# cashless society **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 13, 2009, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashless-society/513629 "2009-10-13T05:28:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashless-society/513629/21 "2009-10-14T15:38:55Z")
The main thing that worries me is the scenario of having my account frozen, in error say, and immediately being up shit creek. Whereas in today’s cash-accepted world, I can survive for a few weeks just on what’s in my loose change jar. > [@amrussell](#): > > Alternatively, users of London Transport have an Oyster Card. > … > The point is, most newsagents and corner-stores in London already have the facilities to put cash \*on \*the cards - it would presumably be a very simple matter to reverse that and take cash \*off \*the cards when buying e.g. newspapers, pint of milk, lunchtime sandwich. Apparently you already can do that in some shops, according to the economist. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashless-society/513629/22 "2009-10-14T18:11:31Z")
While I have a debit card, I prefer to pay in cash as much as possible. One reason is the one **Mijim** mentioned. There can be problems with credit cards. If my card gets stolen, then I have to call up the company, cancel it, and wait for them to send me a new one. I’d be pretty screwed if the stores around me didn’t accept cash. One might respond that I should just carry two credit cards, but I can easily imagine a major emergency that would make both useless at the same time. Cash is a better fallback because it never gets canceled. I also like cash because it doesn’t leave any records. I’m not buying anything bad or anything illegal, but I figure that the less information governments and businesses have about me, the better. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashless-society/513629/23 "2009-10-14T20:00:14Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > While I have a debit card, I prefer to pay in cash as much as possible. One reason is the one **Mijim** mentioned. There can be problems with credit cards. If my card gets stolen, then I have to call up the company, cancel it, and wait for them to send me a new one. I’d be pretty screwed if the stores around me didn’t accept cash. One might respond that I should just carry two credit cards, but I can easily imagine a major emergency that would make both useless at the same time. Cash is a better fallback because it never gets canceled. > > I also like cash because it doesn’t leave any records. I’m not buying anything bad or anything illegal, but I figure that the less information governments and businesses have about me, the better. Some of your arguments are valid (cards getting canceled), but you also mention what if your card gets stolen. Well what if? You call them and get a new card sent to your house within a few days. Don’t worry if the thief buys anything with it, you’re not responsible. Now what if your cash gets stolen? Good luck trying to recover that money! Credit/debit cards are way more secure. I’d much rather be robbed and have a thief take my credit card than a wad of cash. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashless-society/513629/24 "2009-10-14T22:08:15Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > If I want to go buy some strawberries from a farmer in a rural area I better bring some cash because he can’t take a credit card. [Sez](http://www.creditcards.com/glossary/term-carbonpaper-packets.php) [who](http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2008/10/accept-credit-card-payments-from-your-iphone.ars)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cashless-society/513629.md?page=1)