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AIBU?

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Original poster

Rude store manager?! Take my money elsewhere

188 replies

Sellotapeandlime · 28/02/2025 20:08

Hello everyone,

Had a bit of a shit day but I want to know if AIBU.

I have been to three carpet stores and have been comparing quotes and have decided to (of course) go for the cheapest quote. I get there and I'm ready to pay for my deposit. However, the manager said that I need to pay the rest of the money in cash to pay the fitters on the day of the carpet. I told him "no" that I prefer to pay the rest of the money by debit/bank transfer on the day so that I have a digital record of the payment. I said I was happy to put down a higher amount for the deposit- but it would be too much money to cash out and due to the large amount, I prefer to pay the rest of the balance by card.

All of a sudden he got very angry, face red, shaking and said "NO! You pay all of the money upfront or half on the day in cash or nothing at all". I replied to him "Well, I can see that you are angry and I don't feel comfortable with the way you are behaving, so I'm going to leave and look elsewhere. Then he said "Bye!", and I left.

I mean what the hell???? Can anyone please tell me if AIBU?? Was I wrong to request that I would like to pay the rest by card?

Also! I'm now stuck as my only option is to pay for the expensive carpet place who are known to do a very good job but are very expensive. We need to move into our new home within three weeks. What should I do????????

OP posts:
Gymmum82 · 01/03/2025 14:24

SalfordQuays · 01/03/2025 13:59

@Gymmum82 are you not remotely bothered that they’re not paying tax? Presumably you pay tax. Why shouldn’t they? Are tradespeople exempt?

Show quote history

No I’m not remotely bothered who pays tax and who doesn’t. Not my business

biscuitsandbooks · 01/03/2025 14:15

@Pigeonlives

https://www.natwest.com/business/bank-accounts/mettle-mobile-account.html#:~:text=Is%20Mettle%20free%3F,days%20notice%20if%20this%20changes.

Totally free. The only limitations are that you can't have more than 1 million in your account, take international payments or deposit cheques.

biscuitsandbooks · 01/03/2025 14:11

Pigeonlives · 01/03/2025 13:53

Ive never heard of them, so I'd be hesitant to use their service for that reason. Plus, I doubt they're offering it purely out of goodwill, there are likely fees involved, whether for an upgraded service, failing to meet a minimum deposit threshold, or exceeding it.
The regular main stream banks charge, if you’re not depositing large sums of money, why bother paying for that service, or searching out some obscure bank account.

Show quote history

They are a mainstream bank - they're part of the Natwest company.

And no, there are no fees for the basic account. At all. It's totally free. If you want to upgrade then yes, there are fees, but you don't have to. I've been with them two years and have never paid a penny.

SalfordQuays · 01/03/2025 14:03

Gymmum82 · 01/03/2025 10:35

And how many billion from huge corporations?

Show quote history

Two wrongs don’t make a right

SalfordQuays · 01/03/2025 13:59

Gymmum82 · 01/03/2025 09:33

As everyone said it’s normal. I’d go so far to say it’s normal to pay all trades in cash. Just paid a roofer £1000 cash to fix my roof. Paid a builder in cash for a garage conversion. Paid carpet fitters cash. Plasterer etc. Cash is always their preference. I imagine some would accept BACS if requested but they all ask for cash. Probably because not all of it makes it through the books

@Gymmum82 are you not remotely bothered that they’re not paying tax? Presumably you pay tax. Why shouldn’t they? Are tradespeople exempt?

Pigeonlives · 01/03/2025 13:53

biscuitsandbooks · 01/03/2025 13:22

Mettle is completely free. There's no fees per transaction no matter how long you've had the account.

Show quote history

Ive never heard of them, so I'd be hesitant to use their service for that reason. Plus, I doubt they're offering it purely out of goodwill, there are likely fees involved, whether for an upgraded service, failing to meet a minimum deposit threshold, or exceeding it.
The regular main stream banks charge, if you’re not depositing large sums of money, why bother paying for that service, or searching out some obscure bank account.

kaos2 · 01/03/2025 13:45

Carpet fitters often want cash .. I think we all know why !🙄

Username10099 · 01/03/2025 13:30

Sellotapeandlime · 01/03/2025 13:17

Thanks everyone.

I have decided to go for the expensive carpet shop. All their fitters are employed by the independent carpet retailers, much more customer friendly, accepts a higher deposit and can pay the rest- if I'm happy, a few days after the fitting. Took a small loan.

It was the attitude of the manager in the last shop that put me off and I thought that if I ever ran into an issue (could be anything) then I can imagine the manager behaving like this or even worse.

I know it's normal to pay cash for services. However, I would only do this if I knew the service very well and I do not have time energy to go to a small claims court. I can just raise a dispute with my bank and get the money back in a few simple steps.

Good for you!
His behavior was a red flag for sure and I think you dodged a bullet there!

Foundanotherwrinkle · 01/03/2025 13:25

Sellotapeandlime · 28/02/2025 20:19

Yes exactly! I'm not sure what to do now!! I really like the expensive company, which we can afford, but it's just a lot. Maybe I should bite the bullet and go with the expensive company.

Is it the norm nowadays to pay the rest of balance in cash??

Show quote history

...

over your head cosplay GIF by Comic-Con HQ
biscuitsandbooks · 01/03/2025 13:22

Pigeonlives · 01/03/2025 13:20

They normally start charging after the introductory period ends, usually applying a fee per transaction. If you're not generating much income, though, it may not make a big difference.

Show quote history

Mettle is completely free. There's no fees per transaction no matter how long you've had the account.

biscuitsandbooks · 01/03/2025 13:21

TheWonderhorse · 01/03/2025 13:17

Who do you use? If you don't mind me asking. We use a personal account because it's free.

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I'm with Mettle.

Most personal accounts have it in their T&C's that you can't use them for business. If you're caught or they decide to look into it, they can close your account with no warning.

Pigeonlives · 01/03/2025 13:20

ilovesooty · 01/03/2025 13:00

My business account doesn't cost me money to run.

Show quote history

They normally start charging after the introductory period ends, usually applying a fee per transaction. If you're not generating much income, though, it may not make a big difference.

SnoozingFox · 01/03/2025 13:19

I am self-employed. I do jobs for people all over the world and often they pay me into my personal paypal account. I could easily not declare it if I wanted to.

It's such a tired old trope that self-employed people who accept anything but BACS transfer are clearly on the fiddle.

TheWonderhorse · 01/03/2025 13:17

ilovesooty · 01/03/2025 13:00

My business account doesn't cost me money to run.

Show quote history

Who do you use? If you don't mind me asking. We use a personal account because it's free.

Original poster
Sellotapeandlime · 01/03/2025 13:17

Thanks everyone.

I have decided to go for the expensive carpet shop. All their fitters are employed by the independent carpet retailers, much more customer friendly, accepts a higher deposit and can pay the rest- if I'm happy, a few days after the fitting. Took a small loan.

It was the attitude of the manager in the last shop that put me off and I thought that if I ever ran into an issue (could be anything) then I can imagine the manager behaving like this or even worse.

I know it's normal to pay cash for services. However, I would only do this if I knew the service very well and I do not have time energy to go to a small claims court. I can just raise a dispute with my bank and get the money back in a few simple steps.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sellotapeandlime · 01/03/2025 13:10

Username10099 · 01/03/2025 11:26

I've never heard of such a reaction towards a customer's reasonable request. independent business, money troubles, who knows what all else would lead him to behave in such an abominable manner. One thing springs to mind and only one: he has got money problems. Go to the more expensive store, you might have been spared a lot of problems with your new carpet purchase, some things are not a bargain.

I completely agree. He was angry from the first time I asked whether I can pay the rest by card or bank transfer. It put me off entirely. Fair enough that it's his business but there's a way you treat a potential customer.

OP posts:
biscuitsandbooks · 01/03/2025 13:08

Pigeonlives · 01/03/2025 10:47

Business accounts costs money to run, personal accounts don't. The person that did my floor recently was semi retired, why pay for a business account to deposit a few hundred quid a week.

Show quote history

No they don't. I have a business account and it's totally free. It even comes with free software.

Original poster
Sellotapeandlime · 01/03/2025 13:06

rwalker · 01/03/2025 11:47

Carpet fitter round here are normally self employed and independent from carpet shop and you pay them directly no payment for the fitting service is taken by the shop

doesn’t matter how much deposit or even if you pay in full you still pay the fitters independently

sound like he was frustrated as you refused to accept his answer and just expected him to give in because you kept asking even though you’d clearly been told no payment in shop for fitting

Sorry I disagree. The manager clearly had a temper. He was angry from the offset.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 01/03/2025 13:00

Pigeonlives · 01/03/2025 10:47

Business accounts costs money to run, personal accounts don't. The person that did my floor recently was semi retired, why pay for a business account to deposit a few hundred quid a week.

Show quote history

My business account doesn't cost me money to run.

ALovelyShadeofMauve · 01/03/2025 12:33

CASH OR NOTHING!!!

Angry Emoji GIF
TheWonderhorse · 01/03/2025 12:01

Carpet cleaner here, not a fitter. Similar though.

We don't offer card payment because we can't rely on a card machine getting signal in the address we're working in.

We can be paid bank transfer but as we are paid after the work is completed, we are often met with people who are busy and want to take the bank details to send later and then forget. I believe they do it genuinely as our customers are great, but it's more work to keep an eye on who has paid and when. Also if payment is a day late, because we get tax credits it can affect which month it goes on the accounts, and we like our income to be as predictable as possible, because self employment is quite stressful enough.

Cash is easier for loads of reasons, and not everyone is trying to dodge taxes.

biscuitsandbooks · 01/03/2025 11:56

Ddakji · 01/03/2025 11:32

So you don’t pitch a fit if someone wants to not pay cash? So you’re not like this scenario.

Show quote history

I never said I was, did I?

You're the one banging on about money laundering and fraud. Businesses are perfectly free to choose how they get paid, if customers aren't happy with that then they're free to go elsewhere.

kitchenhelprequired · 01/03/2025 11:55

The fitters were more than likely self employed so direct payment to them on the day is perfectly normal. However, like any tradesperson you should be able to pay by bank transfer and not cash. Was that ever offered as a solution? It's less likely that a self employed carpet fitter has the facility for card payment but you have to ask yourself what's going on when people demand cash in this day and age. For an alternative see if you can find a fitter independently and order the carpet online. You can go onto checkatrade and have people contact you or maybe task rabbit or airtasker will have a carpet fitter locally.

Gymmum82 · 01/03/2025 11:54

Ddakji · 01/03/2025 10:58

Why is that relevant? Small businesses not paying tax cost the country billions. Why allow them to get away with it? Why be complicit in it?

Show quote history

It’s not my job to police other people. That’s the job of those employed to do so

rwalker · 01/03/2025 11:47

Carpet fitter round here are normally self employed and independent from carpet shop and you pay them directly no payment for the fitting service is taken by the shop

doesn’t matter how much deposit or even if you pay in full you still pay the fitters independently

sound like he was frustrated as you refused to accept his answer and just expected him to give in because you kept asking even though you’d clearly been told no payment in shop for fitting