Will buskers (and beggars) need to change how they accept money?

mrcheez · 04-02-2019 12:21AM #1

I've recently gone cashless, buying everything with NFC on my watch and probably have €3 in actual cash lying somewhere at home.

I often pass people begging on the street, and buskers, but even for those that are really in need I've no way of giving them cash unless they have a scanning device.

How many years ya reckon before beggars go cashless? :pac:

I've already seen the image of the guy begging for bitcoin, but maybe that was a publicity stunt.

freshpopcorn · 04-02-2019 12:25AM

I don't know about buskers/beggars going cashless because this may effect them if they were entitled to any benefits.
People may also be reluctant to use it.

Dakotabigone · 04-02-2019 12:35AM

Wazky

Robert Wolfe · 04-02-2019 01:00AM

Thankfully I never give money to beggars or buskers so I don't have to worry about this.

branie2 · 04-02-2019 01:16AM

I haven't given money to them either.

the_syco · 04-02-2019 01:32AM

mrcheez wrote: »

How many years ya reckon before beggars go cashless? :pac:

Probably the moment that they figure you're giving them your bank details? What's a few extra zeros on the machine?

ShaneC93 · 04-02-2019 01:34AM

Wouldn't be that difficult, there's little card-reader devices these days that only cost 20-30 quid and take 2-3% in fees from each transaction - you do need to have a phone with data connected for them to work though.

For regular buskers it doesn't seem like such a bad plan but may be a stretch in finances for beggars.. then again I've seen a few around the Busaras area that seem to make a small fortune a day (like €50 - €100+ a day..) pestering tourist Luas users for change 'for a hostel' yet are always there the next day despite making more than min. wage.

TheChizler · 04-02-2019 01:35AM

They're way ahead of you OP: www.techradar.com/amp/news/london-buskers-are-the-first-to-accept-contactless-card-payments

Day Lewin · 04-02-2019 01:37AM

What does NFC stand for? No F*ckin' Cash?

Fann Linn · 04-02-2019 01:37AM

Even registered charities are getting the brush off from me. Gone are the days when €2 or €5 in a can or bucket would suffice. Nowadays thats not good enough.
'A years DD please.'

Now I have them all on ignore.

mrcheez · 04-02-2019 10:47AM

Will Churches start passing around card readers instead of baskets?

PARlance · 04-02-2019 10:58AM

mrcheez wrote: »

Will Churches start passing around card readers instead of baskets?

Like any good business, they're on top of it. Rollout started in 2017.

mrcheez · 04-02-2019 11:20AM

praise be!

mloc123 · 04-02-2019 11:30AM

In Palo Alto last year, homeless beggars accepted Apple pay..

Irish Guitarist · 04-02-2019 12:12PM

They can't be choosers.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 04-02-2019 12:18PM

Can't really see it being an issue for them as the vast majority of people have not gone cashless.

Feisar · 04-02-2019 12:20PM

Just on buskers, I lived with a lad that made a fair bit out of busking in the Temple Bar at the weekends, playing whatever the pissheads wanted to hear.

mrcheez · 04-02-2019 12:43PM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Can't really see it being an issue for them as the vast majority of people have not gone cashless.

obviously not now, the question was about what people think it will be like in coming years as more and more move to cashless.

Will buskers (and beggars) need to change how they accept money?

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