Why do bums in my downtown always ask for cash? I only have a debit card?

better_off_here

If you want to help out a homeless person give them food, pay for them to have a meal.

Quentin

They will have liens on their bank accounts, fines for vagrancy, alimony etc etc, so if they accepted debit cards they'd never see the money!

Anonymous

Just tell them no, Skippy.

Andrew

Used to work for a dude who'd go into Dunkin Donuts and get gift cards for the exact cost of a large coffee after tax, and then pass them out to homeless peeps during his work day. He was a real class act.

SumDude

Cash is untraceable, so they need not declare the income on their tax returns. {Begging and panhandling is a form of employment, because they do it many times a week.}

Lyar

So give them your debit card and make sure they promise to return it to you with no more than a double cheeseburger charged to it.

Lili

Because that's what they do. They want cash to buy food or whatever. Most people carry SOME cash, just in case.