Thank you for highlighting the number of people in debt because they use credit cards, store cards and so on (The Argus, August 14).

For my generation, the money we spend is what we have in our pockets or purses. Talk of spending by means of plastic cards is alien to us.

Do pounds, shillings and pence, which is the money we understand, have no meaning in today's society?

It seems if you live by spending real money, you should be prepared to be punished for it.

When my bill for telephone and cable television arrived last month, I noticed I had to pay an extra £4 a month for not paying by "direct debit". Previously, it was £2 a month.

I pay this bill at the Post Office when I draw my pension, and being obliged to pay almost another £2 means I am now being charged £48 per year just for paying in cash.

During a recent sale, a well-known store offered 20 per cent off the price of a dinner if it was paid by store card. This was double-Dutch to my wife and I. We ordered two dinners and, on paying, enquired about the 20 per cent discount.

We were asked, "Are you paying by card?" When we replied "No", we were informed it would be full price.

What has happened to the commodity known as real money?

  • Frank Edwards, Craven Road, Brighton