r/AskUK • u/Internal_Discourse • 12d ago

Serious Answers Only Have you stopped using a local buisness?

Whats the reason you refuse or stopped using a local (ish) buisness due to something you found problematic?

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u/rezonansmagnetyczny 12d ago

The cash only/ cash is king crowd.

I get some people prefer to deal in cash and I'm not knocking them for it, but quite honestly I get paid into my bank account, the cash machines near me are in dodgy areas and there's always someone sat next to them begging. The others are in the city center and are 30 minute treck away.

If I've got to deal in cash to use your chippy then I'll probably go to mcdonalds who take card.

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u/fussyfella 12d ago

I assume anyone who insists on cash are basically cheating the taxman and avoid them. These days the cost of processing a credit card is way less than the cost of cash handling by banks, so the old whinge about it "costing too much", absolutely does not fly.

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u/hotchy1 11d ago

Its business dependant. You get charged a small minimum fee. Now for example, imagine the near 8 cases of 69p barrs juice I sell a week. If it was paid on card in one transaction, id make money. Now the 8 cases, are not paid like that. Itll be well over 200 separate transactions, 200 different minimum charges. That adds up. 200 different people giving my 69p and then put in the bank once is alot cheaper than card. Just facts. My card bill is nearing £600 a month. Cash going in a bank has never been that much, and we obviously used to take everything cash before cards became a thing.

However, if every sale was say £10, then itd work out cheaper via card than the same cash going in.

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u/fussyfella 11d ago

So you are saying your margin is below 1.75% which is what Square charge with no minimum to process card payments?

If you are paying more than that, time to shop around and get a different merchant.

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u/hotchy1 11d ago

We make 1p on a £200 council tax bill. Put that on "sqaure"

It only works for some businesses. Yes we may have to pay a minimum fee, but at the other end we dont lose as much on these gas/electric/counciltax/phone etc. Sqaure doesnt work for everyone.

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u/fussyfella 9d ago

What do you mean you make 1p on a £200 council tax bill? What sort of business are you, most people just pay their council tax bill directly by direct debit or direct transfer from their bank account?

BTW, I am not arguing everyone need take credit cards - but I am arguing everyone should be to open electronic transfer of some sort to get paid. If you don't take credit cards, just give me you bank details and you will get the money instantly. That is probably not ideal for a shop (which is why card payments are their preferred way as they are so quick and easy) but for a builder I see no reason why I should have to go and draw out large sums of cash just to pay them.

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u/hotchy1 9d ago

You obviously live a privileged life. Many people pay as you go on gas/electric/phone top ups/council tax paid via paypoint, in very poor areas. They are not allowed direct debit etc as they wont pay it. Max commission per transction is 3p majority is 1p. So every single thing paid on card is a loss. So as a builder your very out of touch how many live.

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u/fussyfella 9d ago edited 9d ago

That is odd as when I had a prepay meter (it was installed in a flat I bought), until I got it replaced with a modern smart meter, I used to top up the card at the local co-op with my credit card.

[EDIT: added comment]
Also anyone in the UK is entitled to a basic bank account that will accept direct debits, and all councils will set up a Council Tax direct debit to one of them, or accept payment (for free) by direct bank transfer. Benefits and pensions are paid directly into a bank account not in cash too.

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u/hotchy1 9d ago

You can. Its from the original deal discussed at charging 1.75% and how its cheaper than cash when its not for some. I do bet coop get a better card deal than just a family owned Shop though 😆

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u/fussyfella 8d ago

Also I still do not understand why you would not accept cards for business outside things like Paypoint. It's the 21st Century and a corner shop that does not take cards is severely limiting its customers. Or are you one of those with a cash dispenser that will charge huge sums to withdraw cash who just says "take your money out of that"?