Cashless society exiles

SIR – Barclaycard said it was “no longer comfortable’’ providing a credit facility to Brigitte and David Birch, who had held accounts for 27 years and had an unblemished credit record (“Souvenir rug leaves couple with no card,” report, June 30).

Countries around the world are dispensing with cash because of new technology such as phone payment apps and contactless systems. While few doubt its convenience, there are downsides to a cashless society.

Currently, two credit-card providers hold the lion’s share of the market, with a worrying degree of control over our means of payment. Credit card companies have the legal right to refuse anyone a card or to revoke an existing card – without giving reasons.

Such power needs curtailing by encouraging more providers and other payment avenues.

Like utilities such as water, gas and electricity, e-payment systems have become indispensable to everyday life, but what happens to some innocent person who gets cut off from the cashless payment system? Effectively, they become divorced from society.