Nando’s has sparked a fierce debate online as they go cashless

A leading fast food chain has ignited an online frenzy as customers express their outrage at the popular restaurant.

A leading fast food chain in Australia has ignited an online frenzy by opting to become cashless.

The well known flame-grilled chicken restaurant has announced it will now exclusively accepts card payments at its establishments, a move that has stirred mixed reactions among customers nationwide.

Although Nando’s seems to have operated without cash transactions for a while, the revelation of its card-only policy surfaced in a recent Reddit post and was discussed on The Project on Thursday night.

Nando's has angered customers as they join other major restaurant chains in moving away from accepting cash payments. Picture: Supplied.

A diner shared a photo of a sign displayed at one of the bustling locations, sparking renewed attention to the decision many companies are making in choosing to no longer accept cash payments.

The sign displayed on the EFTPOS machine in the store reads: “We’re card only! Sorry, guess we’re part of the New World Order now. Just kidding, card payments mean we spend less time counting coins and more time perfecting your chicken.”

In response to the post, some patrons said this move by the chain has pushed them to take their business elsewhere.

Customers are outraged at Nando’s as a picture circulates online of the companies plan to go ‘card only’. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling.

“I understand it’s a business’s right to refuse payment types. As someone who mostly uses card, I still think this is a really stupid move and will be taking out elsewhere,” one person commented.

“Begs the question if card is so much more convenient for business why are they still allowed surcharges,” another wrote.

“Maybe I’m a boomer-ish gen-z member, but it’s pretty ironic that legal tender is slowly becoming something only useful for buying non-legal items,” a third person commented.

Not all comments were against the move with some saying the change is becoming more common.

“The problem with cash is that cash handling, management and transportation is a business and ironically an increasingly unprofitable one,” said one in favour of the change.

“Can’t recall the last time I used cash,” another said.

The internet has been divided as lovers of the fast food chain debate over cash vs card payments. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling.

“Most people pay by card anyway so it's not too bad unless they charge a surcharge or ask for a tip by QR code,” a third wrote.

An employee from Nando’s wrote in the Reddit comments that they have been working for the company for 18 months and the business has been card only prior to their employment, stating this was “nothing new”.

“Nothing new. No surcharge for card, Nando’s is expensive enough as it is lol. It is annoying when customers try and complain to me or scold me for it though, not much I can do about it, I wasn’t even there when the decision was made,” the employee wrote.

Another employee agreed and added “I worked at Nandos for eight months and I swear people always lost their minds about it”.

The Project host Georgie Tunny on Thursday night said she “commends (Nando’s) for the spin they’ve put on it”.

“People were angry who were trying to pay with cash and they were like ‘no, we’re doing it for your benefit’.”

Co-host and comedian Sam Taunton said it was “scary” but joked: “It’s time for Red Rooster to step up. “You can still pay with a cheque over there,’ he said.

Nando’s isn’t the only fast food chain to come under fire online.

A McDonald’s in Melbourne disgruntled customers earlier this year when they posted a notice at the drive through informing customers they would not be accepting cash payments.

Customers hit out against the cashless move saying they would “Boycott this Maccas”.

A McDonald's restaurant in Melbourne also made headlines this year when it announced it would stop taking cash payments between midnight and 6am. Picture: Supplied.

The sign posted at the Clayton South store in Melbourne advised customers that cash wouldn’t be accepted at certain times of the day.

“I don’t come here that regularly, but I have been for years and (have) only seen this today.”

A McDonald’s spokesperson revealed in January the cashless move had been adopted at more than one of its outlets across Melbourne’s eastern and southern suburbs.

The spokesperson said that security concerns were behind the move.

“The safety and wellbeing of our people and customers is our top priority,” the spokesperson added. “This includes asking customers to use cashless payment methods where possible.”

However, the spokesperson said that its restaurants would still accept cash if that was the only payment method available.

According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) businesses don’t have to accept cash, however they must be clear about the types of payments they do accept.

News.com.au have has approached Nandos for further comment.