The Deadly Downside of a Cashless Society

The Deadly Downside of a Cashless Society

I first became aware of the dangers 21 years ago. In a nutshell, a female client was tracked down by her abusive partner and held at knifepoint. He tracked her down using the cheque and card transactions and ambushed her at the hotel.

Back then, she had a few weeks of breathing space because the bank statements arrived every few weeks. Now, every card transaction is instantaneous and gives massive amounts of detail about exactly where you are in terms of geographical location.

Many women* I've worked with over the years only had some semblance of a life because they were saving their 'pin money' so their partner couldn't track their every move.

In May 2022, I found the ticket machines at Paddington Station, London, didn't take cash. A distressed looking woman tried to buy a bottle of water on the train on the same day. They denied her. She didn't speak much English and said she didn't have a card. I was only on the train for an hour and a half, but imagine in this weather having to go for the full 4 hours without water.

On a sweltering hot day in Regent's Park last month, I tried to buy an ice lolly and a banana with the exact change. No can do.

The incident in the park did also make me wonder if children are now walking round with debit cards and tapping smart watches. Two years ago, as the pandemic took hold, it became apparent many families don't have a PC or regular Wi-Fi, so I'm thinking the aforementioned is unlikely.

* I've said women because it was a woman who first alerted me to this problem back in 2001. I know there is also an often silent demographic of abused men in the world.

This move to a cashless society creates several dangerous silos. Aside from those attempting to flee domestic abuse and violent situations and not wishing to leave an instant digital trail as they go, there are also those who do not have the luxury of access to fully topped up debit cards and smart watches.

The incident I faced in Regent's Park when trying to buy an ice lolly on a sweltering hot day in London; yes, I know, a rare combination but true, raised the issue of children. Are 10-year-olds all now walking around with fully loaded smart watches? What about those less affluent families who can't afford such technology?

And what about the elderly and those who don't cope well with or have access to technology or bank accounts?

And what about the homeless population?

I've been discussing this globally, and we are all now losing count of the number of places now refusing to take cash.