Between me and my family I've had three visits to three different medical consultants recently. They were all in clinics in private hospitals and all of them asked for payment by cash (or cheque). Since I no longer have cheques I had to get cash. Why is it I can pay my hairdresser using a card but so many consultants won't accept them? Is it purely because it's cheaper? A hairdresser surely earns far less than a doctor but they make it as easy as possible to pay despite any costs. I'm just curious to know is there a particular reason.