Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

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:
SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 21/04/2025 19:48

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?

The cash is also likely to be paid to day labourers working under the table…

Original poster
AlleyRose · 21/04/2025 19:49

For those suggesting DH and I can both take £250 out a day, I don’t have a DH. If I did, he’d be the one going to the bank 😂

He’ll need final instalment at the end of this week so I don’t have time to do 8 withdrawals.

In all honesty, I’ve only just see the bit about playing in cash. He sent the request in a WhatsApp and I missed that part.

No payment method mentioned on the quote email and I’ve not had an actual invoice, just WhatsApps requesting payment as and when it became due.

OP posts:
SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 21/04/2025 19:50

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.

Sorry, it’s his job to sort cash payments for any subcontractors if the cash is legit. It’s not OP’s problem.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General money
Teajenny7 · 21/04/2025 19:55

I wouldn't use a workman who wanted paid cash in hand.

TattiePants · 21/04/2025 19:58

I posted a thread on here a few years ago when we were getting quotes for a new roof. One roofer would only do the job for cash and said he would refuse the job if I wouldn’t pay cash. From memory, the quote for the main roof was £25k (we didn’t bother asking him to quote for the rest of the job). He seemed to think it was perfectly reasonable to ask us to withdraw £30-35k in cash!

H7529 · 21/04/2025 20:00

Aren’t there some shops that are cash only? If shops can make this rule, freelancers can so, too. My guess would be that he’s within his rights to demand that and you are free to choose someone else for the job if his conditions see not convenient for you. He might be dodging tax or not, just as we don’t know whether cash only shops pay their tax or not.

Chonk · 21/04/2025 20:13

OP he probably just doesn't want to risk not receiving the final installment. Can't you just message him and ask to transfer the final installment in front of him on the last day, so he can check it goes through before he leaves?

Withoutfearorfavour · 21/04/2025 20:16

Absolutely not

Original poster
AlleyRose · 21/04/2025 21:19

Chonk · 21/04/2025 20:13

OP he probably just doesn't want to risk not receiving the final installment. Can't you just message him and ask to transfer the final installment in front of him on the last day, so he can check it goes through before he leaves?

This is a good idea. It’s either this or he’ll have to meet me at the bank and he says he doesn’t work Saturdays.

OP posts:
forgivingfiggy · 21/04/2025 22:54

Those saying ‘not a big deal’ and ‘his tax is his business’, are bonkers. Him not paying tax is my business. And cumulatively, it is a big fucking deal. He’d get a bank transfer and like it.

notatinydancer · 22/04/2025 02:22

WimpoleHat · 21/04/2025 18:54

Say you’re not sure it’s okay. He will assure you that it is. Then say “Oh - just let me check with my DH/mum/dad/brother/sister (whoever is most plausible) that it’s okay. They’re pretty senior in HMRC and know all about it.” He’ll take a bank transfer…..

Ridiculous

notatinydancer · 22/04/2025 02:24

AlleyRose · 21/04/2025 21:19

This is a good idea. It’s either this or he’ll have to meet me at the bank and he says he doesn’t work Saturdays.

Show quote history

Ask him to meet you there. If he wants the money he will. The fact he’s driving round in a new car is irrelevant, it could be leased/ on finance.
I just paid £565 cash for a job and got a proper receipt.

DrPrunesqualer · 22/04/2025 02:34

Ddakji · 21/04/2025 18:13

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

Agree

Id never pay cash.
There’s no come back
You need receipts and evidence of payments

He needs to pay his taxes which is why he wants cash in order to avoid paying them. I wouldn’t give him the time of day.

In terms of others re paying his supply chain. He can do that literally within seconds straight from his bank to his tiler or electrician. You also can transfer the money to him straight away via the bank.
Our builders have apps. We pay to his bank and he has the money within seconds.

There is absolutely no reason for a builder to need cash payments if he’s being legit. Not these days

Avoid

DrPrunesqualer · 22/04/2025 02:39

AlleyRose · 21/04/2025 19:49

For those suggesting DH and I can both take £250 out a day, I don’t have a DH. If I did, he’d be the one going to the bank 😂

He’ll need final instalment at the end of this week so I don’t have time to do 8 withdrawals.

In all honesty, I’ve only just see the bit about playing in cash. He sent the request in a WhatsApp and I missed that part.

No payment method mentioned on the quote email and I’ve not had an actual invoice, just WhatsApps requesting payment as and when it became due.

No invoice.?
No agreement about payment methods ?

Assume you are allowed to check and agree the job has been done correctly. ?
Surely he finishes the job to your satisfaction and agreement and he then puts in his last invoice for payment with a previously notified time limit ….Usually 30 days.

He’s not professional at all.

caringcarer · 22/04/2025 03:06

I'd just pay into his bank account and if he asks why just say you need proof you have paid for the job in full. You can't prove you gave him the money if it's cash.

caringcarer · 22/04/2025 03:07

Make sure you get a full invoice before paying final instalment too.

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 22/04/2025 03:16

Don’t facilitate his tax evasion. If small businesses paid all their taxes we wouldn’t be needing to cut benefits for the disabled. Salaried employees have to pay taxes why should they get away with not doing so? Pay him in the usual way and then report him to HMRC for investigation. Also he most likely should be registered for VAT. The threshold is only 85k turnover. .

DrPrunesqualer · 22/04/2025 03:31

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 22/04/2025 03:16

Don’t facilitate his tax evasion. If small businesses paid all their taxes we wouldn’t be needing to cut benefits for the disabled. Salaried employees have to pay taxes why should they get away with not doing so? Pay him in the usual way and then report him to HMRC for investigation. Also he most likely should be registered for VAT. The threshold is only 85k turnover. .

Edited

Agree 👏👏

DrPrunesqualer · 22/04/2025 03:41

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 21/04/2025 19:48

The cash is also likely to be paid to day labourers working under the table…

Show quote history

and round and round we go with workers not paying tax and national insurance on their cash for work and also claiming benefits
the builder not declaring the cash he’s getting so not paying tax either
what about the subbies I’m guessing they get paid in cash too from the builder

No wonder this country has no money it’s just never ending tax evasion !

Badbadbunny · 22/04/2025 07:40

ChompinCrocodiles · 21/04/2025 19:37

🤣

You can Google what ML is, you know, if you're not sure.

Probably better to do that next time before posting absolute codswallop 🙈

Show quote history

I’m an accountant - I know the legal definition of money laundering. I’ve had to pass exams on it. I have to go on courses twice a year on it. I suggest it’s you who is talking rubbish and doesn’t understand what it covers.

Badbadbunny · 22/04/2025 07:42

DrPrunesqualer · 22/04/2025 03:41

and round and round we go with workers not paying tax and national insurance on their cash for work and also claiming benefits
the builder not declaring the cash he’s getting so not paying tax either
what about the subbies I’m guessing they get paid in cash too from the builder

No wonder this country has no money it’s just never ending tax evasion !

Show quote history

Nail on the head and why the black economy is the largest component of the official tax gap. But it’s not just tax and benefit fraud, it extends to absent fathers evading child maintenance too which is also a big problem for the mothers!

Badbadbunny · 22/04/2025 08:10

“Money laundering is dealing with money or property obtained or derived from criminal conduct, where the person concerned knows or suspects it is criminal property. From a tax perspective, the vital thing to note is that ‘criminal property’ includes money and property gained through tax fraud. So, if a person has money that they should have paid over to HMRC but have kept hold of it through tax fraud – that is a money laundering offence.”

https://www.patrickcannon.net/practice-areas/financial-crime/money-laundering/#:~:text=From%20a%20tax%20perspective%2C%20the,is%20a%20money%20laundering%20offence.

Money Laundering Barrister | Maximum Penalty for Money Laundering

Patrick Cannon is a money laundering barrister who has experience dealing with money or property obtained or derived from criminal conduct, where the person concerned knows or suspects it is criminal.

https://www.patrickcannon.net/practice-areas/financial-crime/money-laundering/

Whynotaxthisyear · 22/04/2025 12:02

I would not pay such a large amount in cash. You need proper receipts which you’re unlikely to get since this is probably a tax dodge.

TY78910 · 22/04/2025 13:44

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 22/04/2025 03:16

Don’t facilitate his tax evasion. If small businesses paid all their taxes we wouldn’t be needing to cut benefits for the disabled. Salaried employees have to pay taxes why should they get away with not doing so? Pay him in the usual way and then report him to HMRC for investigation. Also he most likely should be registered for VAT. The threshold is only 85k turnover. .

Edited

Absolutely this. I don’t understand how people are okay with tradies consistently taking money and not paying appropriate taxes! I’m on a payroll and I don’t get a choice in what I pay, thousands are taken automatically and I’m horrified at the ‘red’ section of deductions on the graph that comes up in my pay portal which is almost half of the bloody circle! But you know what, I’m okay with it because there are services out there that are essential to others that I need to give back to.

Tax dodging by tradies is CF territory, no matter how good they are at what they do. Makes my blood boil every time I call out for someone to service my boiler or fix my tap and they make the same joke over and over again ‘haha so the tax man doesn’t get me’. Well sorry, if he gets me, he sure as hell should get you.

Llttledrummergirl · 22/04/2025 14:26

Tell him you will need a receipt with his vat number for your tax returns. I'll bet he will happily take a bank transfer then.