I was very surprised at the article in the Romsey Advertiser about the Plaza Theatre only accepting cashless payments. It appears to me that cashless payments will cost the Plaza more in terms of commission payments to credit card companies and cause their customers a lot of problems in relation to errors and mistakes.

There was a comment that Covid-19 started the move to cashless payments but that was only short-term to avoid the spread of infection. Over recent years all the shops and businesses in Romsey and elsewhere have returned to taking cash payments. When I go to other theatres such as Salisbury Playhouse, Theatre Royal Winchester, Thornden Hall, Titchfield Festival Theatre and many more I am able to pay in cash for a drink before the performance and an ice cream during the interval.

Payment by card can lead to mistakes, errors and fraud. I only pay by card for amounts more than roughly £40 never connectionless but always with PIN. With contactless, if I cannot find my credit card then at the end of the month, I can never prove that certain transactions were fraudulent. I always demand a credit card payment receipt on all card payments which I can check on my statement at the end of the month.

READ MORE: Romsey's Plaza Theatre criticised for going cashless

Payment by card is a lot of hassle that I do not want for trivial payments which can be all over in a matter of seconds if I pay by cash with no need to keep any record of that transaction. I have about 20 credit card transactions each month which are easy to check in detail. I am sure that many must have hundreds of transactions every month, so do they just pay what the credit card companies demand without any checks for mistakes or errors or fraudulent transactions?

I get angry when told that I am the older generation and do not understand these things. I am a retired electronics engineer with B.Sc., Ph.D., MIET, C.Eng and I have been working with computers and software systems for at least 50 years. For everyone, young and old, payment by cash for trivial payments is so much simpler and easier. Even last year I lost £200 due to a mistake on an online purchase by card which cost me a lot of time and money to cancel and correct.

In summary, if the Plaza demands that all payments must be by card then I will stop buying refreshments during the performance. The other option is for customers to bring their own thermos of coffee/tea, ice creams, bottle of wine to the theatre which is probably a much cheaper option and a lot less hassle anyway.

I have seen so many, including myself, who when they find trivial payment for that shop or pub is by card only, they go away to somewhere else. I have seen so many who pay by connectionless card but never check the amount or ask for a receipt.

Brian Marchent,

Whiteparish

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