aibu re paying builder in cash?

[mutternutter]

Please advise me. Renovating a house for me and DC. On my own. Went via check workman type website. Got three quotes ect
Picked builder. Checked his work ect. First job done. He text me a few days ago wanting paying in cash. I was a not shocked as thought this was a no no.
Job finished yesterday.2_pm he called me asking for cash as needed to pay workers. Told him was paying by.building soc.check. He wanted cash. Then asked for it to be paid into his bank Acc asap. Like in next half hour.
Wasn't happy when told couldn't due to school run. He then text his bank details and not happy could not do it until this morning. He wanted to know what time I could do it.
Told him need receipt and work guarantee. He email and txt re cash.between 11pm and 1.30am. First text on phone his at 7am today. He would email and then text to say he had sent email. He has only done this re cash. Never did it before. He also has key to property but locks being changed.anyway. is this wrong? Muddy headed due to my mh issues
Need.to know or advice needed please. Does anyone have experience of building trade or am I buhelp have no one to help.or advise me
Tia

[MelanieCheeks]

In my experience, paying in cash is pretty common. And he did give you plenty of notice that this was his preferred method. You should still get a receipt and paperwork though.

[500smiles]

Yy paying cash not an issue. Many trades need cash to buy materials / pay staff. Do get a receipt.

Paying cash does not equal not paying tax.

[SaucyJack]

What's confusing?

He needed cash or an instant bank transfer so he could pay his staff.

[cheesecakemom]

You should get a VAT invoice even if you are paying cash.

[Cinnamoncookie]

Yy, paying cash is perfectly normal. Very very very few self-employed people who get paid in cash from time to time are tax dodgers, despite what the DM would like people to think.

[Inthedarkaboutfashion]

Well he was not unreasonable to ask for cash as lots of trades people prefer cash as it is instant and they can recover their outlay quickly (materials and wages). However you were not unreasonable to want to pay by bank transfer BUT you should have done it by instant bank transfer. Leaving it until the next day is not acceptable as most tradesmen expect to get paid as soon as the job has finished or on the pre agreed dates. It would have taken you only two minutes to make an instant bank transfer. Just pay the man and he will stop texting. I take it he did a satisfactory job and you have no reason to delay paying him?

[AutumnshadesofGold]

Paying in cash is quite acceptable, as pp says this doesn't mean your builder won't be paying tax. My Dh works for a small builder & the cash flow is a nightmare especially when people don't pay up promptly. We have had several episodes of no wages as the client hasn't paid or forgotten etc etc. not great at any time if year!
if you're happy with the job please pay promptly. Any niggles with the work I think it's usual to hold back 10% until completion
Oh and small businesses usually have to pay themselves to process cheques etc hence perhaps his preference for cash

[sillymillyb]

Please pay him the cash - as others have said it doesn't mean he isn't paying tax, and you should still get a receipt, but he may be counting on that money to pay people and your now making things difficult for him!

People generally pay me cash and when they don't - or take ages to pay, despite this being mentioned up front, it can cause massive issues for me on a financial planning front!

[MrsHerculePoirot]

I can see why you don't want to pay cash and I think that is fair enough as difficult to trace or prove you have paid. If you pay by bank transfer then you can prove you have paid him so I would be happy with that. We just had work done and paid all the way through by bank transfer - I have an app on my phone from HSBC that meant I could pay in a few minutes.

For future, it would be worth agreeing with the tradesperson in advance how you are paying, when you are paying and what invoice/work guarantee you will get and when. Obvs hindsight is a beautiful thing!

[TheAlias]

I wouldn't want to pay cash and if I was the builder I wouldn't want to accept cash - too many fakes in circulation.

However, you were very unreasonable not to send him the bank tf straight away, so he could pay his staff on a Friday. If you paid by BS cq, he can't bank it until Mon, bank probably won't let him cash it until Thurs , they would have to wait nearly a week for their wages. Would you think that was OK if it were you?

[madsadbad]

You should get a VAT invoice even if you are paying cash.
Why?

[Balaboosta]

Normal in building trade. And yes they get unreasonably shirty when the cash isn't there pronto. It's not pleasant. Pay ASAP and get him off your back.

[Back2Two]

Yes, paying in cash or bank transfer is ok.

But this instant hassling and asking for payment appears to be a new thing. I've noticed it recently with workmen and I think it's unreasonable. Why should they think it's ok to be hassling for the money literally hours after finishing a job. I think waiting 24 hrs should be reasonable.

Most people do a great days work and have to wait a month to be paid. Why are all these workmen so desperate for the money. Some jobs need to be checked over in the light of day for example.

It really pisses me off and I feel harassed when I'm working, dealing with children, trying to have a bit of an evening and someone is texting me at 10p.m saying "the cash isn't in the bank yet. Is there a problem?"
Um. No.


Rant not even over as this is currently really bugging me.

[MillionToOneChances]

Has he given you the paperwork? He can't chase like that unless he's met his end of the deal.

[jackydanny]

Pay him ASAP with an apology, get him to sign for the cash.

[Back2Two]

It's not always about paying other staff either. I've had it from one bloke this week. Plus a plasterer who had to pay for a dog he'd bought. No-one in the trade seems to have a couple of hundred pounds in e bank. Or even an overdraft facility like the rest of us.

[mutternutter]

Not worried re tax that's his problem. Yet to check work as not living in same property
Just wasn't sure re late night emails and texts. Thanks all

[Trickydecision]

It is quite wrong to keep people running small businesses waiting for money for the reasons explained by several posters. You should have acted on his first request to pay cash and should have had it ready to hand over or at the very least paid straight away by bank transfer.

[MillionToOneChances]

Told him need receipt and work guarantee.

OP told him she would need these things. He hasn't supplied them but is harassing her for payment. Is the fault all hers?

[MillionToOneChances]

If he's done work at a property she doesn't live in, surely she gets at least 24 hours to check it has been done to her satisfaction?!

[Seff]

If he spends all his day working on site, he will need to use evenings and weekends to do his paperwork - invoices, quotes (that may or may not result in paid work) so I would say emails and texts late at night is due to that, he'll just be working late.

YY that banks will charge business customers to pay in cheques, sometimes a flat rate so people will try and bank a few cheques at a time.

Also, the building trade is one where it is 'acceptable' to have some work done yet not pay straight away. When DH was self employed, it was amazing the amount of people who expected us to wait a month+ to receive money owed. Depending on when suppliers want paid, plus staff, it can be a constant juggling act to make sure you have enough money to cover everything.

[MarjorieMelon]

I do think it is often a tax dodge. Occasionally I have been quoted two prices the paying in cash quote is cheaper. Presumably because they are prepared to share some of their financial gains with you.

My friends dh is self employed in the construction industry and she openly admits that his actual income is way higher than his declared income.

[Back2Two]

Unfortunately many, many people use tradespeople almost as free credit and think it's acceptable to make them wait.

Most people are treated as "free credit" as an employee aren't they? They have to wait to be paid.

And, harassing two hours after a job is finished, in the evening not in traditional working hours, is only possible due to the internet. It feels intrusive. Never used to happen and these tradespeople managed to manage their finances. It's just not necessary. Bollocks is it treating someone like "free credit" if you want to pay them the next day.