Cash please..

Retroladytyping

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.

I don't think I was unreasonable in refusing to go and get cash - or was I?

The question I posed at the end of my post

Elusivebutterfly

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 used to get my cash at the Tesco checkout (ie the manned ones) but they stopped that. However - I gather one can still ask them for cash at the reception desk and I've done so once or twice. It was a while back - but, from memory, think I had to purchase something or other at that desk to get given cash (eg a daily newspaper would do). As I understood it - it's something that they don't publicise but that they still do do that service.

I've not used it for a few months - as luckily the post office is conveniently located that I can get into it whilst in town anyway and I get mine there.

In the area I live now cash is very popular still and I've found I need all the help I can get in getting sorted with tradespeople - so I'm prepared to keep them happy by paying that way and, goodness knows, none of them ever have a card machine on them and so that's how it has to be in the main (given that I don't do online banking). I basically have no option but to pay in cash - given very few still accept cheques.

However, I am concerned at all these moves towards a cashless society - because then it can be seen exactly when and where one spends one's money (wouldn't wish to have been seen spending my money in Cardiff during Lockdown for instance - when I live in "back of beyond" West Wales). My biggest concern re a cashless society is if that happened they'd very easily be able to grab for our money by restricting access to it/rationing how much of our own money we could get at/even stealing it by just altering the figures on the computer screen to say we had less than we actually do have etc and calling it a tax or something (but they'd find an excuse - eg this digital money they want us all on could easily have an 'expiry date' put on it and we could be told our money had "expired" and that is something I do feel wary They might have a go at at some point).

Between the government would like to steal our money by having an "expiry date" on it on the one hand and we all know what could go wrong with paying by phone on bank transfer (and that's those of us who are techno-minded enough to use smartphones) = cash is an obvious answer to protect ourselves.

Your OP seems perfectly clear to me, Ferry.

No, you weren’t being unreasonable at all. We never keep cash in the house above a few pounds for obvious reasons.

Poor business management on his part to not tell you he wasn’t going to show up that morning and leaving you to chase him too.

Im also against a cashless society because the government want too much control and information. I dont blame people asking for cash and I pay my cleaner and gardner this way. I just have to make sure I have some cash in the house as I have mobility issues and dont drive. I understad people asking for cash and its their problem how they deal with the tax aspects, Im not their employer or their accountant. Taxes are too high and the system is also deeply corrupt.

You were not being unreasonable at all.

I do pay my window cleaner in cash and what he does with it is his business, not mine. I would prefer to pay by bank transfer but he doesn’t work that way.

I make sure I have about £50 in the house and replenish it when it gets down to about £20. I pay for most things by card, but occasionally buy a small item, handing over a £20 note just to get some change. I sometimes need £1 or £2 for a programme or a small donation or to pay my subs for a u3a meeting.

There was a feature on tv yesterday about the 1p and 2p coins not being withdrawn, so I can’t see cash becoming obsolete for many years, if ever. But it is becoming harder to use cash in many circumstances.

I don't think I was unreasonable in refusing to go and get cash - or was I?

No.

For a boiler and central heating service, new tap being fitted, the cost would be considerable and I would expect to pay by BACS, complete with certificate and invoice for tap etc as a warranty.

For odd jobs, weeding etc, I might pay cash but even the window cleaner asks to be paid by BACS now.

I'm also against a cashless society

We need to keep using cash before we find it's obsolete!

Cash wont be invisible in the near future, there are enormously powerful programmes used by hmrc now, all controlled by very clever AI. They link together cash withdrawals, bills, ebay, vinted, income, spends, lifestyle etc. No-one is going to be below the radar and cash payers will be implicit and likely hounded and also put on the radar if eg they pay cash for a second hand old car or even a bike

Big brother enabled by AI

I have paid my cleaner and hairdresser in cash this week. If I give gc or dd money it’s always cash too. If I put it into an account they probably wouldn’t even notice.
I usually pay grocery bill etc by card but always have cash in the house. Habit I suppose.

cash payers will be implicit and likely hounded

Obviously if you withdraw £5,000 in cash and then buy a secondhand car it might be traceable but the £50 withdrawn then given to a DGC for birthday or whatever? HMRC is not going to worry about that.

It's those evading tax on a large scale who need to be traced.

Presumably your plumber is Gas Safe registered, Ferry? Did you check? If not, installing a new gas supply is illegal.
I’m asking because it seems odd that a registered plumber would ask for cash.

Basgetti

Presumably your plumber is Gas Safe registered, Ferry? Did you check? If not, installing a new gas supply is illegal.
I’m asking because it seems odd that a registered plumber would ask for cash.

Oh goodness me. Of course I checked - do you think I'm an imbecile?

In fact I sourced him from the website given to me by the emergency engineer from SGN (Southern Gas Network) who came when I reported the leak.

I can only reiterate - I'm neither stupid or suffering from any form of dementia or senility

No of course not! Just seems odd that a registered plumber would ask for cash.

he wants cash which hes not declaring but i bet he still adds VAT to your bill

My Son is a Plumber and my go to if I ever need cash, he doesn't ask for it but always has quite a lot of it. He tells me most elderly people prefer to pay cash and he thinks the customer should be free to pay how they please. Some choose to pay cash for a bill of thousands. I always try to pay workmen in cash but not for thousands. I'm also against a cashless society and try to keep around a £100 on me at all times.

Posters were simply trying to advise you and elaborating on reasons.

SueDonim

Your OP seems perfectly clear to me, Ferry.

Absolutely clear to me, also. I hope he did a good job for you ferry.

I pay hairdresser, beautician, window cleaner, footcare lady and Avon lady with cash.

I like using cash. I often pay cash for my petrol too.

Most of my husband’s customers paid cash - their choice. In rural areas like ours people do tend to keep cash at home.

If someone who has a business wants paying in cash it's because they're avoiding tax, in which case I'd expect a discount on the original price.

Other than that you're not being unreasonable at all, I rarely have more than £20 at home and if the shop is closed the nearest cash machine is miles away.

Basgetti

No of course not! Just seems odd that a registered plumber would ask for cash.

Mine does! I wouldnt pay a large job I wanted proper paper guarantee on with cash and he'd have to accept a cheque - as I wouldnt want to hand over a large sum of money (eg replacing a boiler) with cash.

My windowcleaner expects cash. My gardener is paid in cash - apart from a very large job I had him do recently (which had to be cheque - as he doesnt take round a card machine with him either).

I can count on one hand who won't accept cash in this town - 99% do. So I pay my (expensive!) hairdresser by card (I don't think tipping is appropriate when I'm being charged £55 for a cut and blowdry anyway!) and a weekly shop in Tesco is card. But everything else I pay for here is done in cash.

If a tradesman asks me for cash I always ask for discount! Usually get it as well. It could be a tax fiddle but not always

Cash is still legal tender in the U.K.

Not all cash transactions are suspect, all builders, plumbing and electrical merchants that I know take cash.

I use a mixture of cash and card, depending upon how much cash I have in my purse.

Gran22boys

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.

Whether they declare tax or not isn't really our business. I wouldn't insult my plumber by assuming he was committing an offence. I don't mind paying that way if that's what they want but generally I find they mostly like a bank transfer. After all, where can you buy anything with cash these days? Everyone seems to be Card Only!

You were definitely not wrong in refusing to pay cash at late notice op. It’s unreasonable for anyone to expect you to keep much cash in the house and going out to get it, especially when there are so few easily available places that will allow you to do so, is just not acceptable.
Not all tradespeople ask for cash in order to avoid paying their taxes though. The card companies charge quite high rates for their services and, with the demise of cheques, the banks often charge businesses for them too. I also know some business accounts charge for withdrawing and depositing cash. Older people in general are less likely to want to use online banking so that can delay their payments. When cash flow is difficult and expenses high those extra charges can really hurt small businesses.