New York is set to ban cashless businesses in November
By: Alicia Gajraj
Paying with a debit or credit card is much easier and favored when shopping in stores. It has become standard in most businesses that paying with a card is available for customers that may not have cash.
In the midst of a pandemic, many retail establishments are taking cards as a payment instead of cash because of the fear of contracting COVID-19. The transmission of COVID-19 through money is possible. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 can survive on paper currency, but the risk of contracting the virus is very low compared to coming in contact with someone who is infected.
Chetram Persaud, a frequent customer at Insomnia cookies noticed that his favorite cookie store was not taking cash when he last visited. The store had signs up stating that it was only taking cards, no cash. Persaud did not have a problem with paying with his card because he was also scared of using paper currency in stores.
“I was not surprised that the store decided to take cards instead of cash. I understood that because of the pandemic, many stores were scared that somehow someone could have contracted the virus from cash payments,” Chetram said.
Soon, stores with signs stating, “No Cash, Only Cards,” enforcing only one type of payment will be illegal in New York City. The city council voted on new legislation on January 23rd, 2020 that bans stores, restaurants, and retail establishments from refusing to accept cash as a form of payment.
It will also be illegal for an associate working at a retail establishment, food store or deli to state the establishment does not accept cash or there are signs that states that the establishment only takes card according to the NYC rules website. The legislation was voted on to assist customers who may not have a credit or debit card and their only method of paying is cash.
Mukta Ahmed, a student at Brooklyn College chooses not to have a debit or credit card. She pays with cash regularly when she shops, but she has experienced a hassle when trying to buy something. She would grab her items to check out and later finds out the store does not accept cash.
“I have been to stores that weren’t accepting cash and I had to leave everything that I took and leave the store because I had no other choice,” Ahmed said.
There are many stores that are not familiar with this law taking in effect, but store owners that give options to their customer find it hard to believe that other stores are only taking one payment method. This includes Charlie, the owner of Abounaji Deli and Grocery in Staten Island. His deli gives the option for customers to pay in both card and cash because he feels that would help his business grow.
“Giving options to customers to pay will help grow my business. People who have those options will most likely come back to my store to shop so that my business stay alive,” Charlie said.
The Legislation will take into effect on November 20th, as New York joins other states like New Jersey, Philadelphia and San Francisco, all approved such bans last year.