Just got back home, and i realised that there are very few atm's left. In thailand, they are still readily available.

 

Things have changed way more than i expected in the 20 years since i left, and not for the better.

Yes need contactless cards or phones to pay for things

Cashless society, bro

1 hour ago, JoseThailand said:

Cashless society, bro

 

Yeah... getting like big brother.

Although if you look at the volume of cash in circulation, it keeps growing

Think it’s for the better personally. Bottom line is things are moving on, cashless payments are de facto in the west now and work really well, while atms are little used. Was back recently and all three at my bank were out of cash. They don’t seem to load them up like they used to… again, most people shopping/out on the lash just use their phone.  
Still a largely cash society here, while the banks charge for anything and everything and pay out piss all interest… for us yobbos at least. 

16 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

Just got back home, and i realised that there are very few atm's left. In thailand, they are still readily available.

 

Things have changed way more than i expected in the 20 years since i left, and not for the better.

 

Perhaps you haven't noticed the rapid decline in ATMs in Thailand over the last three years.

Is there a back up for when the machines crash or get hacked etc ?

 

For the second time in 4 months things crashed at Big C again yesterday. The first time it was worldwide so not their fault. 

This time I don't know but the result was the same. People with full trolleys having to find cash or go home with nothing.

For the umpteenth time I got stuck behind two women trying to pay cashless.

One had to run to the ATM machine to get cash while we all patiently  waited.

I couldn't resist flashing some cash in front of the other girl and saying ' This is what you want....wonga ! Never breaks or let's you down '

 

This is what I don't like about putting  too much control in the power of machines. They have bad hair days too and when it happens you are screwed.

 

Terminal 5 at LHR has had several computer crashes and the results have been mayhem.