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AIBU?

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Original poster

Hairdresser asking me to pay in cash

256 replies

Sally3490 · 28/06/2026 05:32

I've been going to my hairdressers for about 10 years. It's quite pricey £160 for full highlights and a cut (London). When I was last in they asked if I would pay in cash in future. The ATM is on route so in theory I could, but it adds some level of inconvenience and I'd rather not be carrying that amount of cash with me. But also, I feel it's damn cheeky. They are charging alot of money and should be paying their taxes. AIBU?

OP posts:
Monty36 · 28/06/2026 09:34

seattlegracemercy · 28/06/2026 09:22

But it’s not clear if that’s what they’re doing.

Show quote history

on the balance of probabilities I would hazard a guess that is precisely what is going on.

seattlegracemercy · 28/06/2026 09:22

Monty36 · 28/06/2026 09:20

Using cash to pay for some things is good. But when requested and clearly is to avoid paying your share into society then pretty low. All those people are doing is asking everyone else to cough up for them really.

But it’s not clear if that’s what they’re doing.

Monty36 · 28/06/2026 09:20

Using cash to pay for some things is good. But when requested and clearly is to avoid paying your share into society then pretty low. All those people are doing is asking everyone else to cough up for them really.

CaptainMyCaptain · 28/06/2026 09:16

Amba1998 · 28/06/2026 05:41

Why do people automatically assume that it’s because people want to avoid taxes

Card machine fees are huge for small businesses

This.

ERthree · 28/06/2026 09:15

What is wrong with paying in cash ? The atm is on route so what is the big deal? Cash doesn't bite you. If you really can't bring yourself to use cash find another hairdresser.

TamTam5 · 28/06/2026 09:04

Planting · 28/06/2026 09:00

If we dont start using cash we will lose it.

Who cares!!!!

If it cuts down on tax evasion, it needs to be stopped. Nobody needs to be using cash.

seattlegracemercy · 28/06/2026 09:04

Sally3490 · 28/06/2026 06:09

If it were an issue with card fees they would offer a bank transfer option surely.

No because that’s incredibly risky. One wrong digit in the transaction and it goes elsewhere. “Oh I thought I’d typed £160, did I only type £16? Oh what a shame!”, people saying they’d pay when they get home because they don’t have signal and not paying etc etc.

hahabahbag · 28/06/2026 09:04

I pay by bank transfer, it’s free for my hairdresser that way

user9764325677 · 28/06/2026 09:04

musicandmen · 28/06/2026 08:06

Some business banking accounts charge for lots of their services and smaller businesses often prefer cash because of it. Also it depends on how the staff are paid/employed in my hairdresser he’s quite happy to take card because the staff are employed and on a salary. But some hairdressers the are self employed and renting the space, it means a lot of work if people made paying by card to determine who’s money that is

Show quote history

Not if everyone has their own card machine. I have been in hairdressers where this happens

TamTam5 · 28/06/2026 09:03

Bananananna · 28/06/2026 08:31

I honestly couldn’t give a monkeys if it was to dodge paying a bit of tax. Life is far too short for me to be worrying about if my hairdresser is declaring my £160 to HMRC, especially if it’s one I’ve been happy enough going to for 10 years.

I care!!!!
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) estimates that £5.5 billion is lost annually to tax evasion. However, government bodies, including the Public Accounts Committee and independent campaigners, warn that this is likely an underestimate.

It’s not ok. The rest of us have to pay taxes, so should the self employed.

user9764325677 · 28/06/2026 09:02

Amba1998 · 28/06/2026 05:41

Why do people automatically assume that it’s because people want to avoid taxes

Card machine fees are huge for small businesses

No they aren’t. And some banks charge to pay in cash.

Planting · 28/06/2026 09:00

If we dont start using cash we will lose it.

BadSkiingMum · 28/06/2026 08:56

I don’t do cash payments, because almost all of the cash machines near me have been removed. It is a royal pain to arrange to have specific amounts of cash ready.

I pay immediately with bank transfer (or card in the case of shops) and make this clear upfront to any service provider whom I use.

Obviously if I am in my favourite cafe (they have a little cash-preferred sign by the till) and have a note with me then I will pay with it, but as a general principle - no.

Someone couldn’t clean for a hospital or school, or be a TA or healthcare assistant on a cash basis so I don’t really understand why a self employed person is deemed to be more in need of our sympathy than someone doing those tough jobs. Not to mention absentee parents (who are mostly men) taking cash payments in order to evade child maintenance.

I am self employed too btw.

And why are payment processing fees deemed to be so unfair? The companies maintain a huge infrastructure to support instant payments, so of course it needs to be funded in some way. VISA employs thousands of people in the UK.

WheretheFishesareFrightening · 28/06/2026 08:36

PetulaGordeno · 28/06/2026 08:17

If your hairdresser rents a chair rather than being directly employed by the salon, I can see why.
The government has recently started a new scheme for self employed who earn above a certain level called Making Tax Digital. It gives them a much closer look at what the self employed person earns and spends.
So I should imagine she’s asking for cash from some clients so she doesn’t have to record it.
Yes, it could be seen as dishonest, but I do the books for my self employed friend and let’s just say it’s scaring the horses. It’s a bit of a nightmare to deal with.
I have no problem paying cash. It takes a few minutes to withdraw it.
We are all getting so lazy and I include myself. I wanted to watch a film yesterday that had gone off a streaming channel. I have it on DVD and could literally not be arsed finding it and loading it.
£160 is a great price for your location and a great hairdresser who knows your hair is hard to find.

“It could be seen as dishonest” … it’s literally tax evasion and it’s illegal.

And MTD is based on last years income, so it’s too late to artificially reduce to get out of it now.

It’s people like this why the country doesn’t collect all the tax it’s owed - not the rich and large companies who usually get blamed who are on the whole paying the right amount of tax legally due.

Monty36 · 28/06/2026 08:34

whirlyhead · 28/06/2026 05:55

My hairdresser has only ever accepted cash, but a lot of self employed people where I live run cash only businesses.

But probably expect public services to miraculously operate .Those who have to pay via PAYE cannot prop up those services on their own.

RaraRachael · 28/06/2026 08:34

My hairdresser is self employed and rents a chair in a salon.
I'vd been going to her for 20 years and she's always been cash only.

I don't see an issue.

WheretheFishesareFrightening · 28/06/2026 08:32

Amba1998 · 28/06/2026 05:41

Why do people automatically assume that it’s because people want to avoid taxes

Card machine fees are huge for small businesses

Bank transfer is easier for everyone then, surely?

IkeaMeatballGravy · 28/06/2026 08:32

Do people really think that these businesses will declare each and every cash transaction? Do they think they are going to carry a bag full of cash across town and pay the expensive fees to pay the cash into a business account? Of course not, it's going straight in their pockets and those of us who are employed have to make up the deficit in taxes.

Bananananna · 28/06/2026 08:31

I honestly couldn’t give a monkeys if it was to dodge paying a bit of tax. Life is far too short for me to be worrying about if my hairdresser is declaring my £160 to HMRC, especially if it’s one I’ve been happy enough going to for 10 years.

Monty36 · 28/06/2026 08:29

Another one who doesn’t want to pay into the public pot. But I bet would want the fire engine to turn up if her house was burning.
And don’t say about no pay when sick etc. Costs for holiday etc are built into charges to customers.
Not good.

Beamsss · 28/06/2026 08:25

Amba1998 · 28/06/2026 05:41

Why do people automatically assume that it’s because people want to avoid taxes

Card machine fees are huge for small businesses

This always gets trotted out and it's nonsense. Fees for paying in cash to a business account are much higher.

HoskinsChoice · 28/06/2026 08:23

PetulaGordeno · 28/06/2026 08:17

If your hairdresser rents a chair rather than being directly employed by the salon, I can see why.
The government has recently started a new scheme for self employed who earn above a certain level called Making Tax Digital. It gives them a much closer look at what the self employed person earns and spends.
So I should imagine she’s asking for cash from some clients so she doesn’t have to record it.
Yes, it could be seen as dishonest, but I do the books for my self employed friend and let’s just say it’s scaring the horses. It’s a bit of a nightmare to deal with.
I have no problem paying cash. It takes a few minutes to withdraw it.
We are all getting so lazy and I include myself. I wanted to watch a film yesterday that had gone off a streaming channel. I have it on DVD and could literally not be arsed finding it and loading it.
£160 is a great price for your location and a great hairdresser who knows your hair is hard to find.

Wait. What?! You think paying by card to try to prevent fraud is the public being lazy? I despair.

Pistacheeo · 28/06/2026 08:23

It looks like a decent contactless device is about £200.
Transaction fees are approx 1.7% and a monthly subscription fee of £20.

Counting cash, keeping it safe and the time taken to pay it in over the counter sounds like more hassle.

oncemoreuntothebeachdearfriends · 28/06/2026 08:23

Ask her what's the price for cash, just like any other tradie.
I'd offer £130.

user1497787065 · 28/06/2026 08:21

Ask to pay by bank transfer.