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Posted on the 6th June 2025 in PHTM News
SWANSEA CONSIDERS MANDATING CARD MACHINES FOR TAXIS AMID CASHLESS SHIFT
Swansea Council is exploring plans to make card payment machines compulsory in the city's taxis, launching a public consultation as fewer residents carry cash and increasingly rely on digital payment methods.
The initiative comes in response to growing public concerns that passengers are being left stranded if they don't have physical money, expecting to pay with modern options such as contactless cards or smartphone apps.
While many taxi companies and individual drivers have already adopted card reader technology and integrated smartphone app payments, a significant number of taxis in Swansea remain cash-only. This creates a potential issue for passengers caught without traditional currency.
Councillor David Hopkins, Swansea Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Corporate Service and Performance, explained the council's rationale: “As a council, we recognise that more and more people are using less cash these days to pay for services and are opting to use more modern methods such as contactless payment."
He acknowledged the current lack of regulation: “At the moment, there are no rules in place that state taxi drivers must carry card payment facilities as part of their licensing conditions.”
Hopkins highlighted temporary measures in place: “We are doing what we can to manage this issue at our busy city centre taxi ranks using our taxi marshals to identify passengers who are not carrying cash and require a taxi with card paying facilities. These passengers are provided with a safe space to wait until a taxi is available.”
The council is now seeking input from both the taxi trade and the public.
“We want to consult with taxi companies and individual licence holders to look at the benefits and implications of making it mandatory for proprietors of licensed vehicles to have card payment technology in their vehicles. We are also keen to hear from the public about the plans,” Councillor Hopkins added.
Residents and taxi industry stakeholders can participate in the consultation by visiting www.swansea.gov.uk/paybycardTaxis.
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