A number of major retailers have stopped taking cash in some or all of their stores, sparking backlash from a pro-cash campaign group, who say they are ‘letting down the public’
Martin Lewis warns of ‘risk’ of a cashless society
A string of major businesses – including dining hotspots, bakeries and even supermarket petrol stations – have decided to scrap cash payments at certain or all locations.
The move has sparked outrage from campaigners fighting for the right to use notes and coins, who’ve slammed the move as ‘completely unacceptable’. Leading the charge is the Italian eatery Zizzi which has embraced a cashless approach in a majority of its establishments.
The restaurant chain exclusively deals in cards, Apple Pay, or Google Pay for transactions – though they still welcome cash for tips. Gail’s Bakery is also now no-cash, with its expansive network of over 150 shops sticking strictly to card payments.
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Meanwhile, Itsu has been systematically implementing similar card-only regimes since 2019. Many retail giants have introduced card-only petrol stations and cafés.
According to Zizzi’s own FAQs: “To provide the smoothest and fastest payment experience, and to keep our teams safe, we are cashless and we encourage card, Apple Pay or Google Pay transactions. You can pay up to £100 contactless on your card and unlimited when using Apple Pay and Google Pay in most of our restaurants.”
Gail’s Bakery states: “We only accept card payments. This practice has environmental benefits as it eliminates the need for cash collection and delivery, which used to be done by car several times per week across over a hundred locations.
“Additionally, being cashless has had a positive impact on the security of our bakeries by minimising the risk of criminal activity.”
Back in 2019, Itsu made headlines by introducing cashless stores, reports the Express. A company spokesperson shared with RTIH: “We trialled this earlier in the year at stores with the highest percentage of card transactions in order to assess customer feedback before rolling out to others. We now have 12 and have plans to continue as the response so far has been largely positive.”
Last August, Tesco took a leap into the future by announcing its plan to transform 40 UK cafe sites into largely cashless zones. Customers at these cafes are prompted to place their orders via digital self-service screens and can only settle their bills using cards or contactless phones.
However, the supermarket does always have colleagues on hand at the cafe to help customers however they choose to order and pay and has made other improvement to make them welcoming spaces.
Asda isn’t far behind, having implemented a cash-free system across nearly 270 petrol stations. Here, customers must pay by card directly at the pumps.
The retail giant justified its move by citing that over 90 per cent of transactions at its fuel stops were already being conducted through card or contactless methods. However, Asda reassures that cash remains king at all other outlets and within its supermarkets.
Sainsbury’s maintains that while the overwhelming majority of its stores and petrol stations still welcome cash payments, it hasn’t disclosed the exact number of locations that don’t.
Ron Delnevo, chairman of the Payment Choice Alliance, has voiced strong opposition to the trend, deeming it ‘completely unacceptable’ for stores to reject cash payments. Advocates like Delnevo are pushing for new legislation that would require retailers to accept cash.
He argued: “The vast majority of the public want cash to be honoured as a payment. These businesses are letting down the public.”
However, Full Fact clarifies that legally, shops have the right to refuse cash payments if they choose to do so. A widespread myth surrounding ‘legal tender’ exists, with many believing it applies universally. However, the reality is that this concept specifically pertains to situations where an individual is attempting to settle a debt.
According to the rules, debtors are required to accept any form of ‘legal tender’ – which, in England and Wales, encompasses both coins and notes, whereas in Scotland, it is limited to coins – when it is offered as a means of debt repayment.
Contrary to popular belief, business owners are under no obligation to accept cash or any particular type of cash, such as Scottish banknotes. As clarified by Full Fact: “It’s not illegal for shops or businesses to refuse to accept cash. They can also refuse to accept card payments. And while cash is ‘legal tender’, this has a narrow definition that doesn’t mean businesses must accept it.”
According to the Bank of England, shop owners can choose what kind of payment they take. The Bank of England says: “Legal tender has a narrow technical meaning which has no use in everyday life. It means that if you offer to fully pay off a debt to someone in legal tender, they can’t sue you for failing to repay.”
