Rude store manager?! Take my money elsewhere

It's to avoid VAT. If you pay the carpet shop, it's VATable, but if you pay the fitter directly it's VAT free assuming the carpet fitter isn't VAT registered.

It also abdicates the store of any responsibility for damage or mistakes during fitting - they'll just say it's the subbies fault, but you as the customer didn't choose the subbie, won't have their name/address/phone number, so you're stuffed.

It's why we always ask "who" does the fitting etc whenever we buy a carpet, partly assembled furniture, even kitchens and bathrooms, etc. If the shop doesn't have their own staff, then we walk away, as we've had too many bad experiences with "subbies" who walk away and then the store deny any responsibility.

Luckily, we have an independent carpet/furniture store near us who have their own delivery guys, carpet fitters and furniture assemblers - they don't use subbies and make a big deal of it in adverts etc. Never had a single problem with them during 20 years of using them. And none of this nonsense about paying cash so that they can avoid tax!

agreed, all I can think is it’s his own business and he’s under some serious financial pressure

Yep, the carpet fitters are sub contractors and paid separately. This is perfectly normal and has been the process forever.

No idea why the op thinks this is suspect???

Never heard of paying the fitters in cash on the day. That’s a dodgy tax avoidance move. Don’t know where all the commenters shop that do do that. I’d go somewhere more reputable.

I don't remember the last time I paid a tradesperson in cash. We use a small local flooring company, they take a deposit on card then the balance by card on the day of fitting. My plumber and mechanic ask for bank transfers, the new guttering was paid direct to the company (half before and half after installation). People have said it's to avoid tax by paying in cash, I'm self employed and find it bizarre if people think we would want to take cash to avoid paying tax. I'm autistic, a lot of behaviour seems quite strange to me - I can't understand not wanting to pay tax and contribute to public services.

Mettle are free because it's internet only. No cheque books, paying in slips, cash bankings, etc. It's basically all BACS in and all BACS out - all electronic. So it costs the bank a lot less to run the account, especially as they have no branches.

*bought

biught carpets for a few places in my time. Always paid the fitter in cash.

Fair enough.

That's not true HMRC can access your paypal and personal bank account if they choose to. Banks can also flag and report any unusual deposits. So, the type of bank account you have doesn’t make much difference. You might try to argue that a £500 deposit into a personal account was a birthday gift, but if HMRC is investigating you, they'll figure it out.

Agree that it is common to pay fitters directly. There should be an invoice and option to pay cheque, card or bank transfer.

Limited sympathy here. It’s normal practice to pay the fitters separately. Odd that the manager was red-faced and angry with no provocation? I would like to hear his side of the story.

Always paid about 2 weeks after fitting once the invoice comes in, but it's a family business. Not the cheapest one but always great service. Sometimes it's worth paying a bit more.

You might have discovered why they're cheap...

If you buy cheap you buy twice.

It's not a scam it's perfectly normal. The fitters are self employed. So they decide how they are paid. It's not up to the shop. If they paid the fitter then they would become employees and the shop would have to pay NI , pension, holidays etc.
I've just had a kitchen done. The kitchen company gave me a quote. I paid them for the supply of the units etc but the electrician, plumber, plasterers, fitters and floor fitter were all self employed and i paid them all separately by bank transfer or cash but it was all invoiced separately but it was still coordinated by the kitchen company.

Him getting angry and red is weird. But I've never ordered a carpet where I haven't had to pay the fitters separately in cash on the day 🤷

Sounds like he’s running some sort of scam with the fitters. Probably gets a backhander.

Cheapest isn’t always wise.

I've never had any charges on mine. Perhaps they just charge new customers.

Santander Business Account. £7.50 per month after introductory period.

Mine's a Santander busuness account and I've never been charged a penny in over 20 years

Personally, I have always paid any work done on my house by transfer or card, never in cash. Sounds shady. However, even if cash is the custom, him getting so angry at you for saying no is a massive red flag. Go with the other company. You like they better anyway and good carpets will last at least 10 years. It will be worth the extra expense if you can afford it.

She never said it wasn't independent. I can only think of independent carpet stores near me, I couldn't even think where the nearest 'chain' one is.