ChaoticMusings

Syl · FIRM BUT FAIR.

We now live in a cashless society.

Syl · FIRM BUT FAIR.

Most of the restaurants we go to accept only card, but they do still have actual menus. A couple of weeks ago went to a town centre tapas, new to us, they had no menu's...everything was ordered at the table via QR code , I don't even have a mobile phone, much less a smart phone.

Luckily OH does, though he was pretty clueless, so I managed to order a very nice tapas via QR...though it took twice as long as giving an order to an actual human being.

The plus side is...there has been no charge put on my bank, even though it was paid by debit card....maybe this way of ordering has its perks.

Digger · Admin

Syl wrote:
Most of the restaurants we go to accept only card, but they do still have actual menus. A couple of weeks ago went to a town centre tapas, new to us, they had no menu's...everything was ordered at the table via QR code , I don't even have a mobile phone, much less a smart phone.
Luckily OH does, though he was pretty clueless, so I managed to order a very nice tapas via QR...though it took twice as long as giving an order to an actual human being.
The plus side is...there has been no charge put on my bank, even though it was paid by debit card....maybe this way of ordering has its perks.

No cash society? That's all the beggars scuppered then.

Maddog · Go Outside

Digger wrote:
Syl wrote:
Most of the restaurants we go to accept only card, but they do still have actual menus. A couple of weeks ago went to a town centre tapas, new to us, they had no menu's...everything was ordered at the table via QR code , I don't even have a mobile phone, much less a smart phone.
Luckily OH does, though he was pretty clueless, so I managed to order a very nice tapas via QR...though it took twice as long as giving an order to an actual human being.
The plus side is...there has been no charge put on my bank, even though it was paid by debit card....maybe this way of ordering has its perks.
No cash society? That's all the beggars scuppered then.

Yeah, I have to tell folks all the time I don't have cash (usually I do). I think they zoom in on me as I'm an older white male and we are probably the most likely demographic to still carry cash..

Maddog · Go Outside

Syl wrote:
Most of the restaurants we go to accept only card, but they do still have actual menus. A couple of weeks ago went to a town centre tapas, new to us, they had no menu's...everything was ordered at the table via QR code , I don't even have a mobile phone, much less a smart phone.
Luckily OH does, though he was pretty clueless, so I managed to order a very nice tapas via QR...though it took twice as long as giving an order to an actual human being.
The plus side is...there has been no charge put on my bank, even though it was paid by debit card....maybe this way of ordering has its perks.

I never use a debit card, but you get charged for using them?

Our retailers do and some have started adding 1-2% to our bill. Or they offer a cash discount, but our banks never charge us for using the card unless we are getting cash..

Syl · FIRM BUT FAIR.

Digger wrote:
Syl wrote:
Most of the restaurants we go to accept only card, but they do still have actual menus. A couple of weeks ago went to a town centre tapas, new to us, they had no menu's...everything was ordered at the table via QR code , I don't even have a mobile phone, much less a smart phone.
Luckily OH does, though he was pretty clueless, so I managed to order a very nice tapas via QR...though it took twice as long as giving an order to an actual human being.
The plus side is...there has been no charge put on my bank, even though it was paid by debit card....maybe this way of ordering has its perks.
No cash society? That's all the beggars scuppered then.

Not onlu beggars.

Many workers can't get a tip now because a tip can't be added to the bill....we had one today in a garden centre café bar, and sadly, we had no cash.

Syl · FIRM BUT FAIR.

Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
Most of the restaurants we go to accept only card, but they do still have actual menus. A couple of weeks ago went to a town centre tapas, new to us, they had no menu's...everything was ordered at the table via QR code , I don't even have a mobile phone, much less a smart phone.
Luckily OH does, though he was pretty clueless, so I managed to order a very nice tapas via QR...though it took twice as long as giving an order to an actual human being.
The plus side is...there has been no charge put on my bank, even though it was paid by debit card....maybe this way of ordering has its perks.
I never use a debit card, but you get charged for using them?

Our retailers do and some have started adding 1-2% to our bill. Or they offer a cash discount, but our banks never charge us for using the card unless we are getting cash..

So do I, it was OH's debit card, I pay everything with a CC.

I stopped carrying cash around when Covid hit....and I just got out of the habit.

Maddog · Go Outside

I stopped using my debit card the second time they swiped my info and went on a spending spree. I have a small local bank that put the money back in my account after a few days, but I just stopped using it anyway. It's 99% credit card and the rest cash..

Syl · FIRM BUT FAIR.

Maddog wrote:
I stopped using my debit card the second time they swiped my info and went on a spending spree. I have a small local bank that put the money back in my account after a few days, but I just stopped using it anyway. It's 99% credit card and the rest cash..

How come it was easy to swipe money from your DC?

Maddog · Go Outside

Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:
I stopped using my debit card the second time they swiped my info and went on a spending spree. I have a small local bank that put the money back in my account after a few days, but I just stopped using it anyway. It's 99% credit card and the rest cash..
How come it was easy to swipe money from your DC?

They scan the numbers somehow and create a fake card I guess..

One time I went shopping in Minneapolis and another time it was Boston..

Maddog · Go Outside

"Skimming occurs when devices are installed on ATMs, point-of-sale terminals and fuel pumps to capture data and steal cardholders' PINs. Scammers then use the information to make fake debit or credit cards."

Syl · FIRM BUT FAIR.

Maddog wrote:
"Skimming occurs when devices are installed on ATMs, point-of-sale terminals and fuel pumps to capture data and steal cardholders' PINs. Scammers then use the information to make fake debit or credit cards."

Would it not be as easy to scam a credit card?

Hopefully, I won't ever find out.

Maddog · Go Outside

Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:
"Skimming occurs when devices are installed on ATMs, point-of-sale terminals and fuel pumps to capture data and steal cardholders' PINs. Scammers then use the information to make fake debit or credit cards."
Would it not be as easy to scam a credit card?
Hopefully, I won't ever find out.

Pretty much. But they can't clean out your checking account with a stolen credit card. You don't lose a few thousand bucks for a few days or weeks because you don't have to pay fraudulent charges on a CC..

They did get me CC info about a year ago. I was contacted about a charge in another city and I said it wasn't me. They shut off the card.

Syl · FIRM BUT FAIR.

Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:
"Skimming occurs when devices are installed on ATMs, point-of-sale terminals and fuel pumps to capture data and steal cardholders' PINs. Scammers then use the information to make fake debit or credit cards."
Would it not be as easy to scam a credit card?
Hopefully, I won't ever find out.
Pretty much. But they can't clean out your checking account with a stolen credit card. You don't lose a few thousand bucks for a few days or weeks because you don't have to pay fraudulent charges on a CC..

They did get me CC info about a year ago. I was contacted about a charge in another city and I said it wasn't me. They shut off the card.

Blimey, I must be lucky, touch wood I have never been scammed.

My son was, he drew some money out of an ATM, and the next time he checked his balance his account was empty. He reckoned someone had rigged the machine, he did get reimbursed by his band luckily.

Barksdale · Getting Gobby

Syl wrote:
Most of the restaurants we go to accept only card, but they do still have actual menus. A couple of weeks ago went to a town centre tapas, new to us, they had no menu's...everything was ordered at the table via QR code , I don't even have a mobile phone, much less a smart phone.
Luckily OH does, though he was pretty clueless, so I managed to order a very nice tapas via QR...though it took twice as long as giving an order to an actual human being.
The plus side is...there has been no charge put on my bank, even though it was paid by debit card....maybe this way of ordering has its perks.

Most of the pubs I visit near where I live are either Youngs or Greene King. I ordinarily order drinks at the bar but when it comes to food will order to the table using their apps which I have on my phone. Prefer it that way as if I order food at the bar I invariably forgot to get something or other.

Ordering to table at a restaurant feels weird though and takes away from the experience. I much prefer having someone take my order.

Barksdale · Getting Gobby

Having said that I took the fam to Din Tai Fung in Central London at the end of last year to celebrate a birthday and they had a mix of order to table and waiter service which worked really well.

They also had some robot trolleys which brought food to the table which saved the waiters from carrying it which was pretty cool.

Vam · Musing at the Chaos

If a server’s tip is added to the bill, there’s always the likelihood of greedy restaurant owners taking their cut

I always prefer to tip directly, discreetly, and in cash.

Servers, hairdressers and cab drivers will definitely lose out in a truly cashless society.

Syl · FIRM BUT FAIR.

Barksdale wrote:
Having said that I took the fam to Din Tai Fung in Central London at the end of last year to celebrate a birthday and they had a mix of order to table and waiter service which worked really well.

They also had some robot trolleys which brought food to the table which saved the waiters from carrying it which was pretty cool.

I would love a robot trolley to bring me my food.

I remember years back, in some of the restaurants in town, after the meal the waiter would ask if we would like him to bring the sweet trolley round, that was good....far better to see what you are getting before you order.

Syl · FIRM BUT FAIR.

Vam wrote:
If a server’s tip is added to the bill, there’s always the likelihood of greedy restaurant owners taking their cut

I always prefer to tip directly, discreetly, and in cash.
Servers, hairdressers and cab drivers will definitely lose out in a truly cashless society.

We always ask first, amazingly, some restaurants, hairdressers etc, cannot add their tip and claim it, it just gets added to the bill.

Like you Vam, if we know in advance, OH will have a bit of cash available.

Maddog · Go Outside

Vam wrote:
If a server’s tip is added to the bill, there’s always the likelihood of greedy restaurant owners taking their cut

I always prefer to tip directly, discreetly, and in cash.
Servers, hairdressers and cab drivers will definitely lose out in a truly cashless society.

Don't forget the greedy government can track those tips when they are on the credit card..