Forum Topic

ASDA and cashless

I have just see a list of stores reportedly going cashless. It has surprised me in that there are so many stores listed. I was recently doing a 400 mile plus journey in a hired car. It was near dusk and petrol was about a quarter. I pulled into a garage and the cash desk was closed. Another car pulled in and filled up. I then did so with a credit card at pump. I often use a credit card at pump but this was a different experience in that it was very isolated, I can imagine some people not feeling comfortable. What are the contributors view of this?

Nicholas Beard ● 397d50 Comments

How come they offer cash back when you use a card or has that stop now.

Janice Evans ● 395d

Control does seem to be the agenda. Look at what’s going on around us. Glad I’mold, I  don’t like the world my children and grandchildren are going to be dealing with.  We do need to fight because it’s the nasties who want the control not the good guys.

Maggie Dodge ● 395d

Spot on Al.Also it is well acknowledged that budgeting is easier with cash than tap. I can’t believe the number of people who question the logic of cash in your wallet, it should be the other way round.

Mark Talbot ● 396d

'Look at what the Canadian government (supposedly a liberal democracy) did when they froze the bank accounts of the anti-vaccine protestors.'As far as I can see, this was a brief threat which was never put into practice.I agree that no government should have this power, though.

Susan Kelly ● 396d

It's a worrying trend.  Look at what the Canadian government (supposedly a liberal democracy) did when they froze the bank accounts of the anti-vaccine protestors.  In a cashless society you would be absolutely stuffed.  I don't agree with those protestors, but goverments should not have that knd of power.If you look at the tendencies of our goverment trying to track everything online, and severely restrict the right to protest, and restrict the right for workers to strike, then we shouldn't be sleepwalking into a situation where we give them the power to stop us even buying food like the Canadian government tried to do.We all need to carry cash and use it as much as possible to stop this trend.

Al Webber ● 396d

Thank you Julian.

Janice Evans ● 397d

Thank you for your help and patience Steve.

Janice Evans ● 397d

"Depends on the method of payment" Payment method is what method you want to pay They always want DD on sign up but once you sign up you cancel DD and pay whatever way you want.

Julian Pavey ● 397d

Depends on the method of payment which often puts me off changing providers sorry to be a pain, battery low so will go now.

Janice Evans ● 397d

“ One more question do we have to inform them when leaving the car park.”No. You have paid for a certain amount of time and if you leave before expiry, that’s it. It’s exactly the same as using a parking meter where you pay cash or credit card. If a meter man or lady checks your car and your time has expired, you get a fine. The meter reader simply scans your number plate to check if you  have paid via the App

Steve Taylor ● 397d

Million questions janiceThey all do it,just check against what your paying.Pointless paying x for x if x is cheaper or better for same or less x without landline

Julian Pavey ● 397d

If sky etc it's probably more expensive.

Janice Evans ● 397d

No home broadband down your phone line

Julian Pavey ● 397d

Do you mean sim broadband.

Janice Evans ● 397d

And on that note you maybe paying line rental which you dont use and dont need

Julian Pavey ● 397d

"I still have Landline for Broadband butdon't use it for calls" You no longer need a landline for broadband. Been that way for some time

Julian Pavey ● 397d

Mobile calls are cheaper or can be free and think that's the reason for increased use of mobile phones, I still have Landline for Broadband butdon't use it for calls.  Some religious groups are not allowed to use them at all so don't know how they are getting on.  I think with Mobiles there are few or no written instructions which is what the elderly are used to, myself I find if looking at online instructions they say first go to (whatever) and I'm thinking well where do they want me to go to, like a lot of women we are too busy to know the ins and outs of s smart phone it's taken me mostof the afternoon to get an App because I had no idea where to find the App,could go on and on about annoying things with smart phones.

Janice Evans ● 397d

But in time when a generation has passed most will have a mobile. Everything changes in time"Back in 2003 when the National Center for Health Statistics started collecting data on cellphones vs landlines, nearly 95 percent of adults had a landline. At the end of 2022, fewer than 27 percent of adults reported having a landline, and an overwhelming majority had a cellphone. This number is set to rise again significantly over the next ten years" As i say,in time things in life change and you cant do it in one go, so some people will find it tough in the early years of change

Julian Pavey ● 397d

It does say if no mobile or wifi signal you would be fined for non paymentof parking.  Thanks for your help.

Janice Evans ● 397d

Some people still don't have a mobile phone and the older people if they have one its not a smart phone they have trouble using th old easy ones.

Janice Evans ● 397d

"For us oldies this is becoming more and more difficult and stressful… great for the youngsters but not for us" But at what point is it better for everone. Its going app based very gradually and we will come to a point where oldies as you describe yourself will have come through the process of understanding the digital world. Thats why its a process and in years to come you wont be able to pay cash in a supermarket as most will know what is needed and how to use it I have never carried cash for the last 10 years.

Julian Pavey ● 397d

O.K. One more question do we have to inform them when leaving the car park.

Janice Evans ● 397d

Ah. Ok I guess then that the pending fee is just a nominal fee to ‘test’ if your credit card is valid.  So I don’t think they will actually complete any payment until you use the service. It just goes into pending and when you use the service for the first time the amount is amended to the actual amount of the transaction.

Steve Taylor ● 397d

It states the pending fee is removed after 7 days and that the cost won't be more than the cost of the parking. Seems odd they don't say how much the pending fee is.  Does Ringo have a pending fee.

Janice Evans ● 397d

I don’t know what the pending fee is unless it’s the 15 pence admin fee which you have to pay these days even if paying by credit card ?

Steve Taylor ● 397d

Right Steve, I have download the pay by phone App they say there willbe a pending fee, how much is the pending fee they don't say so have not give card details yet. Thanks

Janice Evans ● 397d

Hi Janet. I just checked the AppStore for you and definitely RingGo, PayByPhone  and JustPark are there to download for free. You can also download the Apps by getting them via Google. You will be amazed at how easy it is to park once you have them. No getting out of your car to pay or stand in the rain in queues and no rushing back to your car to beat expiry times. If you are longer than expected you get a text warning you that your time will shortly be up and you simply extend it on your phone from wherever you are. It’s brilliant.

Steve Taylor ● 397d

No you don’t need WiFi and the Location Number automatically comes up when you open the App. It will give you the location number of the park where you are. You don’t have to get out of your car.

Steve Taylor ● 397d

Wi-fi I mean.

Janice Evans ● 397d

First you need a sim that connects to wi-if not all of them do, you needa location number (which is at the actual car park) so take it you have to stand and read instructions at the car park ?

Janice Evans ● 397d

Are you saying th App is already ther in the App Store because it isn't on my phone.

Janice Evans ● 397d

Parking Apps are surprisingly easy to download and use.  I have 3. Just go to your AppStore on your phone and download them for free. The main ones are PayByPhone, Just Park and RingGo. It’s very, very simple and you don’t really have to be techno savvy to use them. Also I don’t buy into this ‘elderly’ nonsense. Sorry, but if anyone is still legally able and competent to drive they should be competent enough to use a simple App.  If they don’t have a family member or friend to help them with the simplistic procedure to download and use the App, they could seek help at their Citizens Advice Bureau or ask their local Councillor to help them.

Steve Taylor ● 397d

Do you have to put the amount in before you pay with a phone App only they seem to be tapping away for ages before paying.

Janice Evans ● 397d

**Have you been behind someone trying to pay for shopping with a phone App, it's no quicker**I don't agree, but what I will say is that the people who are seemingly surprised they need to show their Oyster card on a bus (why wouldn't they have fished it out of their bag/pocket in anticipation?) are the same crowd who don't have their smartphone ready when it's time to pay.While I don't particularly rate Sainbo's, I do like their self-scan-on-an-app thing for it's speed and (90%) opportunity not to need staff.

Mike Smith ● 397d

I think that's why some car parks are empty.

Janice Evans ● 397d

Spot on about phone apps.

Nicholas Beard ● 397d

Steve where is the information for Apps for car parks ?

Janice Evans ● 397d

Have you been behind someone trying to pay for shopping with a phone App, it's no quicker.

Janice Evans ● 397d

Don't know how to get apps Steve

Janice Evans ● 397d

Everything feornfs on being technology savvy. That’s unfair and it’s not only the elderly although it is  more often than not. We’re being bullied every which way by the I’m alright Jack brigade

Maggie Dodge ● 397d

For us oldies this is becoming more and more difficult and stressful… great for the youngsters but not for us.  Please understand - this is getting more and more difficult and I just wonder what’s next with the scammers etc.

Helen Bamberger ● 397d

“ used to feel unsafe using a machine incar parks.”And that’s the beauty of using the Parking Apps. You don’t have to leave the security of your car while you pay. You can also extend your parking time if you know you won’t get back to your car by expiry time. No standing around at machines in the rain clutching your cash or credit card and making yourself vulnerable to any miscreants hanging around.

Steve Taylor ● 397d

One week the cash machine at the store swallowed my card, so I hadno card and no cash luckily i was with my neighbour who help me out.

Janice Evans ● 397d

I think it was Asda and Sainsburys who pushed the govt hard, ( unsuccessfully), to do a full lock down during the Omicron variant scare, so cashless would fit with in with that agenda certainly. Fortunately Asda and Sainsburys were thwarted in their attempt but theres nothing to stop them coming back and having another go in the future.

Anna Kirkpatrick ● 397d

also have left car parks because didn't know how the use the machines,some would suddenly go dark as if all power gone, would walk away the thing light up again.

Janice Evans ● 397d

I understand that Nicholas and used to feel unsafe using a machine incar parks.

Janice Evans ● 397d

Pay at pump is OK, I agree. However I am talking about say nine in the evening in a lonely location with no one else around. It does feel strange.

Nicholas Beard ● 397d

I hope these branches prove  so unpopular they change their minds.i love pay at pump when I’ve got young children in the car but there’s always achieve so that’s how it should be. At least  one cash only till should be retained if there’s any humanity and sanity

Maggie Dodge ● 397d

In general I'm in agreement with you not liking the move towards cashless payment.But with garages, I'm amazed how few have actually switched to pay at the pump. I know Richmond Sainsburys has had it for a long time, why hasn't the rest of industry caught on?For me it's a big incentive to use a garage, if I know I can do a quick refill without having to go and queue up to pay afterwards.

Steve Townsend ● 397d

I personally haven’t used cash for a few years now but can understand that many will have a problem with this. However, it’s the way of the world. I suspect that many ‘cash in hand’ traders will have a problem with having fewer and fewer places to launder their money.

Steve Taylor ● 397d