I’ve run a small business for over 10 yeas. I use linux. I’m grateful to the community and I use FOSS where possible.

I have had some issues over the years, but have always been able to get around them (except CAD in 2013), but recently I’ve had issues with my government (UK). First they introduced ‘making tax digital’ and told me for years that I would have to buy windows only software (there was no legal option on linux until a few weeks before the deadline (https://www.comsci.co.uk/100PcVatFreeBridge saved the day). The UK Government didn’t create a free solution or any route to that as they don’t want the source to be open for making tax digital so accounting software companies have made a killing!

This week my internet banking stopped allowing payments, it no longer works in firefox (I’m guessing). On the telephone they asked me ‘what search engine I was using’+ and advised to use google.

What is the best UK business bank to use if you use linux to run a small business? Do I have to use Chrom(e)ium? Does anyone else use linux for business admin? Is anyone (Freesoftware foundation, etc) thinking about the creeping legislative changes that make it literally illegal to use FOSS and linux?

I wanna be an ally, but its so tiring.

+ browser ≠ search engine. Yes, I’m pedantic, at least I didn’t confuse them by saying ‘quant’ or ‘duck duck go’, OK!?

    • li10@feddit.ukEnglish
      244·
      3 days ago

      Ah yes, the currency that’s pretty much only accepted for buying drugs or anything illegal.

      • bier@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        52·
        3 days ago

        You can’t prove or disprove this statement and that’s the whole point of monero.

        • li10@feddit.ukEnglish
          71·
          3 days ago

          The whole point of what I’m saying is that nowhere accepts it and it’s therefore functionality useless for running a business, the point of this post/discussion.

          I can easily prove that most retailers don’t accept Monero and it’s therefore basically useless.

          It’s a pain in the arse to even buy in the UK, I know because I use it to buy drugs.

          • bier@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
            11·
            3 days ago

            I mean yes it’s not the same as paying with PayPal or any other “normal” payment processer but acceptance got a lot better over the last few years you can order basically all the online shit through proxy stores or exchange them through gift cards or by games directly with it.

      • 0x0@programming.dev
        11·
        2 days ago

        Actually, the last time cryptocurrencies were mentioned in a thread i was reading here on lemmy someone pointed out that, due to government regulation changes, using cryptocurrencies on the dark web was the only way some people could get the drugs they needed.

      • borari@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        62·
        3 days ago

        Yes, treating crypto as a way to invest is a scam. The vast majority of crypto and crypto-adjacent “projects” are scams.

        We live in a world where payment providers have the power to force Etsy to delist vendors that sell sex toys to customers of a legal age, payment apps like Venmo or PayPal will permaban your account for selling NSFW art or products, and physical cash is being largely abandoned for cards and digital wallets. Surely you can see the benefits of a completely anonymous payment method?

        To be clear, I vastly prefer cash, but there’s an obvious issue with trying to anonymously use cash to pay for something on the internet or to send money to someone who isn’t within easy driving distance.