Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Can a workman insist I pay him in cash?

80 replies

AlleyRose · 21/04/2025 18:04

Having a new bathroom fitted. 2k deposit, 2k at start of job, 2k half way through all by bank transfer. He’s asked for the final 2k (when I’m happy and it’s all finished) in cash.

I don’t want to have to visit the ATM machine 8 times and I don’t want to have to travel to my nearest bank to then have to walk back to my car with £2k in cash in my handbag.

Can I refuse and just do bank transfer for final payment?

OP posts:
Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 21/04/2025 18:09

When there are 4 payments, why would you be visiting the ATM 8 times??

Blackdow · 21/04/2025 18:11

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 21/04/2025 18:09

When there are 4 payments, why would you be visiting the ATM 8 times??

Because a lot of accounts have a £500 max withdrawal each day from an ATM. Some have a £250 or £300 max. If OP needs to visit on 8 days to withdraw £2000 then she has a max of 250-300 per day.

InMyOpenOnion · 21/04/2025 18:11

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 21/04/2025 18:09

When there are 4 payments, why would you be visiting the ATM 8 times??

It's just the final payment that he's asking for in cash. Typically you can only get £250 in cash in one go.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General money
Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 21/04/2025 18:13

If you call the bank you can go in a withdraw that amount in one go from the bank clerk rather than ATM

HarryVanderspeigle · 21/04/2025 18:13

He can insist and you can choose to use someone else.

Ddakji · 21/04/2025 18:13

He can ask and you can say no. Which is what I’d do.

Glitchymn1 · 21/04/2025 18:14

I wouldn’t pay upfront, at least ensure that delivery comes to you. Neighbour paid £20k upfront, builder had a mental health episode and nothing has been done, no materials and they’ve had to remortgage. It was only patio slabs and stones!

AmandaHoldensLips · 21/04/2025 18:14

You will be needing a full set of receipts for the work so I'm guessing you know his full details, insurance, and everything else.

InMyOpenOnion · 21/04/2025 18:15

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 21/04/2025 18:13

If you call the bank you can go in a withdraw that amount in one go from the bank clerk rather than ATM

That's assuming OP isn't at work during bank opening hours though. My bank is only staffed between 9.30am and 3pm. It's such a pain.

Coconutter24 · 21/04/2025 18:15

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 21/04/2025 18:13

If you call the bank you can go in a withdraw that amount in one go from the bank clerk rather than ATM

But OP doesn’t want to walk with the cash in her bag

canthavethatonethen · 21/04/2025 18:19

It makes me wonder whether he will be putting the bank transfer payments through his books but not the cash one.

Do you have a full paper trail and an invoice for the full amount?

Upstartled · 21/04/2025 18:22

He's probably just got the arse with people playing the later, later game with the final payment.

Original poster
AlleyRose · 21/04/2025 18:31

I can only withdraw £250 a day - hence the 8 visits to the ATM. I could ring the bank to withdraw whole lot but the town I work in doesn’t have a branch so I’d have to go to a different town on a Saturday and pay to park etc. and then I’d have to carry it back to the car by myself which is massively inconvenient and a bit worrying.

I’m assuming he doesn’t want to put the last £2k through his books but that’s not really my problem! I’m more than happy with the work so far and he has great reviews but I just really want to pay the final instalment by bank transfer. I mean, if I just did that and messaged to say cash wasn’t convenient, there’s not really much he can do. Is there?

OP posts:
Original poster
AlleyRose · 21/04/2025 18:32

Upstartled · 21/04/2025 18:22

He's probably just got the arse with people playing the later, later game with the final payment.

Maybe people are playing the later later game with the final payment because they can’t be arsed to go to a bank 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
AlleyRose · 21/04/2025 18:33

canthavethatonethen · 21/04/2025 18:19

It makes me wonder whether he will be putting the bank transfer payments through his books but not the cash one.

Do you have a full paper trail and an invoice for the full amount?

I do for the bank transfers, but I don’t have to pay this final amount until
he's finished and I’m happy. Probably on Friday.
Can’t imagine him wanting to give me a receipt?

OP posts:
SeaDragon17 · 21/04/2025 18:33

I would refuse. If you pay by cash ensure you get a full receipt from him with his business name and the invoice reference on it. Otherwise if you have issues in the future and there’s “no record” of you paying the final instalment you’ll be screwed.

Roselilly36 · 21/04/2025 18:34

I went into the bank a couple of years ago to withdraw £800, the cashier said I could have withdrawn that from the ATM. I was really surprised, so you ma6 not need as many visits as you think.

Castlerigg · 21/04/2025 18:37

You have his bank details from making the prior payments. I would just use them again and pay that way (once you’re happy with the work). If he asks just say it’s not convenient to pay cash, which is true.

LaurieFairyCake · 21/04/2025 18:37

You don’t have to refuse, you just pay by bank transfer and if he mentions anything just say ‘oh sorry, I’ve paid it to your bank.’
whats he going to say? ‘Bollovks, you’ve paid me!’ 😂

Starfish1021 · 21/04/2025 18:37

He is clearly dodging tax and you need to get a receipt in full for the work especially if you want to see at some point.

RosesAndHellebores · 21/04/2025 18:40

If you are happy with the work he's done, I'd facilitate his request. His tax affairs are his business and I'd say he probably needs the £2k for materials and/or subbies and his bank account is probably maxed out on OD and if the money goes into it, he's stuffed from a cash flow pov.

Can't you ring the bank and arrange to meet him at the bank so you aren't walking around with £2k. Although to be fair, I don't think it's a whopping amount nowadays.

Good workmen are worth their weight in gold and I'd keep him sweet so when you have an emergency you can ring him and say "hey John, the chimney stack destabilised in the wind, the bog's blocked and we think it's the outside pipes, etc. Do you know someone who can help us out please?".

Original poster
AlleyRose · 21/04/2025 18:41

LaurieFairyCake · 21/04/2025 18:37

You don’t have to refuse, you just pay by bank transfer and if he mentions anything just say ‘oh sorry, I’ve paid it to your bank.’
whats he going to say? ‘Bollovks, you’ve paid me!’ 😂

Well this is what I keep telling myself 🤣 He can’t exactly complain at me paying him can he??

Think I just wanted to check I wasn’t being unreasonable.

OP posts:
Unijourney · 21/04/2025 18:42

How did he quote? Was the total including VAT?

Sometimes a builder wiil work with other trades, such as an electrician who only wants cash, because its a quick job and they want payment on the day rather than wait for the builder to get paid. On a bathroom job, there could be at least 4 trades, plumber, tiler, electrician, decorator and plasterer who are only working for a short period of time.

If the builder does a good job and you might want to use him again then sort out cash as it helps him pay his supply chain. Arrange it with your bank so you visit once.

Original poster
AlleyRose · 21/04/2025 18:47

RosesAndHellebores · 21/04/2025 18:40

If you are happy with the work he's done, I'd facilitate his request. His tax affairs are his business and I'd say he probably needs the £2k for materials and/or subbies and his bank account is probably maxed out on OD and if the money goes into it, he's stuffed from a cash flow pov.

Can't you ring the bank and arrange to meet him at the bank so you aren't walking around with £2k. Although to be fair, I don't think it's a whopping amount nowadays.

Good workmen are worth their weight in gold and I'd keep him sweet so when you have an emergency you can ring him and say "hey John, the chimney stack destabilised in the wind, the bog's blocked and we think it's the outside pipes, etc. Do you know someone who can help us out please?".

I think being mugged and losing £2k and having zero recourse is a massive amount to be honest!!

My nearest two towns are pretty grim, really rough. I can’t even tell you the last time I went. I genuinely don’t want to walk from a bank to the car park carrying £2k. If I got mugged I don’t think the plumber is going to let me off!

Also, he’s driving about in a brand new £50k pick up truck, so don’t think his cash flow is too bad!

OP posts:
YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 21/04/2025 18:47

He can't insist but I would let him know before he starts so that he has the option not to do the job if he doesn't want, you don't know his reasons for asking for it in cash so I think a heads up would be fair enough.