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Original poster

Electrician demanding cash payment - how to handle?

75 replies

Usernamealreadyexists · 04/07/2019 07:34

Hi

I was recommended an electrician as needed old halogen spot lights switching to LEDs. I got a quote verbally and we agreed. He finished the job yesterday and fucked up my sink in the process due the debris. He said he’d be back on Friday to fix it and wanted cash payment. I said we never agreed that and I want a proper invoice first. He then muttered something about VAT (I will only pay what we agreed as I assumed vat was included). I’m a single parent and feel a bit worried about challenging him on this. He is doing some work for a neighbour too. Any advice?

OP posts:
Pinkmalinky · 04/07/2019 07:39

We’ve only ever paid cash in hand. I find it frustrating because I never carry cash around and hate the hassle of drawing it out. I use my phone to pay for everything so I barely ever know where my card is if truth be told. Alas, workmen always want cash...

I think they do it to avoid tax.

StereophonicallyChallenged · 04/07/2019 07:39

Just get it fixed and pay him with cash if that's what he asked for.

Simple Smile

fleshmarketclose · 04/07/2019 07:40

Ask him for a receipt and give him cash no need for any angst.

mustdrivesoon · 04/07/2019 07:44

I'm with you OP. He should provide a proper invoice. Cash in hand just means he gets to avoid paying VAT, cheeky sod.

BogglesGoggles · 04/07/2019 07:47

You can’t assume that VAT was included in the price you agreed. But you have every right to request a proper invoice and, given that he is quite dodgy I wouldn’t pay him without an invoice and would only pay via transfer so there is evidence of payment. Obviously if you were to pay in cash you would also be aiding tax evasion which is also not good.

EleanorReally · 04/07/2019 07:48

he doesnt want to put it through the books.
you both win, as it should be cheaper

BentNeckLady · 04/07/2019 07:48

Pay him cash 🤷🏽‍♀️

BogglesGoggles · 04/07/2019 07:49

I’m also a bit shocked by how blaze some people have been about aiding a criminal offence. I don’t like taxes in general, in Britain I think they are too high but bloody hell, I’d never evade or knowinghelp someone else evade tax.

Cookit · 04/07/2019 07:49

I’m not in favour of helping people avoid tax. It is awkward though with workmen.
I had an electrician in a while back (paid by bank transfer) who did an absolute horrendous job (and he knew it) but I couldn’t say much and had to pay in full because he was about twice my weight and of course knows my address and I felt very, very vulnerable.
He was from rated people but I can’t give an honest review because it’s traceable...

CherryCheezcake · 04/07/2019 07:51

Just because someone is asking to be paid in cash, it doesn't follow that they are evading tax. There are thousands of us small businesses and self employed who

azulmariposa · 04/07/2019 07:52

What's the problem with paying him in cash?
Although I'd make sure that the problem with the sink was sorted out before paying him.

If he's a small trader, then he won't need to charge vat, is he vat registered?

Candymay · 04/07/2019 07:52

Just pay cash and then do yourself the biggest favour ever. Learn how to do your own work in the home and you avoid the angst and the damage to the house. For a single mum it’s very empowering.

DonkeyHohtay · 04/07/2019 07:54

Paying on cash doesn't mean he's avoiding tax. He might be, but it's not a forgone conclusion.he might not even be earning enough to be vat registered.

Cash is more convenient to him for lots of reasons.

FrancesFryer · 04/07/2019 07:56

Why are people assuming he's avoiding tax.
We run a small business, we turnover nowhere near enough to be Vat registered but all jobs no matter how they're paid for go through the books with invoices issued. All cash does is avoid bank charges.

AtillatheHun · 04/07/2019 07:56

what's the work? if it's anything you'll need to prove was done in future, you will need a receipt and so you'll just have to pay the VAT (as neighbours found to their cost when thy couldn't prove their building work had been done to regulations when they came to sell their house)

EleanorLavish · 04/07/2019 07:57

We had our wooden floor redone a few years ago. It was in the thousands.
I went to pay by cheque and the guy said, no, I need cash! Like thousands of pounds in cash, as if I would have that lying around.
My husband had to go to the bank and get it out.
Why on earth he presumed we would automatically pay in cash is beyond me.
He needed cash to pay people back money apparently.
A friend had a right ding dong with a builder over him wanting cash payment of £6000 at 3pm on a Friday.
“How will I pay my workers?”

Kazzyhoward · 04/07/2019 07:59

Cash in hand just means he gets to avoid paying VAT, cheeky sod.

And income tax, And national insurance. You can't evade one without the others. With lower declared income, he may also be wrongly claiming too much in benefits too!

It's about time we clamped down on the black economy which costs the UK more than the tax avoiding big firms.

EskewedBeef · 04/07/2019 07:59

He probably doesn't have a high enough turnover to be VAT registered, so it's not necessarily a tax dodge. He may be hiding income for other reasons, but you don't know and obviously it's none of your business, so just give him the cash once he's fixed your sink.

ProfessorSlocombe · 04/07/2019 08:00

He was from rated people but I can’t give an honest review because it’s traceable...

Which begs the question what's the point of "RatedPeople" ? Or Checkatrade ? Or another other site where the tradesman pays to advertise. ????? He who pays the piper and all.

Ragwort · 04/07/2019 08:00

Agree with Frances, just pay cash but be sure to ask for a receipt. My DH used to be self employed and often received payment in cash but he always gave a proper receipt and it all went ‘through the books’. He used to get some people (often the very clearly richer people) saying ‘we’ll pay cash and then you can knock the VAT off can’t you’ and he always refused to.

Kazzyhoward · 04/07/2019 08:01

he doesnt want to put it through the books. you both win, as it should be cheaper

Then don't whinge when public services are cut!

Kazzyhoward · 04/07/2019 08:02

so just give him the cash once he's fixed your sink

As long as he gives you an invoice.

coral13 · 04/07/2019 08:02

You can never assume that VAT is included as not all companies are required to pay VAT (I'm not).

If a companies turnover was less than 85k in the last 12 months then they don't have to pay VAT so you won't be changed it.

It's unlikely an electrician would have a turnover less than that but you sirll can't assume.

Redcherries · 04/07/2019 08:02

He should provide an invoice especially if he’s vat registered. Didn’t you have written quotes?

Most tradesmen will accept cash, some will only accept it. It doesn’t mean they are evading tax, it means they’re evading the clients who promise to pay by bank transfer for days and days on end whilst the tradesmen struggles to buy materials and to put food on the table whilst they wait.

Tbh I’d probably just pay and move on in your position and ensure in future I got written quotes and asked about vat if it’s a verbal or unofficial quote.

Redcherries · 04/07/2019 08:04

I’d assume he is vat registered as he mentioned it when asked by the op about invoices.

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