Cash use a fundamental right for all

In 2023, 1.5 million adults in the UK were using cash for daily spending, a four-year high and that trend seems set to continue as more people reject tapping and swiping in favour of cash for daily spending.

Now, some major high street chains, bakery chains and restaurants are being challenged by campaigners and politicians over their refusal to accept cash. 

Ron Delnevo, chair of the Payment Choice Alliance, which campaigns for the long-term future of cash services, has commented that it is “completely unacceptable” that some stores are rejecting cash. The alliance wants new laws similar to those in some other countries requiring organisations and retailers to accept cash

The PCA lists 23 firms and groups, at least some of whose outlets take only credit or debit cards.

“The vast majority of the public want cash to be honoured as a payment,” Delveno continues. Indeed, a survey in 2023 showed that 71% of  British adults would  support a legal requirement for businesses to accept cash.

At parliamentary level, The Treasury select committee is expected to report shortly on its inquiry into whether there is any need to regulate or mandate the acceptance of cash. 
An early day motion tabled in parliament on 25th February 2025 calls for the government to implement legislation to require all businesses in the UK to accept cash, although  ministers have said they have no plans to mandate the acceptance of cash.

The motion highlights concerns at the “rapidly increasing trend for UK businesses, local authorities and leisure facilities, including those supported by taxpayer funding, to refuse to accept cash for payments”. Car parks, train buffets and leisure centres are among the services that have gone cashless.

Kate Osborne, the Labour MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East, who has signed the early day motion, said: “It is a fundamental right that people should be able to use cash as a legal tender. When you are trying to budget, particularly if you are on a low income, cash is a simple way of doing it. I understand that many people are not using cash much of the time, but there should be choice for all."

“We are seeing more and more retailers offering card-only payments, and it causes problems in constituencies like mine where we’ve got a high number of people who are digitally excluded or may choose not to do electronic banking.” Osborne also said that cash can be more convenient, at and times essential “I’ve been on trains before and the system for the buffet has gone down and they can’t take cash,” she said. 
“You could be on a train for three or four hours, and you can’t even buy a cup of tea.”

The nonprofit organisation Talk About Money has also added its voice to the debate. Spokesperson May Fairweather has said the the financial industry wants “frictionless” purchases because it makes it easier for people to spend money.

“Cash adds friction, and that can be a good thing,” she said. “It gives people time to think and time to make proper decisions. Notes and coins remind people trying to budget that money is “finite”.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) says that about 3 million people continue to rely on cash, even as digital payments become more popular. It introduced rules last September requiring banks and building societies to ensure reasonable access to cash withdrawal and deposit services.

A Treasury spokesperson said: “We recognise that cash continues to be used by millions across the UK. While we have no plans to mandate cash acceptance, individual businesses can decide which payment methods they accept, and new rules introduced by the FCA support those that do want to continue accepting cash by enabling business to make deposits.”

Source : https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/mar/16/uk-high-street-chains-restaurants-cash-payments