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Daily Record
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
French firm behind Edinburgh Airport blasted for banning cash for parking
Campaigners said it was hypocritical for the airport to only accept card payments given it's illegal for firms to go cashless in France. The French firm which co-owns Edinburgh Airport has been blasted for banning cash payments for parking - despite it being illegal for businesses to go cashless in France. Campaigners said Scots are being treated like "second-class citizens" compared to European counterparts where many countries have passed laws protecting the right to use cash. Edinburgh is jointly owned by Vinci Airports which holds a 50.01 per cent stake in the firm alongside Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) which owns the remaining 49.99 per cent. Vinci owns 70 airports, including Gatwick and Belfast International and bought its majority stake in Edinburgh last year. Edinburgh Airport made parking charges cashless on July 1, following Glasgow and Aberdeen. But given Edinburgh Airport's French connection, Ron Delnevo, of the Payment Choice Alliance, said the move was hypocritical. He said: 'By law in France, cash must be accepted. "It's an absolute joke how we're being treated in Britain - we're being treated as second-class citizens. "All around Europe, the public has these rights but here we're being told to let businesses decide. "That's complete rubbish. Older people in particular are embarrassed if they go in somewhere and their cash is turned down.' Edinburgh Airport Limited, the company Vinci bought a majority stake in last year, remains a Scottish company. Edinburgh Airport said: "More than 90 per cent of transactions in our car parks are now cashless, and this trend informed our decision." It comes after we told how Scottish banknotes are being quietly phased out with many ATMs now issuing English cash. The Sunday Mail revealed earlier this month how Scotland's unique cash - a symbol of Scottish national identity and banking heritage - is being stripped out of circulation at four times the rate of English currency. Bank of England data shows the value of Scottish notes in circulation has slumped by nearly a fifth since 2020, the year the Covid-19 pandemic hit and saw an increase in contactless card payments. The total value of Scottish banknotes in circulation - including in people's wallets, shop tills and in the wider economy, as well as in ATMs and bank branches - had slipped below £5billion for the first time since November 2020. The value of Scottish notes held in ATMs and bank branches fell from half a billion pounds in 2017 to just £240million last year - a huge real-terms cut of 63 per cent. The Payment Choice Alliance campaigns on the right to access and use cash anywhere in the country. Some of the most vulnerable groups in the country rely on cash, including many people with disabilities - either because they do not have access to a debit card, or because someone else controls their money. People over-65s rely on cash too, as well as victims of domestic abuse who often need cash to escape controlling partners who track their debit or credit card activity. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Daily Record
06-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Scottish bank notes quietly phased out as Glasgow ATMs dispense English tenners
SUNDAY MAIL EXCLUSIVE: Our investigation found circulation of Scotland's unique currency has slumped by nearly a fifth since 2020. Scottish banknotes are being quietly phased out, a Sunday Mail investigation has revealed. We have uncovered official data which shows our unique cash - a symbol of Scotland's national identity and banking heritage - is being stripped out of circulation at four times the rate of English branded currency. We found ATMs across the country now giving Bank of England tenners and twenties. Politicians and campaigners have reacted angrily to our findings. Ex-Justice Secretary and Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill said: 'The Scottish banks must explain why the decline in Scottish bank notes in circulation has fallen four times as fast as equivalent notes south of the border. 'If things continue as they are, one day we might reach the ridiculous point where people in Scotland are simply unable to get Scottish bank notes from cash machines at all. 'That would be totally unacceptable. 'Scottish bank notes are a matter of pride for Scots and the banks must provide reassurance that they are not being phased out against the expressed wishes of their customers.' The Bank of Scotland was the first bank in Europe to issue paper money in 1695. But Bank of England data shows the value of Scottish notes in circulation has slumped by nearly a fifth since 2020, the year the Covid-19 pandemic hit and saw an increase in contactless card payments. Overall, it means a fall of 16 per cent in real-terms in just five years - a decline which is four times faster than Bank of England notes which have dropped by just 4 per cent. People across Scotland have reported to us a rise in cash machines dispensing English notes rather than Scottish currency. We visited three cashpoints in Glasgow, including an ATM at Sainsbury's on Gordon Street opposite Central Station and two other machines in the west end. Our reporter took out £90 - with £80 dispensed as Bank of England notes and just £10 as Scottish notes, in the form of two Clydesdale Bank fivers. The total value of Scottish bank notes in circulation - including in people's wallets, shop tills and in the wider economy as well in ATMs and bank branches - had slipped below £5billion for the first time since November 2020. The value of Scottish notes held in ATMs and bank branches fell from half a billion pounds in 2017 to just £240million last year - a massive real-terms cut of 63 per cent. Ron Delnevo, who chairs the Payment Choice Alliance which campaigns on retaining the right to cash, said: 'There's no doubt that having Scottish notes is an expensive business for the banks. 'There's also the issue that whilst English notes are always accepted in Scotland, Scottish notes aren't always accepted in England - and the further south you go, the more problems you get. 'I would guess we're going to, more and more, see Scottish notes moving out of things like ATMs.' Three banks in Scotland issue Scottish bank notes - Royal Bank of Scotland, Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank. The 2008 financial crisis led to a series of acquisitions and mergers in the UK banking sector in which Scottish banks were absorbed into larger UK-wide entities. Bank of Scotland, which had already merged with Halifax in 2001, was taken over by London-headquartered Lloyds Bank in 2009. Clydesdale Bank merged with Virgin Money in 2018 then was acquired last year by Nationwide Building Society in a £2.3billion deal. RBS Group, which was bailed out by taxpayers to the tune of £45billion in 2008 and partly owned by the UK Government for 17 years, was rebranded NatWest Group in 2020. Lloyd Banking Group said it had no plans to stop issuing Bank of Scotland notes and stated it printed notes based on 'market demand'. Asked if there was an explicit policy to phase-out Clydesdale Bank notes, a spokesperson for Virgin Money said: 'No, we continue to issue notes to meet demand.' NatWest Group, which includes RBS, was also approached for comment. Delnevo added: 'We're being pushed towards a cashless society despite the fact people don't want it. 'We did a poll recently and 71 percent of people, including Scots and people in England and Wales, want a law passed guaranteeing their cash will be accepted. 'When LINK, the ATM network, did a survey, they found over 80 per cent wanted to retain the option of using cash. There's no desire amongst the public to see a cashless society. 'But there are whole areas of Scotland that have been completely denuded of bank branches and bank ATMs and it's very hard to get Scottish notes. 'People's cash access in these parts of the country is hanging by a thread.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. He used one example of Campbeltown in Argyll and Bute where there is a single bank branch, run by Virgin Money. He added: 'Apart from that, there wasn't another bank branch within 50 miles, and this was on the Scottish mainland.' Some of the most vulnerable groups in the country rely on cash, including many people with disabilities - either because they do not have access to a debit card, or because someone else controls their money. Delnevo added: 'It's a massive problem. There are 16million disabled people in the UK, 13million older people over 65. 'There are 4million people living in abusive households and cash is an escape route because they can use cash secretly whereas they can't do that with debit cards or credit cards. 'Millions of people would be impacted by the loss of cash.'
Metro
06-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
Uber makes major change to how customers pay for rides in UK first
Since it first hit British roads in 2012, Uber has been a digital-only service, with ordering, tracking and payment all taking place on the company's app. Now though, a major part of this process is going analog, as the ride-sharing firm has announced it's accepting cash for the first time ever. Following trials in Birmingham, Stoke, Nottingham and Leicester, cash payments have been extended to all UK cities except London, where the move is being reviewed by authorities. Customers can select cash as their payment option on the app, requesting rides as normal but handing over physical money at the end of the journey instead of the usual automatic card transaction. However, drivers can choose to opt out of this payment method altogether – for example, if they're worried about the safety of carrying notes and coins or the potential for passengers to attempt to evade fares by running away (known as 'bilking'). For those that do take cash, they'll log and rate the trip on the app as usual – and if they don't have enough change, it will be credited to the customer through their Uber account. It comes after a report from the Treasury Committee suggested vulnerable people are at risk of social exclusion as the country transitions further towards a cashless economy. More Trending While it stopped short of recommending a change in the law, it said 'there may come a time in the future' where cash acceptance is mandated, 'if appropriate safeguards have not been implemented' for those who cannot pay by card. Committee chair, Dame Meg Hillier, commented: 'The Government is in the dark on how widely cash is being accepted and that is completely unsustainable… this needs to be a wake-up call.' Ron Delnevo from the Payment Choice Alliance claimed Uber's latest move 'demonstrates that they now believe in the future of cash in the UK', bringing its operations into line with other countries where it allows cash payments. View More » A spokesperson for the company echoed this in a statement, saying: 'We believe that movement should be accessible to everyone, so following successful pilots in some UK cities over the last 18 months, we have decided to give passengers outside of London the option to pay for trips with cash.' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@
Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Uber rolling out payment change across UK this week in major shake-up
The 18-month pilot trials took place in Birmingham, Stoke, Nottingham and Leicester. Customers told Uber that they liked the option being there, as some preferred paying in cash, while others didn't have a bank card they could link to the app Uber will this week allow passengers to pay with cash as part of a major shake-up to its payment system. Following trials in several UK cities, the new option will be rolled out to the majority of the country this week. However, the payment option will not be extended to London, as it is still being reviewed. Uber has dominated the ride-hailing market for the last decade and has now expanded to other transport sectors. Since its launch, it has been completely cashless, with customers only able to pay through the app with a linked credit or debit card or through PayPal. The option to pay in cash will now appear on the Uber app. However, drivers can opt out of accepting notes and coins if they can't provide change or if they fear for their safety by carrying money. If drivers are unable to provide any change, Uber will credit the customer's account on the app. The 18-month pilot trials took place in Birmingham, Stoke, Nottingham and Leicester. Customers told Uber that they liked the option being there, as some preferred paying in cash, while others didn't have a bank card they could link to the app. Authorities in London are reviewing the cash option, and remains unavailable for Uber Eats or booking other forms of transport through the Uber app. The firm has not confirmed when a decision could be made on including the capital in the shake-up. A spokesman for Uber said: "We believe that movement should be accessible to everyone, so following successful pilots in some UK cities over the last 18 months, we have decided to give passengers outside of London the option to pay for trips with cash." Sign up to Mirror Money's newsletter for the latest advice and news From universal credit to furlough, employment rights, travel updates and emergency financial aid - we've got all of the big financial stories you need to know about right now. Ron Delnevo, chair of the Payment Choice Alliance, told the BBC that Uber's decision "demonstrates that they now believe in the future of cash in the UK" and called on government to go one step by further by making it a law for shops and services to accept cash. The move follows a Treasury Committee report that suggested that all shops and services must be forced to accept cash in the future to help protect vulnerable people who rely on it. The report, which looked into cash acceptance, highlighted various groups who relied on cash, including some people with learning disabilities and those who use cash to keep to a budget. Among those reliant on cash - and who gave evidence to the committee - were victim-survivors of domestic and economic abuse. The report said the government had to improve its monitoring of cashless businesses. However, ministers have said there are no plans to introduce blanket rules for cash acceptance.
Daily Mail
05-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Uber announces major shake up to the way customers can pay for rides
Uber has announced a major shake up by allowing customers to pay for their rides by cash. The app-based firm said it wanted to make transport more accessible for its passengers as it announced an 18-month trial in several cities would be extended across Britain, apart from in London. Uber's pilot scheme in Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham and Stoke found that some customers had preferred to use cash when it came to paying for their rides. The cash option will now show on the app, but drivers can opt out of accepting notes and coins if they can't provide change or if they fear for their safety by carrying money. If drivers are unable to provide any change then Uber will credit the customer's account on the app. The option of paying by cash is still under review by local authorities in the capital and can't be used for Uber Eats or any other form of transport on the app. The move has been heralded by campaigners as Uber now 'believing in the future of cash in the UK' and comes on the back of the Treasury Committee finding that a growing number of retailers and services are rejecting cash payments. The cross-party committee warned the country could become a 'two-tier society' unless the problem was tackled where vulnerable groups become excluded from community spaces. A spokesman for Uber said: 'We believe that movement should be accessible to everyone, so following successful pilots in some UK cities over the last 18 months, we have decided to give passengers outside of London the option to pay for trips with cash.' Ron Delnevo, chair of the Payment Choice Alliance, told the BBC that Uber's decision 'demonstrates that they now believe in the future of cash in the UK' and called on government to go one step by further by making it a law for shops and services to accept cash. The Treasury Select Committee last week urged the public to hoard cash for cyberattacks and blackouts. The Treasury Select Committee mooted the drastic advice as it warned over the growing shift away from coins and banknotes. The MPs said businesses might have to be forced to accept hard currency to stop the UK sleepwalking to becoming a cashless society. One in two shoppers have recently been somewhere that did not accept, or discouraged the use of, cash, according to research from ATM network Link published last year. Around a fifth experienced this in a cafe, restaurant or when paying for parking, and one in ten on public transport or in a pub. Charities also told the Committee that local government funded services, such as leisure centres, are increasingly cashless. Vulnerable groups who rely on cash, including elderly people, those with learning disabilities and domestic abuse victims, told the Committee that they are forced to pay more for essential goods and services because the number of places where they can spend cash is reduced. The Committee suggested the Government could recommend that households hold cash in case of a national emergency. 'In discharging its responsibility for national security and resilience, HM Treasury must consider the value of physical cash in emergency preparedness,' the report said. 'This may include recommending that cash is held by individuals in case of emergency, and considering what role cash distribution might play in a severe payment systems outage.'
