I’ve lost £400 😡

[Redtartanshoes]

Not really sure why I’m posting. Although if someone could l me where it is then that would be fab.

Took £9k out of bank a couple of weeks ago. Having various jobs done in the house so this was to pay for all (exact amount)

Paid the balance of trade #1
Had trade #3 do a job that I hadn’t withdrawn money for, so paid him (£250).
Paid trade #2 £2k of the £5600 that I owed him.

The amount I should have should be £250 short. Only it’s not is £650 short.

Money was in cupboard. Then handbag. Then drawer. Then realised it was short.

Have checked with bank incase they made an error. Nope. There’s only need and DS14 in house, it’s 💯 not him. He has money, he’s quiet, and actually no need for money. I know there’s probably much rolling of eyes but honestly he wouldn’t have it in him.

I’ve checked everywhere. Counted money. Re done sums.

The literal only thing I can think of is I’ve over paid someone. #1 probably. He was a bit of a lad and wouldn’t own up I wouldn’t have thought: doubtful #3 as I’d have noticed. And I think #2 would have told me.

I’m so fucking cross with myself. Keep hoping I’ve actually missed something, and it’s a mistake. I’ve had that much going on. Actually there was #4 who cut trees but I withdrew cash for him separately. This is why I never do stuff.

Rant over.

Anyone know where the money is? TIA

Never pay cash, I like the proof via online transfer that I paid it.. it’s your word against theirs that you handed them cash.
What about under the cutlery drawer? Coat and jeans pockets?

Were they new notes?

They seem to stick together very easily. Donkey's ago dh nearly overpaid tradesmen who wouldn't have admitted it in a thousand years because the notes were hard to separate.

More recently brand new Euro notes had to be very carefully checked before being handed over for the same reason.

We recently paid money into the bank after selling a motorcycle. Buyer paid cash. We counted it at home. Dh first then me. Then together. £6800. Paid into bank. They said total £6700. We said no there is £6800. They said sorry we won't know if we've counted wrong until we tally up at the end of the day! We were not happy. They said they'd ring us. They didn't. We had to ring them and they said there was no extra money. So we 'lost' £100 or the bank did, or the cashier stole it. We will never know!

@Redtartanshoes

I’ve counted it a couple of times it’s right now but could have miscounted It out to pay people. You know what it’s like, trying to work, 100000 people wanting things, up and down the stairs blah blah blah

You say only DS has been in the house

You've been up and down the stairs and really busy

Are you sure no one else has been in? Friend of DS?

That said, if I was handling that amount of cash I'd miscount unless I did 90 bundles of £100.

In fact, I still might miscount that.

@TheVolturi

We recently paid money into the bank after selling a motorcycle. Buyer paid cash. We counted it at home. Dh first then me. Then together. £6800. Paid into bank. They said total £6700. We said no there is £6800. They said sorry we won't know if we've counted wrong until we tally up at the end of the day! We were not happy. They said they'd ring us. They didn't. We had to ring them and they said there was no extra money. So we 'lost' £100 or the bank did, or the cashier stole it. We will never know!

Hang on Didn't you count again in front of the cashier?

What the whole £6800 at the desk? With people standing behind us? No.

@TheVolturi

What the whole £6800 at the desk? With people standing behind us? No.

You'd usually go into a side room.

Sorry, we handed the bundle to the cashier, with our bank card, and said we are paying this in, there is £6800. Then they counted, and put into counting machine in bundles. Then we were told it was £100 short.

Anyone paying thousands in cash knows that they're helping someone to dodge tax.

Being paid in cash might also be a strategy to avoid paying child support.

Not in our bank. (Halifax) Paid lots of large amounts in over the years, and always done it at the desk. In fact, they've actually tried to make us do it at the machine inside. You stick bundles in and the machine counts it. We have refused many times because really who wants to stand with bundles of cash doing that?

@ARGHHHHHHEY

Do you never consider that tradespeople are not declaring the work/ paying tax when you pay cash?

Other people's dishonesty is not the OPs issue really is it?

It deffo is if there’s issues later down the line with the work carried out! Also if you aren’t invoiced/billed that suggests you are aware there’s no VAT being paid which potentially could cause you issues. If it’s a straightforward job then unlikely but any problems or injuries on site & you’re up s* creek. I’d not pay multiple tradespeople in cash and we aren’t talking about 20 quid here xo

In future count out the money on your own, in a calm quiet setting and put it in clear, separate envelopes. Then when everything is going on you just grab the envelope and hand over, instead of counting out.

I’ve not used it for anything else as I literally never have cash.

Not 20’s instead of 10’s as no 10’s

Will contact them and ask. Doubtful but good idea.

No one else in with DS, although tradesmen in I guess while I’m working

People don’t generally stand there counting out all the cash they’re paying into the bank. It would take forever and most banks round my way are only open for a couple of hours 2-3 times a week. Most just use the paying in machine, not sure what you do if it miscounted.

@TheVolturi

What the whole £6800 at the desk? With people standing behind us? No.

Well, I would sooner delay the queue than lose £100. If you accept you miscounted, that's different, but I thought you were saying you were confident you hadn't.

I agree that if you had asked to recount, they'd have gone to a side room with you.

@Redtartanshoes

I’ve not used it for anything else as I literally never have cash.

Not 20’s instead of 10’s as no 10’s

Will contact them and ask. Doubtful but good idea.

No one else in with DS, although tradesmen in I guess while I’m working

So there are other people with access to the house...

£9k cash is a lot. After 10 years saving I’ve just had my front garden done. I paid almost all bank transfer but needed £3k cash for extras such as emergency brickie, fence panels I’d not asked for and extra work round the side

Even though ex back office staff I was quizzed at bank why I needed that much cash. Teller then had to go and get the request double checked by her manager. The cash was given to me in all ready sealed £1k bags

The cash was right but took me 3 times to count the right amount at home. Agree with PP the new notes are a nightmare for sticking together. Landscaping bloke came in and counted it again in front of me. I'd done them in £500 piles even he had to double count one of them

It is possible that they've slipped down behind something? A colleague of mine lost £400 this way, behinds radiator, and refound it much later

They didn't offer us to do anything like go in a side room. We were told all they could do was check at the end of the day.

I think the OP just wants some sympathy and possible suggestions of where it may have gone.

No point in having a go at her.

You must be so annoyed @Redtartanshoes

Paying in cash means you are helping people tax dodge. It also means there’s no paper trail of work you’ve have done or what you have paid so if something goes wrong later down the line you are fucked.

Call each of the trade people. Say you have lost some money and may have repaid them and could they please check.

They might either a) be honest, if that is what has happened, or b) if they have pinched it (hopefully not, but if people have access to your home like this it's always a possibility) they might think you are onto them and give it back to avoid you taking it further.

I would also mention it to your son. I know you say he doesn't have it in him but I think it's worth asking.

If done stupid things with money before OP, I understand the frustration.

People usually pay larger amounts in cash so that the person they are paying can avoid declaring it. The payee typically gets a cut of the money saved.

OP, you probably saved yourself a few hundred by paying the builder in cash.
I’ve renovated several houses and never paid cash and have never been asked to pay cash other than for some very small jobs ( which I admit I guessed were not going to be declared)

@redhot22 thanks, that’s exactly it. Just cross with myself. Too much going on right now.

The sofits and fascia stuff includes new windows and a door so people were in and out. I was working upstairs. Moneystupidly was in a cupboard downstairs although no one would have known it was there. Gosh it’s getting like Cluedo 😂