Uber starts accepting cash payments

Uber passengers can now pay for their journey in cash in all UK cities, except for London.

Until now, customers had only able to pay through the app with a linked credit or debit card or via PayPal.

But the taxi app has been piloting cash payments in Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham and Stoke over the last 18 months.

Following their success, it’s now extending the policy more widely, as it says many people either don’t have a bank card or simply prefer paying in cash.

“We believe that movement should be accessible to everyone,” an Uber spokesman said.

Passengers can use the app to select cash as their preferred payment option.

However, drivers will be able to opt out of accepting notes and coins.

And if they don’t have enough change for people paying with cash, it will be given to them in the form of credit on their account.

Campaign group welcomes announcement

Uber’s announcement has been hailed by the Payment Choice Alliance as “great news”.

“It has only taken them 13 years, but at least it demonstrates that they now believe in the future of cash in the UK,” it said.

The group has now called on the government to back legislation that would force all shops and services to accept physical notes and coins.

Businesses aren’t currently required by law to accept cash, and so far, the government has ruled out making this mandatory.

But a group of MPs has said this policy may have to change in the future.

The Treasury Committee recently pointed out that as it stands, businesses can refuse cash with no legal duty to accommodate people’s varying needs.

As a result, it wants to see better monitoring and reporting of cash acceptance nationwide.

“If it doesn’t, it risks creating a two-tier system where vulnerable groups become excluded from community spaces such as leisure centres, theatres and public transport,” MPs said.

The committee stopped short of saying that cash acceptance should be made mandatory.

However, it suggested that if those who rely on it don’t get adequate support, there “may come a time” when this needs to happen.