I'm against it completely. yet have found I have no choice.

A few years ago, in October I got mugged, and my bank card stolen. By the time I got it replaced was near christmas.

2 weeks before christmas ( a few days after I had been laid off my job because the business was moving premises, and I was not invited to go halfway up the country with it - not that I could) I used my new card, but there was something wrong the ATM and before I could type in my number the card got sucked into the wall. I went into the bank, but they were closing for the night and would not let me retreive it, even though it was to be emptied 10 mins later.

I had nothing but problems getting a new one replaced, which couldn't happen until after christmas.

To top it off, I had to pay for my childcare (the woman prefered cash, and couldn't give a cheque without guarantee card which was incidently my debit card which got swallowed.) I also needed cash for bus fares etc, and all my benefits went into the bank too, the benefit agency beleiving it better for everyone to have money go straight into their account.

I had to wait until the banks opened before I could get cash out from there.

That is one of the reasons I hate them. Without the blessed little things, post offices would not be closing so quickly, as there would be a need for people to use them. Instead, pensioners have to travel on uncomfortable crowded buses just to pay their TV licenses, or get their pension out of their account.