of chewing gum with a card but perhaps that's just me.

I was the same when you needed to enter a PIN, but with contactless it's quicker than paying by cash so preferable in every way.

Agreed,

Contactless has made cards easier and quicker to use than cash in every respect.

[bad company]

98elise said:

Agreed,

Contactless has made cards easier and quicker to use than cash in every respect.

£30 limit though.

[Kermit power]

markcoznottz said:

Thankyou4calling said:

markcoznottz said:

I wasn't, I simply don't know how they get away with it, no other trade does.

How on earth would you know a hand car wash is employing illegal immigrants, has no h and s policy, no COSHH, no staff contracts, etc etc?

Do you have a working knowledge or are you simply guessing?

Good working knowledge. A lot of the staff that used to work for me frequented these places. So not hearsay. Obviously some are worse than others, but if they aren't wearing safety gear, for example, they are breaking the law. Try doing that on a building site. I guess regarding illegals, the border agency don't have the staff given the number of sites.

Eh? What safety gear do you need to wash a car???

[Robertj21a]

markcoznottz said:

Thankyou4calling said:

markcoznottz said:

I wasn't, I simply don't know how they get away with it, no other trade does.

How on earth would you know a hand car wash is employing illegal immigrants, has no h and s policy, no COSHH, no staff contracts, etc etc?

Do you have a working knowledge or are you simply guessing?

Good working knowledge. A lot of the staff that used to work for me frequented these places. So not hearsay. Obviously some are worse than others, but if they aren't wearing safety gear, for example, they are breaking the law. Try doing that on a building site. I guess regarding illegals, the border agency don't have the staff given the number of sites.

I'm not sure many are actually 'illegals' - though many appear to be Bulgarian or Romanian with poor English skills. As far as I'm aware, under EU rules, these are perfectly entitled to be here.

[J4CKO]

bad company said:

98elise said:

Agreed,

Contactless has made cards easier and quicker to use than cash in every respect.

£30 limit though.

True but most purchases are sub thirty quid, or at least a lot are and the more you spend the more of a check/security you want.

Does feel wrong to us using a card to pay for small purchases, think it was Paul Calf (The Steve Coogan Character) that got annoyed at "A student paying for a bag of chips with a cheque" and it feels similar but obviously its much quicker and its becoming second nature, I love not having to faff about with change.

[Thankyou4calling]

markcoznottz said:

Good working knowledge. A lot of the staff that used to work for me frequented these places. So not hearsay. Obviously some are worse than others, but if they aren't wearing safety gear, for example, they are breaking the law. Try doing that on a building site. I guess regarding illegals, the border agency don't have the staff given the number of sites.

There’s no legal requirement to wear safety equipment or clothing when working at a hand car wash so no law broken.

[captain_cynic]

Robertj21a said:

I'm not sure many are actually 'illegals' - though many appear to be Bulgarian or Romanian with poor English skills. As far as I'm aware, under EU rules, these are perfectly entitled to be here.

This. Unlike the building industry there aren't any requirements for qualifications, tickets or certification to do anything more than a stkicker's job (I.E. move bags of concrete around). So you can really just get any Bulgarian or Romanian to do the job with minimal training.

Although I'm pretty convinced that laws regarding minimum wages, unfair dismissal, et al. are being skirted. Immigration not so much, all they have to do (at least for now) is present an EU passport or ID. Not sure how they can all afford to smoke at least 2 fags an hour though (importation/trade in untaxed tobacco maybe).

[okgo]

bad company said:

£30 limit though.

Not with Apple Pay. Means I barely ever even carry a wallet now. It's great.