Q. for Coppers, Hand car washes are money laundering?

[4x4Tyke]

A mate has insisted that 'Hand car washes are the new laundrettes' meaning they are being used to launder cash; pointing out that many are often actually very quiet (agree), but the bosses always seem to have expensive cars parked up (unsure). His 'evidence' was weak but expressed with absolute certainty based on mate of mate type knowledge. In general he is pretty level headed, but I have big doubts but try to be open minded.

I'm rather sceptical, I've long considered the laundrette thing to be rather overstated, owning more to semantic word play that fact and while plausible I can't recall any real evidence to support his view.

I'd be interested on the view of police officers and criminal lawyers on his view, or anybody with solid info.

[james_gt3rs]

I've thought this, how else do they pay for so many people to wash cars for £5..

[gregpot2000]

I have had this discussion with a few mates.....quite often I have been to one local to me and they have "forgotten" to take payment.

[SonicShadow]

james_gt3rs said:

I've thought this, how else do they pay for so many people to wash cars for £5..

By not paying them anywhere near minimum wage. It's a big problem.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43868920

[poo at Paul's]

I heard also, that bears curiously st in the woods? What is the PH consensus?

[PurpleMoonlight]

It's a cash business and therefore a prime candidate for money laundering and tax evasion.

I do actually let land to two car wash operators. They need to wash 50 cars a week to pay the rent.

[geeks]

My local one is always rammed, even after they were busted for people smuggling, forced labour, slavery and drug dealing!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5387023/Po...

[PAULJ5555]

One local to me, the migrent workers were living in a garden shed round the back and get paid very little.

[Buzypea]

Walter White did it in Breaking Bad.

[MarcelM6]

james_gt3rs said:

I've thought this, how else do they pay for so many people to wash cars for £5..

modern slavery....

[SHutchinson]

Nail bars too, I presume.

In fact, a few have been actually 'busted' so it's more than just guess work.

[AndyTR]

The one local to me is mainly staffed with Afgan and Syrian refugees who speak no English and live in a static caravan on farmland down the road. Wives and kids beg, busk and sell the big issue etc. One would hope that what they've been through it's all above board and their being well cared for, I suspect that this is far from the case though. Plod and the Council are oblivious, local charities steer clear due the rather ominous chaps running the operation. Business seems to be very, very successful though.

[surveyor_101]

They all seem to be staffed by I guess cash in hand Bulgarians in the southwest and only take cash payments!

I assumed that it must be a massive tax dodge.

I remember a dodgy hairdressers my wife used constantly had a till down and only taking cash, my wife booked a special deal cut and colour £75 was going to pay on her credit card wasn't until after she had it all done 3 hours later and cash please and they wanted £150 claiming she had, had a revamp not a cut and full head colour!

I went in and kicked up and said no way not drawing £150 cash its £75 so left a msg for the owner to call me. She called back apologising stating £75 is fine and its free next time but my wife would never go back! Rumour, after her top stylist was the lady owner, would shut the card machine off and say cash only today!

The same lady opened a second branch in a neighbouring town only taking cash payments and it lasted less than a year then overnight both her branches closed!

[MDMA .]

Anyone who thinks they are legit needs to get out from under their stone. They are the modern day sunbed shop (de rigueur for 90's drug dealers) as a way of putting money through them. Plod and Council are that thick though, they don't have a clue. You can even buy cocaine from the one near me

[Torquey]

I cannot wait for the day we don't use cash. Or card readers/transfers are compulsory in every business.

[SonicShadow]

MDMA . said:

Anyone who thinks they are legit needs to get out from under their stone. They are the modern day sunbed shop (de rigueur for 90's drug dealers) as a way of putting money through them. Plod and Council are that thick though, they don't have a clue. You can even buy cocaine from the one near me

I'm sure they legitimately do many £70 super valets every week!

[strain]

A few local to me are always rammed, few months ago my wifes car was covered in bird st so went to the latest one to pop up at the side of the petrol station where a car sales pitch used to be, one guy on his own around 50 years old, more interested in talking to random people took him about 10 minutes before he got to us (1 car infront) then done a ste job

Poor guy probably saw the polish guys and thought it looked easy

[anonymous-user]

I'm just amazed anyone would think these car washes are anything other than a nice easy money laundering exercise. Does anyone really think the owners drive Range Rovers, Merc MLs etc through the lucrative and legitimate business of washing a handful or cars a day for £4 a time?

[48k]

https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/gallery-milton...

[PixelpeepS3]

nail bars, car washes? - own up.. who's been watching breaking bad recently ?

Deffo agree though.. and another conspiracy theory of mine...

the ones that look busy are doing the rest of the 'gangs' cars (for free). Sure they'll get the odd member of the public visit and that's just a bonus