Digital Euro - Page 2

Irrelevant where its kept, but it's there when I want it.

Only this week I went to my branch, met the pleasant lady standing directing people to the machines, I declined her invitation as I always do and insisted in having a cashier deal with my query.

Asked for €5000 in cash, waited until they went and got it and I left with it.... when its spent I will once again walk into a branch, decline the invitation to use the machines as I always do, and wait for the cashier and they will deal with my request as they always do. Have been doing that for years and will continue to do so.

I still retain my cheque book for large transactions & a Credit card I keep for ferry booking/plane tickets & booking things.

Old school? yes, but it works for me.

Just as an fyi - it’s Probably not a great idea to post on the internet the fact that you tend to wander around with large amounts of cash. 

Agree 100 %, cash is king !! 

What bothers me is the minimum spend by some shops, if you just want a light bulb and there is a minimum spend, you will end up buying something else to make up the deficit.

Agreed, that is currently a problem, mainly due to the charges levied on retailers by the operators of card transaction machines. This I imagine would largely disappear if one is effectively simply transferring cash electronically through the phone to the retailer. Till systems etc would have to change and update, but as I remember, that happened with the laborious original voucher based system of credit cards, a clunky machine, a resultant voucher in triplicate, the accounting system required to cope with it.

Payment by whatever means is only a system of exchange, whether it's cowrie shells or electronic signals and it should be as fast, simple and convenient as possible.

Or just use cash. Simple.

As you say payment should be fast, simple and as convenient as possible, having stood behind many customers in supermarkets that are trying to pay with their phone they appear not to be fast nor convenient, also i am fairly sure that if all retailers were asked if they wanted only electronic payment there would be a resounding no we do not want that.

As for convenient i guess that means what method of payment are customers and retailers happy with, at the moment that is card and cash with a minority adopting phone payment.

I am not a techno phobe, indeed i am quite the opposite, however i understand the security issues with phones, many users feel they are safe, many users would be wrong.

The digital EU is simply another form of control.

“ The digital EU is simply another form of control.”

And there sir is the fact I also have an issue with. Thank you.

The folk who refuse to see this will have their obituary published in Pravda as the good comrade they are [sic]

This is correct. It is simply another control mechanism.

Yes, there are benefits to not having cash - security etc.

However much of Spain (and other countries) do have elements of a black economy - taxes and social security payments are high. Some cannot afford and live hand to mouth and YES whether agree with the legality or not - do some deals in cash.

As someone self employed and paying 300 euros a month for social security + 75 for the accountant. Ive got to earn double that, to hit break even. Fortunately, I am in a position to be able to cover this - legally. However for those who are not - and there's plenty of them, what's better? That they deal in a little cash or turn to stealing. In a fair world, everyone would pay something - but the balance is off - those who are rich pay far less and those who cannot afford to, often get to foot the bill.

By removing the element of cash - the government can see every last transaction you do - so it would be only the wealthy and politicians than can continue to steal, by employing the best tax people for loopholes - everyone else below that, will have to 'play by the rules'.

Where do you get cash when the bank branches close down?