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Swedes rebelling against a cashless society (2018)

bbc.com

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Re: Swedes rebelling against a cashless society (2018)

#2
Being able to pay through cards and phones is super convenient, but cash should never not be an option.

Card companies, payment apps and banks are constantly tracking your purchases and profiling you. This data can be leaked/stolen/sold, and is always available to governments and those in/with power.

Cash is (almost completely) anonymous. You should always be able to pay with cash if you want.

Re: Swedes rebelling against a cashless society (2018)

#3
post #2

Being able to pay through cards and phones is super convenient, but cash should never not be an option. Card companies, payment apps and banks are constantly tracking your purchases and profiling you. This data can be leaked/stolen/sold, and is always available to governments and those in/with power. Cash is (almost completely) anonymous. You should always be able to pay with cash if you want.

That article is out of date. In large parts of central Stockholm, you can't pay by cash. Legal tender is just words, if they don't take cash there's not much you can do.

Re: Swedes rebelling against a cashless society (2018)

#4
Its a bold headline, but as the article explains, its not actually very many Swedes who seem to be 'rebelling'.

People I know are trying to get pensioners they are 'responsible for' to stop carrying and using cash, as its far higher risk.

I don't personally know of anybody rebelling against the cashless society, not in any age group. Its not even talked about.

On the other hand, 'do you take swish' (a phone-to-phone payment method) is asked all the time. Lunch with friends? Instead of everyone ordering separately, just order together, and divvy it up with Swish when you get the bill. Etc.

I have a single banknote folded up my wallet, just for emergencies, and I haven't used it this year yet.

Re: Swedes rebelling against a cashless society (2018)

#5
post #2

Being able to pay through cards and phones is super convenient, but cash should never not be an option. Card companies, payment apps and banks are constantly tracking your purchases and profiling you. This data can be leaked/stolen/sold, and is always available to governments and those in/with power. Cash is (almost completely) anonymous. You should always be able to pay with cash if you want.

That article is out of date. In large parts of central Stockholm, you can't pay by cash. Legal tender is just words, if they don't take cash there's not much you can do.

So how do poor people function in a cashless society?

Re: Swedes rebelling against a cashless society (2018)

#6
post #2

Being able to pay through cards and phones is super convenient, but cash should never not be an option. Card companies, payment apps and banks are constantly tracking your purchases and profiling you. This data can be leaked/stolen/sold, and is always available to governments and those in/with power. Cash is (almost completely) anonymous. You should always be able to pay with cash if you want.

That article is out of date. In large parts of central Stockholm, you can't pay by cash. Legal tender is just words, if they don't take cash there's not much you can do.

The article starts by using a part of central Stockholm as an example of a place where you can't pay by cash. How is it out of date?

Re: Swedes rebelling against a cashless society (2018)

#7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That article is out of date. In large parts of central Stockholm, you can't pay by cash. Legal tender is just words, if they don't take cash there's not much you can do.

So how do poor people function in a cashless society?

They have bank accounts and debit cards like everyone else? In Sweden everyone can get Visa and Mastercard debit cards so you can even do internet purchases everywhere with them.

If you mean how they transfer money between each other, they just use smart phones and Swish. Beggars even ask for money that way.

Re: Swedes rebelling against a cashless society (2018)

#8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That article is out of date. In large parts of central Stockholm, you can't pay by cash. Legal tender is just words, if they don't take cash there's not much you can do.

So how do poor people function in a cashless society?

Well, they get a bank account and a debit card connected to that account. It's usually free/very cheap in Sweden.

As far as I understand it, the 'underbanked'-situation present in the U.S. for poor people is not present in Sweden.

Re: Swedes rebelling against a cashless society (2018)

#9

Its a bold headline, but as the article explains, its not actually very many Swedes who seem to be 'rebelling'. People I know are trying to get pensioners they are 'responsible for' to stop carrying and using cash, as its far higher risk. I don't personally know of anybody rebelling against the cashless society, not in any age group. Its not even talked about. On the other hand, 'do you take swish' (a phone-to-phone…

In my time in Stockholm, I think I went to two places that were cash-only. One was a gelato shop(?!), the other a shop selling old maps and lithographs run by an older man. Literally everywhere else happily takes cards.

Re: Swedes rebelling against a cashless society (2018)

#10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That article is out of date. In large parts of central Stockholm, you can't pay by cash. Legal tender is just words, if they don't take cash there's not much you can do.

So how do poor people function in a cashless society?

A bank account is a right for every EU citizen: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/financial-pr...

Banks are not allowed to refuse account opening to any resident.

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