General Chat

Late last year we received notices that 2 of the places we deal with will no longer accept cheques in payment of credit card bills.

One was the major Canadian department store (HBC), and the letter said cheques would no longer be acceptable for paying a HBC CC bill at a HBS store .......... debit or cash only, please.

The other was from a major gas (petrol) company, and said that cheques would no longer be accepted, DD or bank transfer only please.

Of course, very few businesses now own and run their own CCs ...... most have handed over that part to a finance company, and the above letters were from such companies.

It made little difference to us because we had already set up arrangements with the bank to make payments to these companies, and I now do transfers online.

But I note that cash was still acceptable at the store.

Ann in Gloucs..you are not alone. I have never done an online shop or do i want to do one. I actually enjoy going around the supermarket.
One reason is that its the only place i actually may see someone i know and have a chat with them.Since Ive moved, i dont get any visitors!

But i prefer to see fresh fruit and veg for real and whats available.Also sometimes they have reduced items or one offs in a bargain bucket that you are not going to see online.

For those who are housebound or without transport then maybe online shopping is a godsend for those people. But for many, a trip out to do shopping is also a social outing and exercise too.

When the cheque guarantee card was replaced with a debit card, shops were reluctant to accept cheque because they could be returned unpaid and obviously lose out. A few local shops and garages here will take a cheque but thats only because its a small place and they know where you live if the cheque bounced.

Businesses do get charged by banks for handling cash so although they get charges for handling debit cards, i think overall card payments are cheaper for the business.

Our buses take cash and bus passes.

I do remember when i worked in the bank during the 70s and 80s, many pubs would bring in loads of coins and we needed a trolley to move them as they were far too heavy.The local council would empty all the car park machines and bank all those coins...

i use to fill 2 cash machines for the weekend with 1/2 million in each and sometimes they would be empty on sunday...On a bank holiday weekend, we had to come in and top the machines up so they wouldnt run out..Changed days eh?

I recently went into my bank to exchange coins i had ben saving. The total was only £50. But i had to pay the change in and then draw it out as they wouldnt exchange the coins for notes..Such a small amount couldnt believe it.

Florence in the hebrides

I forgot to say that we also do not do grocery or pharmacy shopping online, and have no intention of doing so.

I do however shop online for many of my clothes, both from US companies, and also from Canadian companies. I wouldn't buy shoes, coats or trousers online, I want to try those on.

I also buy most of my books online .............. I sign in to one book store every 2 months or so and check for new paper backs by my favourite authors, and also browse their new releases.

Thanks for all your replies :-D