Major retailers promise not to ditch cash as shoppers are turned away

Major supermarkets and high-street shops have promised they will not go cashless after more than a third of people’s notes and coins were rejected last year.

Aldi, Asda, Co-op, John Lewis, Lloyds Pharmacy and Waitrose have all joined a call to protect access to cash organised by consumer group Which?.

The pandemic led to a dramatic fall in cash usage as people stayed at home and shopped online more frequently.

However, some shops used fears around coronavirus transmission as an excuse to ditch cash entirely with polling by Which? finding that 34 per cent of people had been declined at least once since restrictions were first introduced.

Anabel Hoult, chief executive of Which?, said: “Our cash-friendly pledge will reassure consumers who rely on cash that they won’t be left behind as we make the transition to digital payments.”

She added: “The pandemic has dramatically accelerated the decline of cash usage - threatening the whole infrastructure that ensures millions of people who aren’t yet ready to make the switch to digital payments can access and spend their own money.”

The news comes ahead of an access to cash summit hosted by the group in which it will call on the Government to set out when its legislation to protect access to cash will be introduced and provide greater clarity on its long-term plans.

The Treasury promised such legislation in March last year. In April the Government amended the rules to allow shops to offer cashback without the need for a consumer to make a purchase.

A Treasury spokesman said: “We remain committed to further legislation to protect cash.”

Further plans which have been suggested include banks sharing branches or technology allowing people to order cash alongside a takeaway or home delivery.