What is it with young people and cash?
Discussion
Lord Marylebone said:
Bloody tradesmen 
Over the last few weeks I have had three tradesmen who say they want cash only. Plasterer (£7000), Gutters/downspouts (£3000), and a guy doing my tiling (£1000).
I am using them because they were recommended to me by a good friend who is a builder, and to be fair, their work has been excellent and they were prompt, but the cash thing is a real pain in the backside.
Banks have been closing branches left right and centre, and now they are restricting their counter services to an even more awkward and restricted set of hours, weekdays only.
So I’ve had to take time out during working days, to drive nearly half an hour to a bank, find somewhere to park, to stand in a queue to get cash, to then drive to meet a tradesman and hand over the loot, all because they want to dodge paying their taxes.
What happens if you refuse?Over the last few weeks I have had three tradesmen who say they want cash only. Plasterer (£7000), Gutters/downspouts (£3000), and a guy doing my tiling (£1000).
I am using them because they were recommended to me by a good friend who is a builder, and to be fair, their work has been excellent and they were prompt, but the cash thing is a real pain in the backside.
Banks have been closing branches left right and centre, and now they are restricting their counter services to an even more awkward and restricted set of hours, weekdays only.
So I’ve had to take time out during working days, to drive nearly half an hour to a bank, find somewhere to park, to stand in a queue to get cash, to then drive to meet a tradesman and hand over the loot, all because they want to dodge paying their taxes.
Lord Marylebone said:
Bloody tradesmen
Over the last few weeks I have had three tradesmen who say they want cash only. Plasterer (£7000), Gutters/downspouts (£3000), and a guy doing my tiling (£1000).
That pisses me off. You have had to pay the tax to earn that money why can't they. And if they all paid their share, perhaps the legitimate tax payers wouldn't need to pay so much.Over the last few weeks I have had three tradesmen who say they want cash only. Plasterer (£7000), Gutters/downspouts (£3000), and a guy doing my tiling (£1000).
Just remembered that there is no counter service in my local back so can't pull that kind of cash out.
Edited by Cotty on Wednesday 19th May 10:41
Cotty said:
Lord Marylebone said:
Bloody tradesmen
Over the last few weeks I have had three tradesmen who say they want cash only. Plasterer (£7000), Gutters/downspouts (£3000), and a guy doing my tiling (£1000).
That pisses me off. You have had to pay the tax to earn that money why can't they. And if they all paid their share, perhaps the legitimate tax payers wouldn't need to pay so much.Over the last few weeks I have had three tradesmen who say they want cash only. Plasterer (£7000), Gutters/downspouts (£3000), and a guy doing my tiling (£1000).
what?...... you weren't joking!
Greg_D said:
Cotty said:
Lord Marylebone said:
Bloody tradesmen
Over the last few weeks I have had three tradesmen who say they want cash only. Plasterer (£7000), Gutters/downspouts (£3000), and a guy doing my tiling (£1000).
That pisses me off. You have had to pay the tax to earn that money why can't they. And if they all paid their share, perhaps the legitimate tax payers wouldn't need to pay so much.Over the last few weeks I have had three tradesmen who say they want cash only. Plasterer (£7000), Gutters/downspouts (£3000), and a guy doing my tiling (£1000).
what?...... you weren't joking!
Tradesmen asking for £7k in cash is taking the piss, I'd ask at the bank if the £7k could be in five pound denomination and then hand them 1400 notes.
Alltrack said:
Exactly, the shadow economy is estimated to be around 10% of GDP.
Going cashless could in theory bring in 10s of billions in revenue.
Would throw a curve ball into drug dealing and prostitution as well.
Illicit industries are already cashless, most will offer a discount to accept payment via wickr, converting sterling into crypto now takes seconds and means there's no laundering for them to perform.Going cashless could in theory bring in 10s of billions in revenue.
Would throw a curve ball into drug dealing and prostitution as well.
MiniMan64 said:
What happens if you refuse?
I’m guessing I wouldn’t be very popular, which is absolutely what I don’t need, especially as I will need the plasterer and tiler to come back in the next 3 months or so to do my garage.Given that their work was good, there is a shortage of tradesmen, and I need them again, I have no alternative but to just spend some time getting cash out of the bank for them.
When they asked for cash, I did try to negotiate the price down. The plasterer budged from £7500 to £7000, but the other two said no movement on price, take it or leave it.
Prices were agreed with all three of them before they started, but they only mentioned “By the way it’s cash only” once they had got started, or in the case on one of them, a good halfway through.
The prices they all quoted were decent and maybe fractionally cheaper than other quotes, but certainly not ‘20% off for cash’ kind of prices.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 19th May 11:34
PF62 said:
vikingaero said:
I've said this many times before. In another first world country, Germany, many many businesses in small towns simply do not accept cards. Now I know that's hard for a lot of you to understand. It's nothing to do with the desire to evade tax and use the spare money to buy coke and hookers. These are honest traditional businesses simply choosing not to engage in the extra cost of card transactions.
I would suggest that in respect of Germany it is nothing at all to do with the cost of card transactions, and much more to do with their intense desire for privacy and a distrust of any form of surveillance and the influence of the state.https://www.handelsblatt.com/finanzen/geldpolitik/...
https://www.businessinsider.nl/duitsland-contant-g...
Lord Marylebone said:
Prices were agreed with all three of them before they started, but they only mentioned “By the way it’s cash only” once they had got started, or in the case on one of them, a good halfway through.
Isn’t it the case that you can’t take more than £6000 out of your account at one go due to the money laundering regs?
I’m guessing you’d have to make more than one withdrawal that’s the case. I had trouble getting £3000 pounds out of my local branch to buy a used car and they directed me to my nearest bigger branch in Guildford to get the funds. And that was over 13 years ago!
I’m guessing you’d have to make more than one withdrawal that’s the case. I had trouble getting £3000 pounds out of my local branch to buy a used car and they directed me to my nearest bigger branch in Guildford to get the funds. And that was over 13 years ago!
Cotty said:
Mine was at the end of the job "problem with my bank/account at the moment can you do cash?"
I wonder if a case of that nature has ever gone through Small Claims? My suspicion is that the vendor providing the services has the right to demand cash (i.e. reject cheque or electronic payment methods) if they want, with no requirement to disclose that upfront.I used some cash on Monday for the first time this year, and probably a lot longer. 50c to use the loo at a petrol station.
On a separate note, bought some tulips from an unmanned roadside stand the other day. They had a QR code that you scan with your phone and it took me straight to a page to make a €6 payment via iDEAL (Dutch electronic banking setup). Never seen that before, really easy to use, no contactless device to be left out in the rain and need an internet connection, no cash left in a box as a theft risk. Had a quick google and it looks like it costs the retailer 15c per transaction, so 2.5% on a €6 seems a bit steep but then again zero hassle for seller.
NickCQ said:
I wonder if a case of that nature has ever gone through Small Claims? My suspicion is that the vendor providing the services has the right to demand cash (i.e. reject cheque or electronic payment methods) if they want, with no requirement to disclose that upfront.
Isn't that where the whole "legal tender" thing comes in? Cash, cheque and electronic payment are all legitimate ways to settle an outstanding debt and the recipient wouldn't have a leg to stand on, but if you tried to pay them in 2p pieces that would only be legal tender up to a certain value?On a separate note, bought some tulips from an unmanned roadside stand the other day. They had a QR code that you scan with your phone and it took me straight to a page to make a €6 payment via iDEAL (Dutch electronic banking setup). Never seen that before, really easy to use, no contactless device to be left out in the rain and need an internet connection, no cash left in a box as a theft risk. Had a quick google and it looks like it costs the retailer 15c per transaction, so 2.5% on a €6 seems a bit steep but then again zero hassle for seller.
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Wednesday 19th May 12:12
The Hypno-Toad said:
Isn’t it the case that you can’t take more than £6000 out of your account at one go due to the money laundering regs?
I’m guessing you’d have to make more than one withdrawal that’s the case. I had trouble getting £3000 pounds out of my local branch to buy a used car and they directed me to my nearest bigger branch in Guildford to get the funds. And that was over 13 years ago!
I’ve been to the bank twice so far. Once to get £5000, once to get £4500 and also been to a cash machine a few times with both my card and my wife’s card to get 2 x £300 each time.I’m guessing you’d have to make more than one withdrawal that’s the case. I had trouble getting £3000 pounds out of my local branch to buy a used car and they directed me to my nearest bigger branch in Guildford to get the funds. And that was over 13 years ago!
A real pain in the arse.
vikingaero said:
One day in the future, the day will come when cash is withdrawn sooner than we want. Then the cardists will be complaining that Visa/Mastercard and other acquirers have ramped their fees up from c1% to 10% and everything is suddenly 9% more expensive. They'll be saying stuff like: "Everything I buy is nearly 10% more expensive, yet my wages have only gone up 1.5%. It's a disgrace." Cash, despite it's possible black economy links provides competition.
I love the constant black economy links with cash, after all EVERY man is a rapist, no?
Potential rapist.I love the constant black economy links with cash, after all EVERY man is a rapist, no?
Lord Marylebone said:
I’ve been to the bank twice so far. Once to get £5000, once to get £4500 and also been to a cash machine a few times with both my card and my wife’s card to get 2 x £300 each time.
A real pain in the arse.
Could the builder that recomended them,also advised them to ask for cash?A real pain in the arse.
The Hypno-Toad said:
Isn’t it the case that you can’t take more than £6000 out of your account at one go due to the money laundering regs? what on earth are you talking about?
I’m guessing you’d have to make more than one withdrawal that’s the case. I had trouble getting £3000 pounds out of my local branch to buy a used car and they directed me to my nearest bigger branch in Guildford to get the funds. And that was over 13 years ago!hardly relevant, then
I’m guessing you’d have to make more than one withdrawal that’s the case. I had trouble getting £3000 pounds out of my local branch to buy a used car and they directed me to my nearest bigger branch in Guildford to get the funds. And that was over 13 years ago!hardly relevant, then
What is it with the constant streams of rubbish on almost all threads these days?
Magooagain said:
Lord Marylebone said:
I’ve been to the bank twice so far. Once to get £5000, once to get £4500 and also been to a cash machine a few times with both my card and my wife’s card to get 2 x £300 each time.
A real pain in the arse.
Could the builder that recomended them,also advised them to ask for cash?A real pain in the arse.
He could have convinced them to turn up promptly on the promise of cash from me, I don't know, haven’t actually asked him.
I suppose it doesn't matter either way really. They turned up, did a nice job, and the price was what they said. The cash bit was just a bit of a hassle.
Pothole said:
The Hypno-Toad said:
Isn’t it the case that you can’t take more than £6000 out of your account at one go due to the money laundering regs? what on earth are you talking about?
I’m guessing you’d have to make more than one withdrawal that’s the case. I had trouble getting £3000 pounds out of my local branch to buy a used car and they directed me to my nearest bigger branch in Guildford to get the funds. And that was over 13 years ago!hardly relevant, then
I’m guessing you’d have to make more than one withdrawal that’s the case. I had trouble getting £3000 pounds out of my local branch to buy a used car and they directed me to my nearest bigger branch in Guildford to get the funds. And that was over 13 years ago!hardly relevant, then
What is it with the constant streams of rubbish on almost all threads these days?
Lord Marylebone said:
I’ve been to the bank twice so far. Once to get £5000, once to get £4500 and also been to a cash machine a few times with both my card and my wife’s card to get 2 x £300 each time.
A real pain in the arse.
b. ) The second point was that it has been difficult to withdraw large sums of cash from a bank for some considerable time.A real pain in the arse.
c.) I've been insulted by professionals on the internet for a very long time. In fact, I used to go to a website where essentially that's all any poster did. You really need to be trying harder than that.
Lord Marylebone said:
I’m guessing I wouldn’t be very popular, which is absolutely what I don’t need, especially as I will need the plasterer and tiler to come back in the next 3 months or so to do my garage.
Given that their work was good, there is a shortage of tradesmen, and I need them again, I have no alternative but to just spend some time getting cash out of the bank for them.
When they asked for cash, I did try to negotiate the price down. The plasterer budged from £7500 to £7000, but the other two said no movement on price, take it or leave it.
Prices were agreed with all three of them before they started, but they only mentioned “By the way it’s cash only” once they had got started, or in the case on one of them, a good halfway through.
The prices they all quoted were decent and maybe fractionally cheaper than other quotes, but certainly not ‘20% off for cash’ kind of prices.
Wonder what they would have said if you had replied "will pound coins be OK?" Given that their work was good, there is a shortage of tradesmen, and I need them again, I have no alternative but to just spend some time getting cash out of the bank for them.
When they asked for cash, I did try to negotiate the price down. The plasterer budged from £7500 to £7000, but the other two said no movement on price, take it or leave it.
Prices were agreed with all three of them before they started, but they only mentioned “By the way it’s cash only” once they had got started, or in the case on one of them, a good halfway through.
The prices they all quoted were decent and maybe fractionally cheaper than other quotes, but certainly not ‘20% off for cash’ kind of prices.
Edited by Lord Marylebone on Wednesday 19th May 11:34
:Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff