Fifth of shoppers unable to pay with cash in stores

AROUND one in five consumers have been blocked from paying with cash in recent months as lockdown rules have eased, according to a watchdog.

- Sarah O’Grady

Consumer group Which? carried out two separate surveys, covering a total of more than 3,000 shoppers, to gauge their experience of payments.

The findings prompted Jenny Ross, Which? money editor, to call on firms to ensure people are not hindered by the transition to digital payments.

She said: “Cash is still a vital way to pay for millions of consumers.

“So it is very concerning to see many still reporting difficulties when trying to spend their notes and coins – even as the country moves out of lockdown restrictions.”