Link survey: 54% of Britons say businesses encouraged them to pay in cash
A survey for cash access network Link found 54% of UK adults had been asked or encouraged to pay in cash in the past eight weeks, and three-quarters of them did so.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2A survey commissioned by ATM and cash access network Link found that 54% of people had visited a business in the previous eight weeks that encouraged them to pay in cash. Evening StandardN “More than half (54%) of people said in September that they had visited a business in the past eight weeks that encouraged them to pay in cash” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MailR “More than half of shoppers (54 per cent) say they have been asked or encouraged to pay in cash in the past eight weeks” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Centre · 1The encouragement could include signs saying a business accepts or prefers cash, or being asked directly to pay that way. Evening StandardN “The encouragement may have included signs saying a business accepts or prefers cash, or being asked directly if they can pay that way.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Of those asked, three-quarters (75%) completed the purchase with coins or banknotes. Evening StandardN “three-quarters (75%) of people said they did complete their purchase using coins or banknotes” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MailR “three quarters then complete their purchase with physical money” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Right · 1The Daily Mail's figures show encouragement was highest at cafés and restaurants (22%), then independent shops (19%), hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons (16%), outdoor markets (12%), and pubs, retail shops and supermarkets (8 to 9%). Daily MailR “with cafés and restaurants at 22 per cent ranking highest.”“then pubs, retail shops and supermarkets at 8 to 9 per cent” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Centre · 1Northern Ireland stood out: 69% said they had been encouraged to pay in cash, and 88% of those asked did so; completion rates were 82% in Scotland and 78% in Wales. Evening StandardN “People in Northern Ireland were particularly likely to say they had been encouraged to pay in cash, at 69%”“People in Scotland and Wales were also particularly likely to have obliged by paying cash, with 82% and 78% respectively doing so.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Right · 1In a hypothetical question, 69% said they would pay in cash if asked, and the share naming cash as their main payment method rose to 15% in September 2026 from 13% in March; contactless cards (39%) and mobile payments (31%) remain more popular. Daily MailR “In a hypothetical scenario, 69 per cent say they would pay with cash if asked.”“Contactless cards remain the top choice at 39 per cent, followed by mobile payments at 31 per cent.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Mixed · 2YouGov surveyed more than 2,100 UK adults on 10–11 September 2026 (the Mail gives 2,101). Evening StandardN “YouGov surveyed more than 2,100 people across the UK between September 10 and 11 for the research.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily MailR “The survey was of 2,101 adults between 10-11 September 2026.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Centre · 1Graham Mott, Link's director of strategy, said the results show cash remains a practical choice for millions and that many small businesses actively encourage it, making a resilient ATM network more important. Evening StandardN “These results show cash remains a practical choice for millions and that many small businesses are actively encouraging its use” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Right · 1The Daily Mail, which reported the research as exclusive to its This is Money site, said businesses were encouraging cash to avoid card processing fees; it cited separate Link data that 77% of small and medium retailers accept cash and nearly half of those actively encourage it. Daily MailR “many small businesses are on a mission to keep it alive in order to dodge card processing fees and keep choice open for customers.”“Among those businesses, nearly half said they actively encourage customers to pay with cash to avoid card processing fees.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Right · 1Mott also noted Link research earlier in the year found 23% of high street shops do not take cash. The Mail added context on the report following a Treasury Select Committee review of cash acceptance last year, and on a House of Lords committee considering guidance on emergency cash holdings. Daily MailR “Our research at the beginning of the year showed that 23 per cent of high street shops don't take cash.”“comes after the Treasury Select Committee undertook a review on cash acceptance last year.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Short, straight report of the survey results, led by the 54% figure and attributed to Link and YouGov.
- Emphasis
- Headline numbers, the definition of 'encouragement', regional completion rates and Mott's quote.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits the Mail's breakdown by business type, the card-fee explanation and the wider cash-resilience context.
- For example
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“The encouragement may have included signs saying a business accepts or prefers cash, or being asked directly if they can pay that way.” — Evening Standard
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Money-section piece presenting small businesses as on a mission to keep cash alive, with consumers willing to help.
- Emphasis
- Card processing fees, business-type breakdown, emergency cash stash debate and a regulator reportedly stashing banknotes.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not name YouGov as the pollster; doesn't give Northern Ireland's 69% encouragement figure.
- Charged language
- “on a mission to keep it alive”“dodge card processing fees”
- For example
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“it appears many small businesses are on a mission to keep it alive in order to dodge card processing fees and keep choice open for customers.” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- 54% said they were encouraged to pay in cash in the past eight weeks
- 75% of those asked paid in cash
- Northern Ireland had an 88% completion rate, Scotland 82% and Wales 78%
- The survey of about 2,100 adults ran on 10–11 September 2026
Where accounts differ
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Why businesses encourage cash
- Centre
- The Evening Standard does not give a reason.
- Right
- The Daily Mail says it is largely to avoid card processing fees.
Link organisation
Link says the results show cash remains a practical choice and that a resilient ATM network is more important than ever; it also says cash acceptance is becoming an issue.
“making a resilient ATM network more important than ever.” — Evening Standard
“we know that cash acceptance is becoming an issue.” — Daily Mail
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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More than half of shoppers ‘recently encouraged by businesses to pay in cash’
Neutral Concise account of the Link-commissioned survey results with attribution.
Right1 article
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Half of Britons say they've been encouraged to make a purchase with cash in past two months
Mixed Frames the survey as small businesses keeping cash alive to avoid fees, then links it to emergency-cash and resilience concerns.
- 16 Oct 07:00 First Daily MailR Half of Britons say they've been encouraged to make a purchase with cash in past two months
- 17 Oct 00:01 +17h Evening StandardN More than half of shoppers ‘recently encouraged by businesses to pay in cash’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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