Does anybody NOT do cash-only these days?

dunroving

I generally qualify whether "cash" means "cash in hand" or "cash transfer". Personally, I view the two as almost the same "immediate cash" rather than "on credit", or "card", where the trades person then has to set up dealing with cards.

My concern with cash in hand is there is no record of payment having taken place. Cash transfer, there is a record. Both are immediate, other than if the tradie wants to spend the cash, he/she needs to go to an ATM - but who sees that as an inconvenience when there's one with a few hundred yards of any location?

I always request an invoice or quote, even for relatively small jobs, just so I have a record of what was expected, and what you were paying for. But I don't insist on letterhead paper - a text or email is good enough for small jobs.

phill99

I run a kitchen and bathroom fitting company.


I occasionally get asked for a 'deal for cash'. The answer is a big NO. If I take cash knowingly that it is part of a tax fraud, the that becomes dirty money. I can't bank it, in my personal or business accounts. I get no benefit in paying my suppliers cash as they have to account for there cask. So it ends up getting squandered. Pointless.

Cyclamen

I've had the opposite... offered cash after windows fitted .. just because Dad had given me cash for a new window and i hadnt put in bank. They declined and asked me to do a bank transfer as they don't like carrying money around.

I usually do a bank transfer as soon as the work is done and for the small buisnesses that help us they usually come with the bill printed up and give me a hand written reciept before they leave or sign the bill.

I don't know any of our small business (gas man, electrician, handyman) who could take a card payment but happy for bank transfers.

in_my_wellies

I went to the dentist yesterday and tried to pay cash because I had it in my purse. They couldn't give me the £4 change so I had to use my card.

s_glover

We have had a number of trades people doing work on our house recently and all have offered bank details for ease of paying via bank transfer.

Some of the larger organisations (not sole traders) have also accepted credit card.

GS..

♫..♫...No income tax, no VAT · No money back, no guarantee...♫..♫

Duvaljones wrote: »

Hi everyone

Having had a few bits done in my house recently I wanted to check something out.

Now, if I’m being naive/old fashioned then please be honest as I obviously need a reality check. I had two jobs done recently - plumber to install a new shower (£200 for parts and labour) and electrician to sort out a faulty light fitting (£125 parts and labour). Both asked for cash but settled for a bank transfer (In fact 3 others quoted different figures for ‘cash’ too), saying it would cost more to do it the ‘legit’ way (my words, not theirs) i.e. through the business - presumably something to do with VAT?

Does anyone give a bill/invoice at the end of a job and then a receipt once they’ve been paid these days? My concern is having pretty much nothing to prove that they did the work, should anything go wrong. Luckily (touch wood) all is ok with what they did, but if there’s a dispute of any kind, other than the bank transfer, there’s no invoice/contract etc. to connect them to the work.

Am I being naive/old fashioned here? Any comments (good or not so good) welcome.

Thanks

A_Nice_Englishman

Within the last couple of years I've had

Small firm serviced central heating boiler. Paid by card using portable machine. Certificate issued by email.

One-man Ltd Company did small plumbing job. Invoiced by email a few days later and paid by bank transfer.

Medium sized window repair firm. Offered discount for cash. Didn't use them.

Window cleaner. Prefers bank transfer.

Fence repair. Cash paid.

J_B

GS.. wrote: »

♫..♫...No income tax, no VAT · No money back, no guarantee...♫..♫

Well guvnor - the job will cost you £600 if you want to pay me through my bank account
If you give me cash, then I only want £500


It must be tempting for some consumers ....

phill99

J_B wrote: »

Well guvnor - the job will cost you £600 if you want to pay me through my bank account
If you give me cash, then I only want £500


It must be tempting for some consumers ....

It is tempting for customers. But these are the very same people that post on here saying that so and so tradesman did a job for cash and now it's gone wrong and they wont come back.

Doozergirl

phill99 wrote: »

It is tempting for customers. But these are the very same people that post on here saying that so and so tradesman did a job for cash and now it's gone wrong and they wont come back.

This ^^^^^^^^