AIBU to be so sick of tradespeople/ cleaners asking for cash in hand?

You’re either very young or very naive if you think that more money to government equals better and more services. It’s just pissed away in the giant inefficient morass of bureaucracy. We’ve tried the “more funding” before and all that happens is that certain people get very rich.

Most employees only commute once each way. A self employed cleaner will be doing multiple journeys between clients. If an employee has a job requiring lots of travel between clients/customers, they'll almost certainly be paid for the travel time and probably also travel costs.

If we all paid enough tax, there'd be more budget to do things properly!
You can want a cash economy all you like, but a cash economy cant support half of what we all expect from government these days.

That’s ridiculously narrow minded. If people stop having children then you’ll have nobody to do anything for you when you get old.

No. The government already has too much on its plate and cannot administer the basics in an efficient and cost effective way. Any new scheme like this will be a mess and end up costing everyone money.

Travel time? Who else gets paid whilst they’re driving to work??

Totally agree..there is a whole sub culture of people who earn cash and then want services in cash. So many Chinese restaurants near us are all cash. Its soo dodgy and brazen. Years ago it was a real hush hush thing now so many are so open about it. Drives me mad.

This doesn’t appeal to you? A scheme to make sure it’s not just you but the government too arguing with a cowboy builder when he runs off with your money? I find that odd.

also @Bolon
Cash is hardly safe. I have a friend who was burgled and all the cash (and there was a lot of it) was stolen. Suspect it wasnt covered under insurance either as insurance companies usually set strict rules on how much is on premises

The government cannot manage the stuff it’s already trying to run. Utterly batshit that people want more government interference 😆.

Banks are only safe thanks to the government guarantee which was tested to its absolute limits in ‘08 when multiple banks failed. A cursory review of history should be sufficient to show that banks aren’t completely safe. But my concern is more about periodic disruption to financial tech and payment systems (which is not unusual), plus all the other issues I highlighted.

I think the government ideas to tackle cowboy builders look promising here. You can use a government registered builder and the government will handle any complaints and overseas payment for you if things go wrong.

The customer gets a robust complaints process and knows the builder isn’t running off with their cash.

The builder gets a stamp of respectability.

The government gets tax.

It's rather a stretch to think that minimising cash in hand work would lead to a society without cash.
My observations of people who insist on being paid in cash is that it rarely for legitimate reasons (like avoiding bank fees) and mostly in order to evade paying tax - which of course pays for public services used by all - and/or so they might continue to receive earnings-related benefits, or avoid meeting their paternal responsibilities.
Personally, I would be more than happy to make it illegal to pay cash for goods or services beyond a de-minimus amount and illegal to receive cash for the same. There are many tech options available to make this practicable for 99% of the population.

You think banks aren’t safe?

Why not? Other low paid women are paying taxes to subsidising that cleaner. Do you think that is fair?

with respect, you have a very privileged viewpoint. It’s great that your parents can manage, but many can’t. Nothing in my post was related in any way to conspiracy theories.

None of the above ‘reasons’ are valid though. Those reasons are just a mixture of ludditism and conspiracy theory madness. Are you saying none of these can be overcome? My parents are in their 80s and both taught computing. They know most about computers than I do. It’s really patronising to say old people don’t understand tech or aren’t capable of learning something new if they have to.

I know. Hopefully we’ll keep some freedoms and cash.

Do you really want to live in a society without cash? What becomes of the millions of people who do not have (and cannot open) bank accounts? Or those who do, but are debanked (not as rare as you’d think). How would the homeless manage? What about those who cannot afford smart phones or internet access, or the elderly who cannot work the tech. Do you want a society where you are forced to entrust all of your money to third parties (are banks always safe? - imagine not having a bit of cash for emergencies). What if you were in a financially controlling relationship and cash was the only way to protect your money? What happens when the banking tech goes down - it happens and people don’t fully realise how vulnerable that system is. Many rural areas do not have access to the necessary tech infrastructure to enable bank payments. This is before we even get on to the question of freedoms and the state’s right to track absolutely everything you do. Honestly, there are so many reasons that cash is important and it’s crazy that some people would so willingly give it up.

Yes. That is my solution. For the extra £26bn it would raise would you not think it worth while?

You’ll end up in a society with no cash.

But not to ask for cash exclusively, especially when no invoice or receipt is provided. And also not the situation described in the OP.

Is your solution to ban cash payments?

I barely use cash for anything and would definitely not agree to a weekly cash payment for anybody. What a hassle, especially as so many ATMs have disappeared recently.

Which is a completely lawful and legitimate way to pay for goods and services.