Contactless transactions ?

[BeachLife]

The "new normal" in Spain starts on June 21st - unless things worsen - and all regions will come out of Phase 3 if they are not already there on that day. In fact in the North West of Spain Galicia has come out of Phase 3 early and has started on "Nueva Normalida" already, great news

Cutting to the point the PSOE government is going to embark on reducing the maximum amount that can be paid in cash for anything with an aspiration to remove cash altogether (probably unlikely for sometime I guess) as they see the handover of a cash transaction and change etc as a vector for COVID infections.

Million dollar question - how many bars in GA are we able to stay safer in by using our debit cards only ?

Not worried about exchange rates etc as mine is a Spanish BBVA one. I know there is a small number of restaurants that do (La Palleta and one of the Chinese I think) but I have never tried before in bars with smaller amounts

[Blue and white stripes]

It got to the stage in Spain where I never paid for anything with cash anymore, the only exception being the local bars or markets. Likewise in England I've spent no cash for over 3 months.

[chris and jackie]

The bar s just doing drinks are nearly all cash only when I've been out probably due to cost. The larger ones like Molly Malones doing food also take cards. We normally use our sabadell card so no problem with exchange rates.

[Derek]

Hi
That is going to cause a few problems. Card payment amounts obviously get transferred into ones bank account. This often reduces overdrafts and loans which might not be the owners wish. Plus the receipts are seen by the authorities and those that use cash to pay staff etc, without it going through the books, will find it difficult. Those that play it straight will  have no problem with the disappearance of cash which of course would be the vast majority of bars run by Brits.

Derek

[wilson]

There is only one reason why establishments anywhere are cash only and that is to hide something, despite nonsense pedalled about a broken card machine or charges from the bank its all a load of flannel. Even before the pandemic trying to obtain cash in ga became a bit of a chore.

[sunseekers]

I’m of a generation who has always got my housekeeping out in cash, bought my shopping in cash and paid at bars and restaurants in cash.  We've also lived here for years and had no problem with the availability of cash at all so not sure what problems Wilson has experienced. 
I don't think it is a load of flannel that there are charges for using these card machines, there is a small charge, and if you're a business trying to cope with the losses this crisis has and will continue to cause, then I suppose every little can help, and how would the market stall holders manage a card machine.
  I also prefer cash because my cash can’t be cloned and my cash can’t be hacked, and I can keep track of my money easier, when its coming off a card you can lose count whereas if you only have that cash in your purse, when its gone you can see.
 There will come a time when we become a cashless  society, but here in Spain, I don't think it will be here yet. Maybe I’m just old fashioned lol

[Derek]

"and how would the market stall holders manage a card machine."

Very easy with a mobile credit card machine that works via the mobile network. I used to operate "Market Stalls" and had such machines and that is quite a few years ago now. Also lose your wallet and I expect say goodbye to the cash you have in it. Lose you credit or debit card and just phone the bank up and they will immediately stop anyone using it.

OK to stay in the dark age but things do move on that is why we (business wise) left the Markets left the High Street and now sell only online. Less overheads equals lower prices and much more trade.

Derek
https://www.lawnbowlingshoes.co.uk/

[John H]

Quite a few of the bars and restaurants who are on Facebook have been promoting the fact that they are now taking cards and doing it contactless. One of my favourite shoe stalls on Santa Pola market has taken cards for years as have many others on Santa Pola and other markets.

I hardly ever use cash now a days, we did a holiday a couple of years ago to Norway, Denmark and Sweeden.....after a bit of research I decided against buying in the three different currencies and paid for everything by card, I noted in coffee bars, shops and restaurants very very few people paid in cash....tapping the card or mobile phone against the screen is the norm.

I think I had £80 in my back pocket 12 weeks ago.....its still sat on my bedside table, here in the UK in our sleepy little town all the shops are asking you to pay by card.....

Its great not having all those coins in your trouser pockets ;-) Win win.

Regards all

John

[chris and jackie]

There is a definite cost to the business of taking card payments so that will be a barrier but also part will be keeping official turnover down.

John, we were in Sweden a couple of years ago and struggled to use cash as they were trying to stop its use due to security reasons, however there was a bit of a backlash and they started accepting it again, not sure what position is now after virus issues.

[Spurs]

I definitely think that the lockdown has changed for good many things. Where we live in Uk cash is now an inconvenience to the store etc .petrol is now pay at pump the norm I expect pubs to be the same when they open. We’ve already seen the disappearance of the check book and I suspect cash is next most pubs and restaurants will have to keep up . Robbery will go down in corner shops and garages if they are cash free . Working from home has proved to be more efficient and cheaper to the businesses. I expect a lot of firms here to review their office space and give up a lot of it. Hopefully it will be redeveloped into flats etc.

[Derek]

There is a definite cost to the business of taking card payments so that will be a barrier but also part will be keeping official turnover down.

John, we were in Sweden a couple of years ago and struggled to use cash as they were trying to stop its use due to security reasons, however there was a bit of a backlash and they started accepting it again, not sure what position is now after virus issues.

Sorry but you are wrong. It is cheaper to accept payment by card than subsequently paying the cash into the bank.  as I said before if you are running your business without paying tax etc then yes cash is king until you get the taxman asking questions.

For example our back charges 3% when paying cash in and cards cost us a maximum of 20p plus 1%.

[BeachLife]

Sorry for the thread drift Derek - just a question on UK card costs. My local shop is only letting us do contactless over £5. Would there be a 20p charge even if you were buying a say 75p newspaper ?

[Derek]

Hi

I would think so. Different merchant centres (banks) have different rates but we have used Barclaycard, PayPal and Sumup plus one that was owned by NatWest and they all charged between 20p and 30p per transaction. I expect larger businesses would pay less. Rates go from about 1% up to 2.4% but like with most things you have to shop around for the best price. Some also charge a monthly fee of between £20 and  £30 but that does not alter on the volume of transaction. SumUp are, I think, the cheapest for very small traders. We mainly use PayPal because they operate the back end of our websites and they give the customers confidence to shop online. Any dispute they will refund the customer and if the seller does not behave they are thrown off (and rightly so). The other thing is when shopping online always make sure the site you are buying from is a secure site (padlock symbol  in the address bar).  No way can any customer lose money shopping online using a card. Their own bank or the likes of PayPal will refund them if it goes wrong. We have been trading since 1994 and never had a problem.

Derek

[BeachLife]

Thanks Derek - got that cheers   

[wilson]

I’m of a generation who has always got my housekeeping out in cash, bought my shopping in cash and paid at bars and restaurants in cash.  We've also lived here for years and had no problem with the availability of cash at all so not sure what problems Wilson has experienced. 
I don't think it is a load of flannel that there are charges for using these card machines, there is a small charge, and if you're a business trying to cope with the losses this crisis has and will continue to cause, then I suppose every little can help, and how would the market stall holders manage a card machine.
  I also prefer cash because my cash can’t be cloned and my cash can’t be hacked, and I can keep track of my money easier, when its coming off a card you can lose count whereas if you only have that cash in your purse, when its gone you can see.
 There will come a time when we become a cashless  society, but here in Spain, I don't think it will be here yet. Maybe I’m just old fashioned lol

Sunseeker bit of a misquote i said getting cash was a chore, based on when we visit we averagely spend 70 euros a day, this covers buses, taxis, bars, restaurants, markets and a myriad of cash only places. Cards are used at Supermarkets mostly. Over a month thats the best part if 2000 euros in cash hence the chore every 3rd day going to the only atm. Seems your a lone voice on card machine charges, some establishments have spun this nonsense for years, like i said flannel.