Cash please..

I don't like being asked for cash, as it always makes me think someone is avoiding their taxes. I don't keep more than £10 in the house so it's always a faff to go & get some. If a tradesman is reliable and trustworthy I will give them cash but I think you were right to stick to your guns in this instance.

I pay all tradesmen in cash, only because I know that’s what they want.

I would pay in cash it it was a small amount or it had been agreed in advance with the tradesperson. Sounds like he has always given good service until now. Perhaps time to find a new Plumber.

You were absolutely right not to pay cash. None of them want to declare their real earnings. Why should they get away with not paying the right amount of tax? Everyone else has to.

It's not just difficulty with mobility, but it is difficult to get cash nowadays.
I used to get cashback in the supermarket but they do not do that anymore. Most of the bank branches have closed along with their ATMs. Some other ATMs have disappeared.

You can get cash in the Post Office but that means waiting in a long queue as Post Offices are so busy.
I rarely have any cash nowadays. This is all pushing us towards a cashless society.

I have no problem paying in cash to a regular, trusted tradesman, we have three cash points in the village five minutes away. Some notice is required though as I usually have less than £100 in cash on me, although I use it regularly.

same as gran22boys said...

You definitely were not being unreasonable at all, ferry, and I think you responded in the exact way I would have done in your position. He should have contacted you earlier to say he was having problems with the van. Apart from the delay and inconvenience of having moved things out of the bathroom, hopefully the work will be to your satisfaction, and the bank transfer easier than paying by cash.

I can’t think of the last time I was asked for cash to pay for anything. Given that most transactions nowadays are electronic, anyone wanting cash should give advance warning and yes, I’d be wondering why they suddenly wanted cash.

I’m happy to offer to pay cash if I’ve enough in the house, but being asked in advance to pay cash would bother me.

crazyH

I pay all tradesmen in cash, only because I know that’s what they want.

I would do too. I don't care what they do with it after I have paid them.

Often if you pay cash they don’t charge you VAT. I don’t think they put it through the books.

Totally unreasonable to except an older lady (I'm one myself) to produce cash at short notice.

For a big job I wouldn’t want to pay cash. You have more protection using a bank card, or credit card.
I heard of cowboy builders running off with the cash. Plus, I wouldn’t pay upfront, either by cash or card, as most tradespeople have accounts.

I went to London last week. I took a taxi from the railway terminus to my destination and back.

Both taxis, and I suspect many London taxis had identical professionally printed notices asking if passengers could possibly pay in cash. This was because of the high charges made by both their banks and the companies running the onboard card machines for cashless paments.

I had enough to pay the outward driverbut on the way back, I suggested I pay half by cash and half on a card, but the drivr said, no, he would put the whole fare on the card.

It’s not just about not paying tax. It means that they can claim to have less income if they have to pay child support. It also means you don’t have proof that they carried out the work should any subsequent problems arise.

The person who cuts our hedges every year and does occasionally do "heavy" garden work says he now prefers to be paid by bank transfer as cash in his pocket quickly disappears. He says he likes to easily do his tax return mainly from the bank details.

If you do cash for this guy absolutely insist on an itemised bill accompanied by a receipt. And on company letterhead.

It is up to the customer and service provider to agree how and when the work will be done and how they will be paid.

As a customer, I am merely interested in paying for work done for me. It is not my job to second guess why the person I am giving cash to prefers to have cash. the reasons can be many and various.

lats week I had the cash on me to pay one taxi driver but not the other.

Call me old fashioned but I’m all for using cash if a trusted tradesman asks. If it keeps them onside it is no skin off my nose. Only of course if it was available to me which it often isn’t.

mae13

If you do cash for this guy absolutely insist on an itemised bill accompanied by a receipt. And on company letterhead.

Do this

A boiler service should provide a certificate, you will need it in your file. If you have a problem and need to call on house insurance, they will need sight of that certificate. Also if you ever want to sell your house

Family company, design & fit kitchens. You would not believe how many folk ask " what's the price for cash ?"
Well, it's the same obviously as it's all declared the same, but if it suits better to walk back from the bank with £35000 bulging out of your pockets then we can accommodate . Funnily enough it never is

I think some of you are missing the point!

I was questioning whether I was right to refuse him cash as it was already late in the day, the nearest cash machine is 3 miles away, I'm struggling with my mobility right now and I didn't know how much the job would be. Particularly as he hadn't bothered to let me know he wouldn't be coming as arranged.

I'm ok - not suffering from any form of dementia and I'm not very stupid - I only say this as some of you do clearly do think I'm stupid!

I do know about invoices and certificates. I do know some of the reasons why a tradesman may ask for cash and I also know that it's ultimately my decision how I pay. That was never in question. I wasn't asking for lessons in how to run my household and financial affairs. I've managed to do all that alone for many years, no problem.

ferry23

I think some of you are missing the point!

I was questioning whether I was right to refuse him cash as it was already late in the day, the nearest cash machine is 3 miles away, I'm struggling with my mobility right now and I didn't know how much the job would be. Particularly as he hadn't bothered to let me know he wouldn't be coming as arranged.

I'm ok - not suffering from any form of dementia and I'm not very stupid - I only say this as some of you do clearly do think I'm stupid!

I do know about invoices and certificates. I do know some of the reasons why a tradesman may ask for cash and I also know that it's ultimately my decision how I pay. That was never in question. I wasn't asking for lessons in how to run my household and financial affairs. I've managed to do all that alone for many years, no problem.

In defence of those who replied, that wasn't really clear from your original post! It seemed as if you were asking for advice and were wondering, given the fact that you spoke about him not turning up without letting you know, that you were doubting his motives in asking for cash.