Things in living memory which seem very anachronistic now

[PeterC]

Checking all those cheques is what kept bank staff busy, and is partly why there aren't bank branches and staff any more.

I worked in a bank in the 70s. I remember the day's cheques being distributed among the cashiers for checking. Every signature had to be physically cancelled by the cashier initialling over it. You soon developed a rapid squiggle that bore no relation to your actual initials.

Incidentally, crossing cheques "account payee only" had no legal force until 1992.

 

[Trackman]

Keeping on cheques, writing a cheque to 'self' for cash due to lack of cash machines.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Keeping on cheques, writing a cheque to 'self' for cash due to lack of cash machines.

I still do this - I take any cash I need out of the bank over the counter this way; I don't fully trust the machines.

Incidentally, the bank staff tell me I'm not the only one who does this... but I am the only one doing it at our branch who correctly writes "self" instead of "cash" on the cheque for the purpose. ( For those who don't know the difference... "self" can only be withdrawn by the account holder; "cash" is a bearer cheque which anyone who has it can take the money out, not good news if you lose the cheque before withdrawing the money!! )

 

[Lewisham2221]

I still do this - I take any cash I need out of teh bank over the counter this way; I don't fully trust the machines.

Incidentally, the bank staff tell me I'm not the only one who does this... but I am the only one doing it at our branch who correctly writes "self" instead of "cash" on the cheque for the purpose. ( For those who don't know the difference... "self" can only be withdrawn by the account holder; "cash" is a bearer cheque which anyone who has it can take the money out, not good news if you lose the cheque before withdrawing the money!! )

Can you not withdraw cash "over the counter" using your debit card, rather than needing to write a cheque for the same purpose?

 

[DelW]

Can you not withdraw cash "over the counter" using your debit card, rather than needing to write a cheque for the same purpose?

Yes, I did so a few weeks ago when my branch's cash machine was being replaced.

I also do the same every few months to stock up on "fivers", as I prefer cash for small transactions and having small value notes available is helpful with that.

 

[dcbwhaley]

Yes, I did so a few weeks ago when my branch's cash machine was being replaced.

I also do the same every few months to stock up on "fivers", as I prefer cash for small transactions and having small value notes available is helpful with that.

I draw cash at the local post office who will give me whatever denominations I want, even coins.
Very useful when setting up a float for a coffee morning (which is cash only)

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Can you not withdraw cash "over the counter" using your debit card, rather than needing to write a cheque for the same purpose?

I probably could but I've never asked; in any case I use the cheque stub as a means of reminding myself to log the withdrawal in the spreadsheet ( see, I'm not a total dinosaur... I don't use a manually written bank book any more... )

 

[Bald Rick]

Can you not withdraw cash "over the counter" using your debit card, rather than needing to write a cheque for the same purpose?

Surely cash itself must be a contender for this thread.

 

[3141]

Surely cash itself must be a contender for this thread.

What's "anachronistic" about cash? Maybe you don't use it, but....?

 

[Bald Rick]

What's "anachronistic" about cash? Maybe you don't use it, but....?

Maybe I’m in a bubble, but it’s not just that I don’t use it, but neither do any of my friends or family. And it’s very rare I ever see it being used.

 

[simonw]

Maybe I’m in a bubble, but it’s not just that I don’t use it, but neither do any of my friends or family. And it’s very rare I ever see it being used.

I think the UK falls into four camps:

Never uses cash and haven't for years

Rarely use cash

Uses cash for most items, but used cards for big purchases or where no alternative is available.

Used cash for virtually everything.

Me I'm in category 1, the last time I can remember using cash was 5 years ago. Life to me is so much simpler without it.

But people in each camp can often look at others and wonder why they do/don't use cash.

 

[Rail Ranger]

Some places only accept cash. My barbers and a fish and chip restaurant I know of spring to mind but there must be lots of other similar places (I know that some other places only accept cards). Also I use cash to pay friends if they buy things for me (and they pay me in cash if I buy things for them). Presumably those who never use cash use money transfer (which I also use) for this.

 

[Lloyds siding]

If you don't have cash you won't be able to buy fish and chips round here...or get your hair cut ( I admit that I patronise the the less expensive establishments...though if it's good enough for the Children's Laureate....)

 

[Killingworth]

I worked for a few months in the 1960s in a bank on Shields Road, Byker. Cash poured in on Monday mornings from pubs, Co-op shops, bookmakers bakers, coal carts and who knows what else. Into my till alone I'd take over £20,000 and there were 4 of us. On Fridays it was bag after bag of change going out. Most of that ended up with conductors on Newcastle Corporation Transport or United buses and paid in at other banks. (£20,000 back then would probably equate to over £400,00 today.)

I've used internet banking since 1997 and avoid cash as much as I can. I saw enough of it all those years ago to last a lifetime - but that was what the banking branch network was developed to deal with.

We were in a restaurant recently. The next table asked for their bill and I noted it was paid for by waving a watch - seemingly to a watch worn by the waitress! Even paying by card is now anachronistic.

 

[simonw]

If you don't have cash you won't be able to buy fish and chips round here...or get your hair cut ( I admit that I patronise the the less expensive establishments...though if it's good enough for the Children's Laureate....)

Well what little hair I have, I run my own clippers over and round here the chippies take cards

 

[Bald Rick]

Some places only accept cash. My barbers and a fish and chip restaurant I know of spring to mind but there must be lots of other similar places (I know that some other places only accept cards). Also I use cash to pay friends if they buy things for me (and they pay me in cash if I buy things for them). Presumably those who never use cash use money transfer (which I also use) for this.

And some places only accept cards / apple pay etc. Most of the cafes and restaurants I go to are in this camp, as are many other retailers, especially indepedents.

Also the last time I saw anyone paying for drinks in a pub by cash was last year, and that was the local travelling community‘s Christmas night out that I happened to stumble upon.

 

[trebor79]

Talking of card, cash etc. McDonald's took only cash (or cheques) until well into the 2000's. Now it's all cards, I think in theory you can pay cash at the counter after using one of the ordering screens but nobody ever does.

 

[Trackman]

Going back to cards again, no-one signs the signature strips these days, although I do. I don't think they even prompt you to do so on the cards.

 

[Rail Ranger]

Presumably it was done so that shop staff could check the signature with the signature on cheques.

 

[GordonT]

Making a visit to your local bank branch whilst brandishing your passbook to have the miserly amount of interest conferred upon you added to your balance to update it.

 

[Killingworth]

Whatever happened to National Savings stamps?

I had a book for them and there were 2 different stamps. Memory going back to the early 1950s recalls there was a 2/6 with a squirrel and a 1/- stamp with an acorn. Seems I may be wrong about the acorn as all I can find is a 6d with Britannias' head. That ties in with the 1951 Festival of Britain.

I lost enthusiasm when Prince Charles replaced the squirrel on the 2/6 and Princess Anne appeared on the 6d in 1953.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Whatever happened to National Savings stamps?

Stopped being sold in 1976. Can still be cashed in, via NS&I, but only for face value. Probably worth more as collectable items.

 

[Killingworth]

Stopped being sold in 1976. Can still be cashed in, via NS&I, but only for face value. Probably worth more as collectable items.

Which reminds me of Green Shield and S&H pink stamps that are totally worthless.

 

[Springs Branch]

Talking of card, cash etc. McDonald's took only cash (or cheques) until well into the 2000's. Now it's all cards, I think in theory you can pay cash at the counter after using one of the ordering screens but nobody ever does.

Didn't Marks & Spencer (before it became M&S) persist for a long time not accepting mainstream credit cards - Visa & Mastercard - only accepting their own store card?

This used to be a pain for me as a non-UK resident who used to stock up on new underpants, socks and other bits & pieces from 'Marks' on my periodic visits and needed to bring extra ££ to pay for them.

These were also the days when St Michael gear was good quality & hard wearing (in a very sensible, British middle-class sort of way) and you could guarantee everything would last at least until your next UK visit. This has not been my experience with more recent M&S purchases, and I've given up on this habit, even though I could now pay with my non-UK credit card.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

These were also the days when St Michael gear was good quality & hard wearing (in a very sensible, British middle-class sort of way) and you could guarantee everything would last at least until your next UK visit.

M&S dropped using the "St Michael" brand on its merchandise in 2000, so if you've got any now vintage clothing with the label still on it, it's likely to be 25+ years old. The company had also dropped sourcing clothing solely from UK manufacturers in the late 1990s, which many thought then resulted in a general deterioration in its quality and durability. 2000 was also the year when M&S started accepting credit cards generally, as before then, you would have needed one of their in-house chargecards.

 

[Killingworth]

Speaking of M&S pre 2000 reminds me of shopping before credit cards, pre 1970s. Pre everyone having cars, too.

Living in Newcastle my parents would buy mostly from the major department stores who would deliver. Fenwicks, Bainbridges, Binns were in the city centre and they had accounts with all three. 'Put it on the account' and it would be paid at the end of the month by sending a cheque by post.

That practice ensured customers stayed loyal to the shops giving this limited credit. Credit cards offered a far wider choice of retail opportunities with longer to pay.. No wonder Barclaycard and Access were on a winner.

 

[Springs Branch]

M&S dropped using the "St Michael" brand on its merchandise in 2000 . . .

Blimey, is it 25 years already. Time certainly flies!

. . . if you've got any now vintage clothing with the label still on it, it's likely to be 25+ years old. The company had also dropped sourcing clothing solely from UK manufacturers in the late 1990s, which many thought then resulted in a general deterioration in its quality and durability. 2000 was also the year when M&S started accepting credit cards generally, as before then, you would have needed one of their in-house chargecards.

As it happens, I still have a nice St Michael suit somewhere at the back of the wardrobe. Bought when visiting for my sister's wedding in 1996 with a thick wedge of £20 notes from the central Manchester branch of M&S - just a couple of weeks before the IRA 'remodelled' that store.

Despite the quality of the M&S schmutter back then, I suspect the jacket and trousers may have 'shrunk' over the past three decades and might no-longer button up properly around my belly.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Despite the quality of the M&S schmutter back then, I suspect the jacket and trousers may have 'shrunk' over the past three decades and might no-longer button up properly around my belly.

That might just be due to spending more on M&S's food offering?!

 

[m0ffy]

That might just be due to spending more on M&S's food offering?!

Perhaps the one remaining St Michael line - chicken sarnies.

 

[Rail Ranger]

I recall that Lady Diana Spencer fell foul of M&S's policy when trying to buy something in one of their stores with a credit card. At least she made her children queue up like everyone else.