Bakery turns away customers aged 94 and 86 because they didn’t have cards and wanted to pay in cash

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Bakery turns away customers aged 94 and 86 because they didn’t have bank cards and wanted to pay in cash despite shop’s Covid rules

  • Birds Bakery in Nottinghamshire turned away two women, aged 94 and 86
  • Edna Dalchin was told to put essential items back as they would not accept cash
  • Glynis Kirk could not buy pork pies at the Arnold branch without paying on card
  • Bakery chain is only taking contactless and card payments during pandemic 

By Jack Wright For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A bakery turned away two elderly women who could not pay with bank cards because they are refusing ‘dirty’ cash to minimise the risk of spreading coronavirus.

Birds Bakery in Bulwell, Nottinghamshire told 94-year-old Edna Dalchin to put her essential items back because they would not accept paper money.

And grandmother Glynis Kirk, 86, was also told she could not buy pork pies at the Arnold branch without paying on her bank card.

The manager at the Arnold branch said the bakery chain is only taking contactless and card payments ‘due to the current spread of coronavirus’. 

Birds Bakery in Bulwell, Nottinghamshire told 94-year-old Edna Dalchin to put her essential items back because they would not accept paper money. And grandmother Glynis Kirk, 86, was also told she could not buy pork pies at the Arnold branch (pictured) without paying on her bank card. The manager at the Arnold branch said the bakery chain is only taking contactless and card payments ‘due to the current spread of coronavirus’

But there are fears the revolutionary change from cash to card payments could cause the wartime generation of Britons to be left behind.  

What is legal tender? And can businesses refuse your cash? 

Legal tender means that if you offer to pay off a debt to someone in tender, they can’t sue you for failing to repay.

What’s classed as legal tender varies throughout the UK. In England and Wales, it’s Royal Mint coins and Bank of England notes. In Scotland and Northern Ireland it’s only Royal Mint coins and not banknotes.

There are also some restrictions when using small coins. For example, 1p and 2p coins only count as legal tender for any amount up to 20p.

Many common and safe payment methods such as cheques, debit cards and contactless aren’t legal tender.   

But shop owners can choose what payment they accept – meaning if you want to pay for milk with a £50 note, it’s perfectly legal to turn you down.

As the Bank of England says: ‘If your local corner shop decided to only accept payments in Pokémon cards that would be within their right too. But they’d probably lose customers.’ 

Source: Bank of England 

Shocked  Mrs Dalchin, from Basford, said she has used cash for all her shopping trips during the pandemic – including at Tesco and Morrisons. 

She told Nottinghamshire Live: ‘I went into Birds because I wanted a loaf of bread and some potted meat. She said to me ‘have you got a card?’ 

‘I did not know what she was on about. I said ‘Oh I have never used a card in my life. I always pay the old fashioned way, which is how I was brought up.’ 

‘I felt like I was being treated like a small child and being talked down too. 

‘None of the other shops have ever refused my money.’

She added: ‘There is a virus, I understand that, but a lot of elderly people do not use cards and are not into that technology.’ 

Mrs Kirk, who is friends with Mrs Dalchin, has described the situation as  ‘disgusting’ as she only uses her card for her big shop at Morrisons. 

Her 39-year-old granddaughter Michelle Kirk, from Derbyshire, has called on Birds bakery to ‘revert this stupid policy’.

She added: ‘Elderly people are going to struggle unless someone gets it for them. Cash is a legal tender. 

‘I understand that card is preferred but if that method is not available you should be able to take cash. I feel they need to revert this stupid policy. 

‘Most of Birds customers will be over the age of 60 I should imagine. It is humiliating having to put stuff back. 

‘It’s like you can’t afford it.’ 

Lisa Clarke, manager of the Arnold Birds branch, said: ‘One of the arrangements is we could open if it is card only and because cash is dirty. With the coronavirus and pandemic they want to minimise the risk to ourselves and customers.’ 

Glynis Kirk's 39-year-old granddaughter Michelle Kirk (pictured), from Derbyshire, has called on Birds bakery to 'revert this stupid policy'. She added: 'Elderly people are going to struggle unless someone gets it for them. Cash is a legal tender. I understand that card is preferred but if that method is not available you should be able to take cash'

Glynis Kirk’s 39-year-old granddaughter Michelle Kirk (pictured), from Derbyshire, has called on Birds bakery to ‘revert this stupid policy’. She added: ‘Elderly people are going to struggle unless someone gets it for them. Cash is a legal tender. I understand that card is preferred but if that method is not available you should be able to take cash’

She said around eight elderly people had been stopped since the store reopened in April but most elderly people were now using cards in their store. 

Ms Clarke added: ‘If they have not got a card unfortunately we can’t give them the goods. Whether it will change in the future as guidelines change.’ 

A message on Birds Bakery’s website reads: ‘Due to the current spread of the coronavirus, to keep our team and customers safe, we are currently only taking contactless and card payments. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.’