Cash please..

argymargy

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 would never pay a workman in cash, where is your workmanship guarantee without paperwork, would he still have given you a receipt, I doubt it, he was probably trying to avoid paying tax on it. You was not unreasonable at all.

I have been involved in the antiques trade for many years and still sell a few bits on Ebay or direct to dealers. Cash is still widely used ifor face to face transactions n the trade although most dealers now use a card reader at fairs, I would still ask for a discount for cash.

A few days ago I called a taxi to my relative. As I got in the driver asked if it were cash and I said yes. He set the meter at $3.50. My relative always pays by card and told me the driver routinely sets it at £5 for the identical journey. So he is paying £1.50 more at the onset.

Basgetti

Pretty sure he could pay his cleaner by bank transfer, Allira.

It was a joke.

MickyD

No I don’t think OP was being unreasonable at all. Why would you go through the discomfort and absolute inconvenience of getting cash out for someone unless they are in a worse position than you. He is not! He wants cash. In this situation it seems he’s being selfishly greedy.
We always have £1000-£2000 in the house which covers window cleaning, a tonne of coal, oil tank filled, groceries etc. but if I’d have been let down by a tradesperson (and I happen to think hthis one made up the van story) I’d be reluctant to do him the favour of paying cash.

£1- 2K in cash in the house??!!!
I’m unlikely to have £50.
I pay everything by bank transfer/direct debit/card.
In fact the £20 I have finally spent out of my purse had been there since before Christmas.

WithNobsOnIt wow!

I can only assume by your post that you have had a problem with a builder/s, plumbers, electricians in the past.

Not wise to tar them all with the same brush

Pretty sure he could pay his cleaner by bank transfer, Allira.

Maybe he is not as nice as you think.
He seems to be taking advantage of you as a soft touch.

Builders are notorious in lacking integrity, being on the fiddle and wanting cash in hand. Take what they say with a large pinch of salt.

Don't give him any cash. And always ask for a receipt which itemises the work he has done before paying up. He needs to guarantee his work.

Is he part of some kind of Builders Organisation?

As for his van breaking down. That's an old excuse. He was probably doing a new job or finishing a job that was more lucrative than yours.

My friend once had to work around a builder whose whole life was based around picking up his kids from private school a no d showing off in his really expensive van.

That's when he wasn't arranging his latest long haul holiday to the Caribbean.

Give him the boot.
🫵🦨🥾

😲

No I don’t think OP was being unreasonable at all. Why would you go through the discomfort and absolute inconvenience of getting cash out for someone unless they are in a worse position than you. He is not! He wants cash. In this situation it seems he’s being selfishly greedy.
We always have £1000-£2000 in the house which covers window cleaning, a tonne of coal, oil tank filled, groceries etc. but if I’d have been let down by a tradesperson (and I happen to think hthis one made up the van story) I’d be reluctant to do him the favour of paying cash.

petra

Basgetti

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

Cash is still legal you know.

Perhaps he needed cash to pay his cleaner!

Basgetti

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

Cash is still legal you know.

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.

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!

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.

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

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 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.

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.

SueDonim

Your OP seems perfectly clear to me, Ferry.

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

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

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.

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

No of course not! Just 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

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.