How long have you not used cash?

According to a recent survey conducted by the People's Bank of China, 83% of the respondents said they carried less than RMB 500 in cash; more than 70% of the respondents said they were accustomed to non-cash payments.

Now non-cash payments are so fast and efficient,

Why have to keep cash payment?

  In fact, some groups and realities are often overlooked:

  1. Many people are trapped in the "digital divide"

  The central bank's survey data shows that only 27.3% of the elderly aged 60 and above can access financial services and information through the Internet.

  In addition, there are a large number of people and scenes using cash in rural areas.

In rural areas, many people with low education, low income, and older people think that cash is safer and more reliable; many agricultural and sideline products are purchased and sold through cash transactions; the deployment of electronic payment devices in some remote areas is difficult to achieve full coverage.

  2. It is difficult for certain groups of people to leave cash

  For overseas tourists, those who do not have a RMB account rely on cash when spending at attractions and small and medium-sized merchants.

  For minors, parents will not easily equip them with mobile payment accounts, and use small pocket money for their children.

  For the disabled, especially the visually impaired, it is more difficult to use non-cash payment, and the RMB cash has Braille for easy use.

  3. Technical failure requires cash emergency

  Not to mention, once you encounter a natural disaster, you need to make emergency preparations.

Even in daily life, in the face of mobile phone loss, battery exhaustion, insufficient network traffic, poor signal, etc., cash is needed as an emergency payment method.

  Despite repeated orders from the Central Bank of “irrejection of cash”, many people still encounter situations of rejection or discriminatory measures to exclude cash.

  Some basic public services such as medical care, travel, water, electricity and gas have vigorously developed online services, and on-site services have been cancelled; some institutions blindly advocate a "cashless" society and do not consider the demand for cash payment; some merchants are keen to guide customers to install apps and pay attention to small The program, but turned away the banknotes and coins that were handed over...

  What they discriminate against is not "cash" but "rights."

Some institutions and merchants have over-enhanced mobile payments, weakened or even refused cash payments, infringing consumers' right to choose cash payments.

Merchants unilaterally exclude their own obligation to collect cash, increase consumers' obligation to use non-cash payment tools, and violate the right to fair transactions.

  To this end, the central bank issued an announcement a few days ago that it will make heavy efforts to rectify the rejection of cash.

For some cash payment entities, the central bank will remind you by name!

  Departments handling administrative and institutional charges: manual cash collection and payment channels should be set up, with personnel on duty and collecting cash, providing service windows or counters for change.

  Public service agencies: social security, medical, education, water, electricity, gas, heating and other public service agencies should set up manual cash payment channels.

  Transportation departments: operating entities such as railways, road passenger transport, urban buses and trams, urban rail transit, etc. should set up cash payment channels or provide conversion methods.

Taxi operators or drivers can support multiple payment methods, but should accept cash payment.

  Large and medium-sized commercial institutions: especially business establishments such as wholesale and retail, catering and accommodation, residential services, culture, sports and entertainment, etc., should set up cash collection and payment channels.

  Small and micro economic entities: family workshops, individual businesses, mobile vendors, etc. can support multiple payment methods, but should accept cash payments.

  Unmanned sales and network operation entities: should be marked in a conspicuous position, explaining the payment method, operation process and service contact number.

If all transactions, payments, and services are completed through the Internet, the business entity shall publicize the payment method in advance.

What should I do if I encounter cash rejection?

  Keep evidence, report, complain!

  If consumers find that they refuse to accept or take discriminatory measures to exclude cash, they can properly retain the corresponding evidence or clues, and file complaints and reports through various channels such as urban government hotline, consumer rights protection, and financial consumer rights protection to defend their rights.

(Reporter Wu Yu) Source: Xinhua Viewpoint