In reply to a post by XGS_Is_On:

Keeping and building on GDPR would be a good start.

+100. Even some US states are starting to draft laws that look like bits of GDPR, which is very interesting for the US.

In reply to a post by ambrougham:

Am I the only one who can't help thinking that this is all more than a tad ironic ... given that it wasn't really *that* long ago that some/most/all businesses refused to accept card payments or made a significant surcharge ....
...
No conspiracy theories per se, it's just all about the do$h ... but most definitely theirs and not yours

No you're not 🙂. Though in supermarkets and other big stores I do always use card even for just a bottle of milk. Usually a credit card which I pay off in full each month.

Our local paper shop/convenience store still prefers cash if the transaction is under £5. (£4 until last month). Partly so kids wanting just an ice cream or choccie bar can pay easily, and partly because the card companies have increased their charges to small retailers considerably recently.

In fact, and I have witnessed this frequently as when the owner is serving we chat a bit, the result if it's under £5 is an extra sale. They turn to the chocolate bar rack beside them and grab something to take it over. Or go and get a second bottle of whatever cold drink they were buying.

He pays in at the local Post Office.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

In reply to a post by XGS_Is_On:

Keeping and building on GDPR would be a good start.

+100. Even some US states are starting to draft laws that look like bits of GDPR, which is very interesting for the US.

GDPR is a good start, however as we move further into the information age we do need more robust privacy protection for sure. We also need more education for the public as to what is protected and what isn't.

Payment information should be in a silo, used purely for the transaction and no further details beyond which type of card and how many transactions, nothing more specific. Ever.

Facial recognition should never be permitted without active opt-in. Not just being somewhere or using a terminal but requiring a person to actively approve it. Yes, that means that facial recognition can't happen in public: what a shame.

Access to financial data should require court order and even then only be permitted for the most dire criminal reasons to protect life or property. Misusing access to it should be a criminal offence carrying mandatory prison time, not just fines.

Sadly it looks as though the direction of travel in the UK is in the opposite direction with bits of GDPR being ejected and access to our data being liberalised. Not a thing we can do about it until 2024.

In reply to a post by pluralist:

partly because the card companies have increased their charges to small retailers considerably recently.

Interesting, I know about card companies increasing UK to EU card charges post Brexit, but I didn't know internal transactions rates have increased as well.

I'm quoting what he said of course, but he is highly unlikely to be mistaken or fibbing to me.

There's nearly always only one staff member there. Him and several others on a rota. Till cashing up is done after closing (9pm) and there is a safe of course.

He's very savvy with the money side, plus years of experience as a manager with a major chain. He's built it up quickly from useless to busy and thriving. Examples, the previous owners didn't stock milk because it didn't sell. He sells loads. They had one sliced white loaf in the freezer because bread didn't sell either. He has three deliveries a week with a wide range of full and half loaves on the shelves.

Relevant to the topic. if he gets planning permission for some building work he intends to install an externally-available ATM. (He doesn't need permission for that but without the changes he wants to make there is nowhere to put it).

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

In reply to a post by tommy45:

That is an example of how difficult it really is

Winning votes isn't easy, but UKIP won enough votes to force a referendum. Democracy isn't a walk in the park, but it's more effective than moaning on a forum.

UKIP could have worked at 1 point , but as it was financed by several big backers some of who have questionable associations & interests which together with EX Tory party infiltration ensured it was never elected for Govt, it was more of a Pressure relief valve, As for the Brexit referendum I think even Farage never expected leave to win and he abandoned the cause soon after leaving the tory dance champion maybot to undermine it

In reply to a post by tommy45:

UKIP could have worked at 1 point

Could have worked? We left the European Union. UKIP achieved its aim.

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

Interesting, I know about card companies increasing UK to EU card charges post Brexit, but I didn't know internal transactions rates have increased as well.

Rates are heavily based on volume, which hit a lot of small traders due to the pandemic. At my local railway station, the tiny coffee shop has one of those Square/iZettle card readers for those that don't carry cash. Before the pandemic it was a cash only.

Square/iZettle are cheaper for smaller volumes, without the high monthly commitment of the traditional Point Of Sale terminal (e.g. the old Barclays PDQ things).

In reply to a post by bobble_bob:

Why would they? Having to take cash costs businesses more money than just contactless payments due to fees. Many businesses are already struggling they dont need silly legislation. There business there rules

Then if they lose customers, it is their own fault.

In reply to a post by XGS_Is_On:

Comments like these can make you wonder about a person. Just saying. The UK's huge use of CCTV is far more sinister. We currently have some pretty good protections against tracking via GDPR but that'll be off the books soon.

We have no idea what happens to the video CCTV captures and what process it goes through, even police in some places are using face recognition.
GDPR, LOL, even if it does protect people, which I doubt it does, it will not affect us soon as our government is dropping it.

Seems quite bizarre to me standing in a queue for the sake of being stubborn but whatever does it for them.

Up to them at the end of the day and with large shopping, self-checkouts are a total and complete waste of time, even the large ones with a belt on. Our local Morrisons had some, they lasted maybe 12 months if that, and now they are gone. If you have two people doing the shopping then maybe they are ok, one can put the shopping on the belt and the other can scan and put them in the bag.
I use self scans if I have a couple of items,, but if i have a trolly I will go through a normal checkout. Aldis, Lidls and food warehouse don't have any selfscans. Aldis have not long had a refit, Lidls expanded into a store next door not so long ago and Food warehouse is a brand-new store. i do wonder why they did not put self scans in them?

I will not use scan and shop either, the system where you go around with a handset, for a few reasons, one they take jobs, two you need a loyalty card and three for the amount of shopping I do they are not worth it.

Not stubborn, just their choice.

I'll continue to avoid queues where possible while they waste their time queuing out of a petulant desire to refuse modern convenience.

The more people that use self scans, the larger the queues, so you will get large queues there. I saw a line in Morrisons a few weeks ago that stretched for longer than any manned checkouts, i went onto a manned checkout and still got out fast.

I like to try and keep people in jobs, even if it is a naff job.