Podcast | The Cost of Paying by Card: Why Cash Is Making a Comeback

Credit cards have become the default for many everyday purchases—but that convenience carries a hidden cost. Across Ireland, more retailers are now charging customers extra for using cards, while others are doing the opposite: rewarding cash users with 2–4% discounts. It’s a quiet but significant reversal of the “cashless” trend.

In this episode, Will Caffrey, National Business Development Manager at Pivotal-Sec Plus (ROI & NI), explains what’s driving this shift. He unpacks the rising transaction fees that eat into small business margins, how surcharges and incentives are reshaping consumer habits, and why Ireland’s Access to Cash Act 2025 matters for both fairness and resilience in the payment system.

From the coffee shop counter to the national economy, this conversation connects policy with practice—showing how cash remains not just a backup, but a bargaining tool. When the price of convenience goes up, asking “Is there a discount for cash?” might just be the smartest question a consumer can ask.

Source: Credit Cards Are Eating into Your Wallet. Cash Could Be the Fix

Note: This podcast was developed using Google’s NotebookLM platform