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Why should I have to pay more for buses if I don't use a smartphone?

65 points · 89 comments · DamonHD

  1. unified101 · · focus · HN ↗
    The actual answer is there's operational cost to handling cash, or payment methods beyond the ones that cover 99.9% people well. You pay more for the extra hassle the whole system has to serve that .1%

    You may not like or disagree with it. But it's the true answer.

    1. bell-cot · · focus · HN ↗
      I don't know Britain, but in my part of America the extra costs of taking credit cards are so high that most gasoline (petrol) stations give a ~3% discount to customers paying with old-fashioned paper cash. And I know little grocery stores with signs by their register, asking customers to please pay with cash - because margins are tight, and the bank takes an X% cut of every credit card payment and a Y% cut of every debit card payment.
      1. graemep · · focus · HN ↗
        That is illegal in the UK.
        1. CGamesPlay · · focus · HN ↗
          I don't' know what "that" you're referring to, but in the USA it is against the payment processor agreement to give a discount for cash. So not illegal, but a contract breach.
          1. graemep · · focus · HN ↗
            In the UK it is actually against the law.
            1. Joker_vD · · focus · HN ↗
              To give discounts for cash or for the payment processors to charge above 0% from the sellers?
              1. victorbjorklund · · focus · HN ↗
                A discount for cash is the same as an extra fee on cards.

                <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;europa.eu&#x2F;youreurope&#x2F;business&#x2F;finance-and-tax&#x2F;making-receiving-payments&#x2F;electronic-cash-payments&#x2F;index_en.htm" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;europa.eu&#x2F;youreurope&#x2F;business&#x2F;finance-and-tax&#x2F;making...

                (Yes, I know UK isn’t in EU anymore but pretty sure their rule is legacy from EU)

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