Which? responds as Treasury Committee warns firms ‘may need to be forced to accept cash to prevent two-tier society'

Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said:

"Which? research has found that as many as one in seven people have struggled to use cash to pay in shops in the past, and as card-only payments become increasingly popular, there is a real risk that those who rely on cash could fall through the cracks and struggle to buy even essential items.

"Taking a more consistent approach to monitoring cash acceptance would be a welcome move to ensure the Government can properly get to grips with the UK's rapidly evolving payments landscape, but it's clear that this is just one part of a bigger picture.

"Bank branches have been closing at an alarming rate, chipping away at the infrastructure which makes it easy for local businesses to continue taking cash payments. Until the government meets its commitment to roll out hundreds of new banking hubs, it's likely that those who rely on cash will both increasingly struggle to access their money, and to spend it. "

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

- In April 2023, a survey of 1,124 Which? members found that one in seven people had struggled to pay with cash at a business or retailer in the previous 12 months. See more here.