Nearly one in five shoppers has been refused cash sale

In one of the surveys, it was found that a third of the incidents of cash being refused were when shopping for groceries.

This was followed by small purchases in shops (31%) and take-away refreshments (31%).

Customers do not like cash refusal, found Which?, with 84% of those surveyed saying that businesses should continue to accept notes and coins.

Simon Youell, head of policy and advocacy at campaigning organisation Positive Money, said it was wrong that so many people were being told they could not use cash.

He said: “As banks and other vested interests continue to wage their war on cash, the millions of people who rely on it are being attacked on two fronts.

“Not only are people struggling to access cash in the first place, they’re now increasingly being denied their right to use it.

“Many retailers are refusing cash because they’re unaware of all the evidence showing notes and coins are no less hygienic than card payments.

“The government must ensure that people know cash is safe, and protect our freedom to use it.”

In his 2020 Budget, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said he was committed to protecting the use of cash.

In July this year, the Treasury launched a consultation on how cash legislation could work.

Which? said the Financial Conduct Authority should be asked to track levels of cash refusal to better understand the scale of the problem.