Cashless society

[JohnDe]

The banks may want a cashless society and the supermarkets also. But when the piece of plastic can't be used then watch the peasants revolt.
We had a minor meltdown recently when the supermarket where she shops had no card facilities working. When she got to the checkout, cash only.
First time in yonks she wasn't cashed up.
Left a weeks shopping in the trolley at the checkout, which included frozen and perishable items.
More than 1 did that that afternoon.

A similar thing happened to my wife yesterday, at the local grocery shop. Used her regular card, it didn't work, Tried the backup, didn't work. Went to pull out her cash supply and realised that Christmas presents had taken their toll. Called me in frustration, and I said try the business Visa. that worked.
My wife dropped the shopping off at home and went straight to the bank, to find a line up out the door. Social Security pay day, and minimal staff to deal with it. When she finally got to talk to someone from the bank, they check the card and found nothing wrong. A glitch.

 

[qldfrog]

There was a big Westpac outage/hacking attack yesterday

 

[JohnDe]

There was a big Westpac outage/hacking attack yesterday

That may have been the issue.

I received an email today -

Yesterday, 10,000 people reported issues accessing their Westpac Banking accounts after a Westpac outage resulted in difficulties for customers accessing online banking. This impacted customers’ ability to manage online banking, pay bills, and make purchases.​

With a link to sign a petition (i will read later today) -

Petition · An Australian cash and banking guarantee · Change.org

www.change.org

Banks are deserting towns and suburbs and leaving Australians without ready access to cash and banking services.

Millions of Australian consumers and businesses trust and rely on cash for their everyday needs and for budgeting purposes. Even Australians that don’t attend banks or use cash regularly need access to face-to-face banking services and physical money sometimes.

Without a guarantee of access to full banking services and physical cash and a guaranteed right to use cash to buy food and essentials:

· Local economies are weaker and vulnerable to system outages.

· Many vulnerable people are effectively excluded from the economy.

· Businesses are harder to manage.






We call for an Australian Banking and Cash Guarantee that includes these rights:



1) All Australians must be able to have reasonable local access to cash and full banking services.

2) All Australians must be able to choose cash when paying for food and essentials at physical retailers.






No Australian town, suburb or community should be left without reasonable local access to full banking services and physical notes and coins. Every Australian must be able to use cash to buy food and groceries if they choose.



We call for an Australian right to access banking and use cash to buy essentials in our local communities, towns and suburbs.

 

[qldfrog]

That may have been the issue.

I received an email today -

Yesterday, 10,000 people reported issues accessing their Westpac Banking accounts after a Westpac outage resulted in difficulties for customers accessing online banking. This impacted customers’ ability to manage online banking, pay bills, and make purchases.​

With a link to sign a petition (i will read later today) -

Petition · An Australian cash and banking guarantee · Change.org

www.change.org

Banks are deserting towns and suburbs and leaving Australians without ready access to cash and banking services.

Millions of Australian consumers and businesses trust and rely on cash for their everyday needs and for budgeting purposes. Even Australians that don’t attend banks or use cash regularly need access to face-to-face banking services and physical money sometimes.

Without a guarantee of access to full banking services and physical cash and a guaranteed right to use cash to buy food and essentials:

· Local economies are weaker and vulnerable to system outages.

· Many vulnerable people are effectively excluded from the economy.

· Businesses are harder to manage.



View attachment 166710


We call for an Australian Banking and Cash Guarantee that includes these rights:



1) All Australians must be able to have reasonable local access to cash and full banking services.

2) All Australians must be able to choose cash when paying for food and essentials at physical retailers.





View attachment 166711
No Australian town, suburb or community should be left without reasonable local access to full banking services and physical notes and coins. Every Australian must be able to use cash to buy food and groceries if they choose.



We call for an Australian right to access banking and use cash to buy essentials in our local communities, towns and suburbs.

The real issue is the disappearance of ATM in many smaller towns ..
In case of outage even localised on one bank or system, you can not even physically get cash unless driving far away ..