Cash payments 'make a big difference' says small business owner: 'The money stays in the village!'
Thuline Hill has expressed her support for keeping cash “alive”
GB NEWS
An artist and small business owner has expressed her support for keeping cash “alive” as more and more places opt to only accept card payments.
Thuline Hill, who paints and sells from the Thuline studio-gallery in Windermere, has decided to encourage the use of cash by placing a “card accepted, cash preferred” sign in the window.
The artist, who also runs a series of painting workshops, told GB News that not having to pay card payment charges to the payment facilitators means a lot to small businesses.
During an exclusive interview, she told GB News: “If people pay cash, the banks aren't taking any part of it.
“You have to pay it into the bank obviously, but the card machines charge a lot of money and for small businesses like myself, it makes a big difference.”
Mrs Hill hasn’t increased prices due to card payment fees, meaning the charges eat into profits.
She said: “It’s less money in the pocket. The bank’s taking quite a big share.”
Since she put the “cash preferred” sign up, Mrs Hill has noticed “a few more” people have been paying with cash if they could.
The entrepreneur understands why people are opting to pay by card but is hoping people will use cash if they are able to.
Mrs Hill hopes that if a high number of people use cash as their method of payment, it will need to remain an option.
She said: “It’s so much more practical, in a way, using a card all the time, but all the money goes to the wrong place.
“The money doesn’t stay in the village because it all goes straight to the bank.
“I think it’s a shame for the community because cash, you can feel it, and you know how much you spend. I’ve always liked working with cash.”
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Mrs Hill worries about the impact not carrying as much cash will have, such as on waiting staff in restaurants.
“For example, you go for a meal and then you haven’t got any money to pay for a tip so then the tip goes straight on the card as well.”
While it may be the money is passed onto the staff, it’s not guaranteed they will get the money, unlike directly giving the employees the cash.
It’s a concern shared by her husband, Dave Hill. He is worried about the impact a cashless society would have on smaller organisations such as children's football teams.
He said little organisations such as sports facilities "rely on a small amount of cash coming in".
Mr Hill explained: "You need parents to give you £2 or £3 to pay for the referee. Well, you're not going to have a card machine on the football pitch."
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