Cashless bus services.

[Deerfold]

Not on the occasion when such a ticket is being purchased.

No, but it will on the other 39 (or more) occasions when it's used.

Though even better to be bought off-board.

 

[Bletchleyite]

No, but it will on the other 39 (or more) occasions when it's used.

Though even better to be bought off-board.

One thing that would be worthy of thought with these would be making them 8 (or 6) day tickets. One of the problems with a 7 day ticket is that almost everyone buys it on a Monday morning. Making it an odd length would mean it would be more spread out through the week.

 

[Mayvelline]

OK I'm new here. so I may just be headed for a baptism of fire, but what the heck.

So. I've been following Stagecoach's latest attempt at antidiversity for the last couple of days.
If I may say --with just a couple of notable exceptions - the overwhelmingly callous, and even downright cruel, attitudes displayed to those who may not be living an absolutely ideal life, or just need a bit of a helping hand, is literally astounding to me.

Does anybody spend more than two seconds wondering what life must be like if you are struggling with a disability. Particularly if you have been made disabled in the last 3 years or so? Any idea what hoops you are required to jump through, with a health service who just a few short years ago spent an estim. £300 million in little over a month, urging healthy people to 'Act As If'. Telling them if you were healthy, you must 'pretend'to have a life threatening illness. Now, said health service will quite likely deny your disability. Tell someone who is partially paralyzed, that they might be imagining things.
In several documented cases, nurses will turn their backs on patients and walk away, rather than answer those desperately asking searching questions.
Any idea how long it takes to be documented, and receive a proper assessment?
So No.
Many people struggling with debilitating issues will not simply just get a disabled contactless bus pass. Life doesn't work like that for a lot of folks. For most of you here, I am glad that you clearly don't have to navigate life like this and that you are sailing along smoothly. But would it kill you to think of others.?

I see at least one poster did show support for students. Many of the ones I work with, again, will be excluded from using buses for the forseeable if this act by Stagecoach goes ahead. Some are British some are from across Europe or Asia. A number are from ethnic minorities; now personally I wouldn't have said it is a good look to stand for something that persecutes even one person from a minority group. but, perhaps that's just me.

It is also clear that many of you will not have to navigate a trauma of violence or abuse. though statistically speaking, you may well know someone, or end up knowing someone, who does. With the aid of some simple tools easily available if you know where to look and not an awful lot of money, digital payments can be traced in moments. Meaning for those attempting to escape a desperate situation, cash is their life in their hands. Literally.
For most of you here, I am glad that you clearly don't have to navigate life like this and that you are sailing along smoothly. But it would be nice of you to care. just one little bit..?

Oh and for those who mention TFL - they are not cashless. Most people, at least in my experience, and from what I witness every time I'm at a major London train station, appear to use cash payments via their oyster cards. Bearing in mind the level of theft and fraud related to Oyster is est. to be 8-figures annually; and bearing in mind that to steal an oyster card nowadays there is not necessarily any requirement for the card to physically be in the fraudster's hand..

Excluding others from a priority service that they rely on, is neither tolerant or diverse. It is wrong.
Anyone who professes to care about equality and diversity should be up in arms at this.
But I have my doubts they will. Because it is so much easier to constantly pontificate: 'tolerance, diversity, equality! hashtag bekind!' rather than, y'know, show your commitment to kindness and equality. by your actions.

 

[Starmill]

I really don't see what diversity has to do with cash.

 

[JGurney]

I really don't see what diversity has to do with cash.

The connection is in recognising that going cashless does create more difficulties for some than for others. Examples include:

• People on very tight budgets, for whom it is risky to use cards when they cannot keep track of current available balances (see my points about this upthread)
• People with learning difficulties who struggle with abstractions, who can be perfectly capable of handling money as cash (physical objects) but not as numbers on screens or paper. (In Piaget's terms, are competent at concrete mental operations but not at formal ones). Another effect of the same limitation is being unable to grasp negative numbers.

 

[plugwash]

I would suggest that the proportion of people staying at airport hotels who do not have a credit or debit card (and basically all of them* have contactless now) is going to be 0%, particularly when you take into account Apple/Google Pay as well.

Having a credit or Debit card is not the same as having a Contactless Visa or Mastercard (or maybe AMEX, but I think other than TfL that is rarely accepted). Many countries have their own card networks with limited international penatration. Some countries are even completely forbidden from participating in US-centric networks like Visa and Mastercard. Some countries have more contactless penatration then others.

And sometimes cards just don't work abroad even though, according to the logos on the card they should.

So I am sure there will be passengers passing through heathrow and Gatwick who do not have a Contactless card that is compatible with public transport services in the UK.

 

[BlueLeanie]

People on very tight budgets, for whom it is risky to use cards when they cannot keep track of current available balances (see my points about this upthread)

This keeps getting thrown about.

It's utter nonsense. A vulnerable person going around with cash on their person is at far greater risk than by carrying a card.

They are also self-excluding from all kinds of offers and discounts. Why would someone on a low income choose not to have a 5% discount on all their Tesco purchases, 8% discount on all their Waitrose purchases, 12% discount on Amazon Fresh deliveries, 10% off journeys on TfL, LNER, or TfW?

And low income people take holidays too. A £350 rebate when you spend £700 on United flights gave our office cleaner a trip of a lifetime.

The big problem is that some people just want to keep low income people down, make them feel inadequate, as if they only deserve to use cash.

A good person would be helping someone empower themselves.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Also, with mobile phone apps and cheques no longer really being a thing, you can easily keep track of your account balance, much more easily in fact than counting cash in your wallet.

The cash-only technophobic person with a severe intellectual disability but who travels internationally totally unaccompanied is starting to sound a bit like the Forum "Standard Minority" these days, i.e. a barely existent theoretical person who has all 9 protected characteristics. That is, that person doesn't really exist. And if they do, they probably aren't going to be mucking around with the complexity of buses, they'll take a black cab, where cash is accepted (indeed preferred, due to the ability to dodge tax).

As for the person who travels internationally without bothering to type into Google what they need to get around at their destination, they do exist but they're just foolish and can enjoy their comeuppance for failing to do basic research (which takes seconds and can easily be done while wasting time at the origin airport) with none of my sympathy whatsoever.

 

[PeterC]

The cash-only technophobic person with a severe intellectual disability but who travels internationally totally unaccompanied is starting to sound a bit like the Forum "Standard Minority" these days, i.e. a barely existent theoretical person who has all 9 protected characteristics.

Who will have been given a bundle of £50 notes by their bureau de change. Try changing one if those for a £3 bus fare.

 

[Haywain]

Having a credit or Debit card is not the same as having a Contactless Visa or Mastercard (or maybe AMEX, but I think other than TfL that is rarely accepted). Many countries have their own card networks with limited international penatration. Some countries are even completely forbidden from participating in US-centric networks like Visa and Mastercard. Some countries have more contactless penatration then others.

And sometimes cards just don't work abroad even though, according to the logos on the card they should.

So I am sure there will be passengers passing through heathrow and Gatwick who do not have a Contactless card that is compatible with public transport services in the UK.

If you are visiting another country it really is your own duty to ensure that you have the means of paying for goods and services. And in terms of public transport it really isn’t a secret, and shouldn’t come as a surprise to a visitor, that London buses don’t take cash.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If you are visiting another country it really is your own duty to ensure that you have the means of paying for goods and services. And in terms of public transport it really isn’t a secret, and shouldn’t come as a surprise to a visitor, that London buses don’t take cash.

And while some countries might not have contactless as we do on standard bank cards or might have a charging structure for foreign exchange that makes the cost of using the home country card expensive, there are lots of options like prepaid travel cards.

In 2025, just rocking up to a country with cash is inadvisable.

 

[JGurney]

It's utter nonsense.

It is the reported experience of a friend in that position, and the reasons she gives for her view appear logical. Certainly when I have tried to persuade her of the advantages of using a debit card she has always replied that she would be frightened of accidently overspending. Given that she is discussing her own situation and I am only looking in from outside, I think her views should be given some credence.

A vulnerable person going around with cash on their person is at far greater risk than by carrying a card.

I tend to agree. She disagrees. Part of the issue is that being unused to cards, etc, she has an exaggerated fear of fraud, and does not trust my attempts to reassure her, saying that "it's different for you" and "it wouldn't work like that for me".

a 5% discount on all their Tesco purchases, 8% discount on all their Waitrose purchases, 10% off journeys on TfL, LNER, or TfW?

I do not seem to obtain any of those despite routinely using debit or credit cards for all those.

And low income people take holidays too. A £350 rebate when you spend £700 on United flights gave our office cleaner a trip of a lifetime.

I think my friend being referred to would reply that this is irrelevant to her as she does not plan to fly anywhere.

The big problem is that some people just want to keep low income people down, make them feel inadequate, as if they only deserve to use cash. A good person would be helping someone empower themselves.

If that is meant as a indirect attack on me, as it appears since it is a response to my post, I think you should add some supporting evidence.

 

[johncrossley]

I do not seem to obtain any of those despite routinely using debit or credit cards for all those.

There are various ways of getting discounts at major retailers. For example, employee discount schemes such as BenefitHub, cashback offered by certain banks when routinely using debit and credit cards, the Uber app offering 5% off train tickets and online cashback sites such as Topcashback. You miss out on these offers when paying in person using cash.

 

[Haywain]

There are various ways of getting discounts at major retailers. For example, employee discount schemes such as BenefitHub, cashback offered by certain banks when routinely using debit and credit cards, the Uber app offering 5% off train tickets and online cashback sites such as Topcashback. You miss out on these offers when paying in person using cash.

It would appear that some of us miss out on these when paying by card as well.

 

[JGurney]

It would appear that some of us miss out on these when paying by card as well.

Quite. My own impression is that they don't amount to much. I was in an employee discount scheme at work for years (Perkbox). They kept sending me emails about discounts on things I didn't want to buy, or which turned out to be tiny or to be very restrictive. Lots of stuff like 5% off at a restaurant chain but only for 3-course meals for 2. I think in four years I once got £3 off a Nat Exp fare, but that only applied to travel on Tues, Weds & Thurs once I got at the small print behind the hype.

I've not seen anything on the scale of 10% off LNER fares

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've not seen anything on the scale of 10% off LNER fares

Monzo has for a few weeks offered 5% cash back on LNER (any journey booked through them regardless of TOC etc). It seems to come and go. Trainline also very occasionally features.

 

[johncrossley]

My own impression is that they don't amount to much. I was in an employee discount scheme at work for years (Perkbox).

How long ago was that? According to:

How to save up to 8% off your supermarket shop every week using employee discount schemes

Millions of employees could be eligible for discounted gift cards for supermarkets and other major retailers via their workplaces, usually at 3%-10% off. Systematically use them for all your shopping and you could save £100s a year.

www.moneysavingexpert.com

Perkbox currently offer between 4% and 5% off supermarket shopping. Isn't that worth having? I suppose if you consider cashless buses unfair, then you could argue that these discounts are unfair, as people who don't have access to these schemes have to pay more, including everyone paying in cash. Chase has cut their cashback offer recently but they still offer 1% cashback on "everyday transport", which includes trains and local buses. That means people who pay their bus fare using the Chase debit card are currently paying 1% less than people paying cash. Is that acceptable?

 

[asw22]

I currently have one account at two different banks. In Nov 2024, both issued me a replacement contactless debit card. One of the cards has only worked in that bank's own cash machines but not other Link machines. The card works contactless for a while but when prompted for a PIN the card machines don't recognise the CHIP. The bank have confirmed that the CHIP looks worn and needs replacement (which is odd given that the other bank card has been used much more with no issues and both are only a few months old).

It got me thinking that technology isn't 100% reliable (cards can fail, phones get flat batteries, usually at the most inconvenient time), so don't we need some sort of safety net (cash) for when technology / things don't work?

 

[JGurney]

Perkbox currently offer between 4% and 5% off supermarket shopping. Isn't that worth having?

ISTR it was 3% at Tesco's then, but it wasn't just filling in a simple form and getting 3% off whenever I used my credit card. I think it involved a long application form which then had to go via HR to confirm I still worked there, to get a prepaid card valid in Tesco only, loaded with £100 for actually paying £97, which should arrive in the post within 3 weeks. At the time, between the complicated form and the inconvenience of exchanging £97 I could spend on anything anytime for £100 that I could only spend at Tesco starting in 3 weeks time, it did not seem worth it for £3. Now, when I have much more time in hand for form filling, it could be more attractive, but I'm not in Perkbox now.

I suppose if you consider cashless buses unfair,

I don't. Cashless buses themselves are a good idea. I think there should be some consideration given to avoiding their having unintended disadvantages for marginal groups.

Chase .... l offer 1% cashback on "everyday transport", which includes trains and local buses. That means people who pay their bus fare using the Chase debit card are currently paying 1% less than people paying cash. Is that acceptable?

It sounds interesting, and I had never heard of it. I wonder if it applies to buying bus passes or just single fares? I also wonder why they have not done some targeted advertising on buses and trains, as that looks an obvious market. However I see on their website this is only for the first year for new customers, not permanent. As it is a debit card presumably it would be necessary to open up a current account with them to get it, and they probably want an income paid into that. If it was a standalone credit card, and esp. if the 1% was permanent, it would be a lot more interesting, but transferring my main current account from my existing bank to Chase for 1% of one year's bus and train fares doesn't really appeal.

 

[Starmill]

The connection is in recognising that going cashless does create more difficulties for some than for others. Examples include:

• People on very tight budgets, for whom it is risky to use cards when they cannot keep track of current available balances (see my points about this upthread)
• People with learning difficulties who struggle with abstractions, who can be perfectly capable of handling money as cash (physical objects) but not as numbers on screens or paper. (In Piaget's terms, are competent at concrete mental operations but not at formal ones). Another effect of the same limitation is being unable to grasp negative numbers.

These just boil down to economic financial exclusion and education though don't they? And many posters here have already pointed out many times that these are important issues to recognise and solve. However, they're for the government to solve, using public money. They aren't for bus operators to deal with the consequences of. We can't keep cash forever just because of these issues, it's simply not a good solution for the people affected.

 

[BlueLeanie]

I do not seem to obtain any of those despite routinely using debit or credit cards for all those.

It's all down to your lifestyle choices. I get offers on Perks At Work, EdenRed, Vivup and others via current and former employer reward schemes (always remember to change your email address to your personal address before you leave!). There's usually staff discounts, and the opportunity to purchase gift cards at discounted prices, heavily discounted Avanti fares for Public Sector workers are fantastic, especially with combined with Avanti Cashback on Barclaycard.

In addition, I have rebate schemes on Debit & Credit cards with Virgin Money, Halifax, MBNA, Barclaycard, Santander, and of course American Express!

In parallel with those I have card-linkage schemes with Perks at Work, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, and the amazing Airtime Rewards (today 10% on Boots and 5% on Tesco are my specials).

I've probably missed some, obviously I use TCB, and Quidco too. Best not to forget Union member favourite Pluxee. With more sense than money, I do my utmost to save every £1 here and there.

Will happily go through and list every card offer if requested, but I suspect that would test the patience of other members, so here are the current Lloyds offers, there is often a cap on the offer.

Active Offers, 70

Argos -5%
Sainsbury's - 5%
Rentalcars - 5%
Hotels . com - 5%
Expedia . com - 4%
Madame Tussauds - 10%
Uber - 15%
Ninja - 10%
TU - 10% (online only)
Legoland - 10%
Frankie & Benny's - 10%
Ring - 15% (online only)
London Eye - 10%
Brewer's Fayre - 10%
Sky Mobile - £30
Morrisons - 15% (online only)
Morrisons, Iceland, Co-op on Amazon - 12%
The Dungeons - 10%
Sealife - 10%
Las Igaunas - 10%
Beefeater - 10%
Amazon Fresh - 12%
Shrek's Adventure - 10%
Waitrose & Partners - 8%
Legoland - 10%
Cote Brasserie - 10%
Fenwick - 10%
Holland & Barret - 10%
Shark - 10% (online only)
Laithwaites - 15%
Pixel 9 Pro or Pro XL - 5%
Trip . com - 5%
Holiday Extras - 5%
Majestic Wine - 10%
Giftable - 5%
Lastminute . com - 4%
Sykes Cottage - 5%
Leon - 10%
LNER - 10%
Yo! - 8%
Avis - 5%
Brewdog - 10%
P&O Ferries 8%
Panasonic - 10%
Halfords - 4%
Not on the High Street - 8%
Weird Fish - 10%
Just Eat - 7%
QPark - 10%
Intrepid Travel - 4%
Deliveroo - 7%
JLab - 5%
Averys - 15%
Apex Hotels - 10%
QVC - 10%
MyProtein - 10%
Michael Kors - 10%
Gillette - 5%
Mattress Online - 9%
End - 10%
Viator - 5%
The Telegraph - £15
LookFantastic - 10%
Loop Earplugs - 8%
Neals Yard - 10%
Harvey Nichols 5%
Wish - 10%
Gousto - 10%
Abbott Lyon - 15%

 

[JGurney]

These just boil down to economic financial exclusion and education though don't they? And many posters here have already pointed out many times that these are important issues to recognise and solve. However, they're for the government to solve, using public money. They aren't for bus operators to deal with the consequences of. We can't keep cash forever just because of these issues, it's simply not a good solution for the people affected.

All sound points.

 

[johncrossley]

ISTR it was 3% at Tesco's then, but it wasn't just filling in a simple form and getting 3% off whenever I used my credit card. I think it involved a long application form which then had to go via HR to confirm I still worked there, to get a prepaid card valid in Tesco only, loaded with £100 for actually paying £97, which should arrive in the post within 3 weeks. At the time, between the complicated form and the inconvenience of exchanging £97 I could spend on anything anytime for £100 that I could only spend at Tesco starting in 3 weeks time, it did not seem worth it for £3. Now, when I have much more time in hand for form filling, it could be more attractive, but I'm not in Perkbox now.

Nowadays these are fulfilled electronically, so there is no physical card required. Years ago I used to have physical gift cards for Tesco and Sainsbury's but they are now e-gift cards and you end up with a barcode which most people will put on their phone but can be printed if desired as well.

These just boil down to economic financial exclusion and education though don't they?

There is certainly an issue with financial literacy, and that doesn't just apply to poor people or people with learning disabilities. I've come across high earners who are swimming in debt because they don't know how to look after their finances properly. If someone can't count very well then using cash may not necessarily help them if they can't work out how much is left after each transaction. If someone is deficient in financial literacy, numeracy or even actual literacy then they are going to have serious problems in life regardless of what safeguards there are.

It sounds interesting, and I had never heard of it. I wonder if it applies to buying bus passes or just single fares? I also wonder why they have not done some targeted advertising on buses and trains, as that looks an obvious market. However I see on their website this is only for the first year for new customers, not permanent. As it is a debit card presumably it would be necessary to open up a current account with them to get it, and they probably want an income paid into that. If it was a standalone credit card, and esp. if the 1% was permanent, it would be a lot more interesting, but transferring my main current account from my existing bank to Chase for 1% of one year's bus and train fares doesn't really appeal.

The bank will check what type of industry the card transaction was made in and will award cashback if it is one of the accepted categories. So it doesn't matter what you are buying from them.

Where can I earn cashback?

From 7 April 2025, you can earn 1% cashback – up to £15 a month – when you use your debit card in the UK and Channel Islands to pay for some of your essentials, including groceries, everyday transport, fuel and electric charging points 1.

www.chase.co.uk

Buses, including charters and tour buses

Arriva, National Express, Stagecoach

You don't have to transfer your bank account. You can just use the Chase account for supermarket shopping, train fares and bus fares and use your old account for everything else. They currently offer this deal for the first year and in any case any offer can be withdrawn at any time. You just have to keep checking Money Saving Expert or similar sites for the best deals. If you want to be savvy with your money then you need to regularly monitor things and be prepared to switch providers at any time.

 

[Starmill]

It's all down to your lifestyle choices. I get offers on Perks At Work, EdenRed, Vivup and others via current and former employer reward schemes (always remember to change your email address to your personal address before you leave!). There's usually staff discounts, and the opportunity to purchase gift cards at discounted prices, heavily discounted Avanti fares for Public Sector workers are fantastic, especially with combined with Avanti Cashback on Barclaycard.

In addition, I have rebate schemes on Debit & Credit cards with Virgin Money, Halifax, MBNA, Barclaycard, Santander, and of course American Express!

In parallel with those I have card-linkage schemes with Perks at Work, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, and the amazing Airtime Rewards (today 10% on Boots and 5% on Tesco are my specials).

I've probably missed some, obviously I use TCB, and Quidco too. Best not to forget Union member favourite Pluxee. With more sense than money, I do my utmost to save every £1 here and there.

Will happily go through and list every card offer if requested, but I suspect that would test the patience of other members, so here are the current Lloyds offers, there is often a cap on the offer.

Active Offers, 70

Argos -5%
Sainsbury's - 5%
Rentalcars - 5%
Hotels . com - 5%
Expedia . com - 4%
Madame Tussauds - 10%
Uber - 15%
Ninja - 10%
TU - 10% (online only)
Legoland - 10%
Frankie & Benny's - 10%
Ring - 15% (online only)
London Eye - 10%
Brewer's Fayre - 10%
Sky Mobile - £30
Morrisons - 15% (online only)
Morrisons, Iceland, Co-op on Amazon - 12%
The Dungeons - 10%
Sealife - 10%
Las Igaunas - 10%
Beefeater - 10%
Amazon Fresh - 12%
Shrek's Adventure - 10%
Waitrose & Partners - 8%
Legoland - 10%
Cote Brasserie - 10%
Fenwick - 10%
Holland & Barret - 10%
Shark - 10% (online only)
Laithwaites - 15%
Pixel 9 Pro or Pro XL - 5%
Trip . com - 5%
Holiday Extras - 5%
Majestic Wine - 10%
Giftable - 5%
Lastminute . com - 4%
Sykes Cottage - 5%
Leon - 10%
LNER - 10%
Yo! - 8%
Avis - 5%
Brewdog - 10%
P&O Ferries 8%
Panasonic - 10%
Halfords - 4%
Not on the High Street - 8%
Weird Fish - 10%
Just Eat - 7%
QPark - 10%
Intrepid Travel - 4%
Deliveroo - 7%
JLab - 5%
Averys - 15%
Apex Hotels - 10%
QVC - 10%
MyProtein - 10%
Michael Kors - 10%
Gillette - 5%
Mattress Online - 9%
End - 10%
Viator - 5%
The Telegraph - £15
LookFantastic - 10%
Loop Earplugs - 8%
Neals Yard - 10%
Harvey Nichols 5%
Wish - 10%
Gousto - 10%
Abbott Lyon - 15%

I use most of those plus the referral shops on Nectar, Avios and Virgin Red. I also use Airtime Rewards. Rarely, it's possible to track one transaction via Airtime Rewards and Nectar / Avios / Virgin Red / Topcashback and a cashback offer in the card itself. If you're staying at Marriott, IHG, Radisson, Accor or Hilton hotels, or anything else with a native loyalty scheme such as Stena, you can hypothetically get four cashback stacked on one transaction using these methods, though this absolutely would not be the norm at all. I have never heard of Pluxee despite being well into these schemes which demonstrates the fact that you always have something to learn and can always find ways to benefit further. I don't usually encourage others to go so far though as it is easy to spend so much time on cashback that it takes away from other pressing matters in your life. Everyone is entitled to spend their time as they see fit.

 

[richard13]

Going back to airport hotel buses - arriving passengers probably only have large value notes, certainly no coins. Change is thus the big issue as well as general handling of cash. I have experienced that at Heathrow when about 12 people all wanted to buy a £3.25 fare with £20 notes. As they were a group one of them paid for all and that solved the change problem.

If you are travelling internationally you will have money and thus a bank or per-paid travel card. If you are poor from a third world country you almost certainly will not get a UK visa today - illegal immigration - and they are not cheap either. If you are disabled you probably won't travel alone. If you are travelling alone with poverty / disability you will be doing it with assistance and will thus probably be being met at the airport. There will always be an exception, but you don't run life just in case. If next week you become wheelchair bound, could you live in your current home?

More generally, the UK government does not require everybody to take cash.
If you rent a home, will the landlord except cash payment?
Will Airbnb except cash payment?
Do all car parks / parking meters accept cash?
Does anything online have a cash option?

Cash in the High Street and elsewhere still has it uses - tight budgeting is one practical use.
People who are afraid of non cash payments, will have to put up with the restrictions it creates - society does not need to pay for someone's fear.
The disabled find a card easier to use than cash and if they are unable to, then they probably don't look after their own finances either.

Back in the 70s when I left home, I was paid weekly in cash and gave about half of it to my lodgings landlady. Later on Friday evening she paid the rent man, Pru insurance man and the milk man in cash. Certain coins went in the Kitchen teapot for presents, the holiday pot upstairs, etc. Everything was cash. That has long gone. The young women on the shop floor, loved the transition from cash pay to credit transfer pay once they had opened a bank account. They only took out a budgeted amount of cash each week and that left money in the bank. They were busy planning their first Spanish holiday with the surplus.

Life and technology have moved on and cash is still used, but it is fading. Like cheques, cash will be around for a while.
Bus companies will adapt their businesses to suit the local needs and practicalities - if that turns out to be cashless then so be it.

 

[stibz]

Legal Tender not excepted then? wrong if that is the case.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Legal Tender not excepted then? wrong if that is the case.

Legal tender is only relevant to the payment of a debt into a Court. Any business is free to stipulate what payment methods they accept and are not legally obliged to take cash nor indeed Sterling at all, they could stipulate Euro if they wanted.

 

[JGurney]

Legal tender is only relevant to the payment of a debt into a Court. Any business is free to stipulate what payment methods they accept and are not legally obliged to take cash nor indeed Sterling at all, they could stipulate Euro if they wanted.

I gather some bus routes in Northern Ireland do exactly that. Some operated by Republic-based companies and with both ends in the Republic but passing through UK territory on route do apparently only accept payment in Euro. I don't know whether they take cash or cards: the question of cross-border payment card validity might be yet another complication to the 'cashless' debate.

 

[johncrossley]

I gather some bus routes in Northern Ireland do exactly that. Some operated by Republic-based companies and with both ends in the Republic but passing through UK territory on route do apparently only accept payment in Euro. I don't know whether they take cash or cards: the question of cross-border payment card validity might be yet another complication to the 'cashless' debate.

Irish buses don't take bank cards but instead accept the Leap smartcard which has an electronic purse like an Oyster card. Fares are cheaper using a Leap card.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I gather some bus routes in Northern Ireland do exactly that. Some operated by Republic-based companies and with both ends in the Republic but passing through UK territory on route do apparently only accept payment in Euro. I don't know whether they take cash or cards: the question of cross-border payment card validity might be yet another complication to the 'cashless' debate.

There isn't a question of cross border payment card validity. Visa and Mastercards are valid anywhere in the world, as is AmEx where companies can be bothered to accept it.