Cash payments now being refused at several big high street names

Six major brands have gone cashless in some or all of their stores, in what some people are calling a 'completely unacceptable' move.

Several big-name high street brands, including restaurant chains, bakeries, and supermarket petrol stations are refusing cash at various outlets, which has sparked outrage from pro-cash campaigners who are branding the policy as 'completely unacceptable'.

Italian restaurant chain Zizzi's has announced it will no longer take cash payments in most of its eateries, now only accepting card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, except for when customers leave cash tips.

Gail's Bakery, which operates out of over 150 shops, is now card-only countrywide, and Asian-inspired restaurant Itsu has been cashless since 2019.

Big-name supermarkets aren't lagging behind either, as their cafés and petrol stations are hopping onto the cashless bandwagon, reports the Daily Star.

Zizzi's online FAQs said: "To provide the smoothest and fastest payment experience, and to keep our teams safe, we are cashless and we encourage card, Apple Pay or Google Pay transactions.

"You can pay up to £100 contactless on your card and unlimited when using Apple Pay and Google Pay in most of our restaurants."

Gail's Bakery stated: "We only accept card payments. This practice has environmental benefits as it eliminates the need for cash collection and delivery, which used to be done by car several times per week across over a hundred locations."

"Additionally, being cashless has had a positive impact on the security of our bakeries by minimising the risk of criminal activity."

A spokesperson for Itsu said when it went cashless: "We trialled this earlier in the year at stores with the highest percentage of card transactions in order to assess customer feedback before rolling out to others," and added, "We now have 12 and have plans to continue as the response so far has been largely positive."

Tesco has jumped on the cashless trend too, announcing in August that it is ditching physical money at 40 UK cafe spots, reports the Express. Customers at these cafes will have to tap away on digital screens to order their scran, before using their plastic card or phone to pay.

Asda has also announced that nearly 270 of its petrol stations are going cash-free, meaning drivers can only use card to fill up their tank.

The supermarket attributed the change to the fact that a whopping 90 per cent of payments at its petrol stations were already completed using card or contactless. But don't worry, cash lovers, as Asda is still accepting notes and coins at all its other stores and supermarkets.

Sainsbury's is lagging behind on the cashless trend, with most of its stores and petrol stations still taking physical money.

Ron Delnevo, Chairman of the Payment Choice Alliance, has branded the move to cashless as 'completely unacceptable' and is rallying for new laws to force retailers to accept cash.

He stated: "The vast majority of the public want cash to be honoured as a payment. These businesses are letting down the public."

But Full Fact said retailers are within their rights to turn down your cash.

Full Fact said: "It's not illegal for shops or businesses to refuse to accept cash. They can also refuse to accept card payments. And while cash is 'legal tender', this has a narrow definition that doesn't mean businesses must accept it."

The 'legal tender' myth is a common misconception and refers only to those who are offering to repay a debt. The rule says debtors must accept any form of 'legal tender' - in England and Wales, coins and notes, in Scotland, just coins - offered to repay a debt.