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Original poster

Paying people cash in hand

170 replies

stretchmarkqueenie · 08/09/2018 18:34

I've been told by the lady I use to do my ironing that she would now like cash payment rather than the usual bank transfer. It's making me feel uneasy, and personal preference I know, I don't like carrying cash on me. Just wondered others views on paying people cash in hand?

OP posts:
serbska · 09/09/2018 10:28

I don’t like paying cash in hand. It’s a total inconvenience and I happily pay more to someone who takes a bank transfer. I set up a DD to pay on the day of service and I forget about it. Getting cash out is a PITA when you travel for work and aren’t always here.

PolkerrisBeach · 09/09/2018 10:29

I don’t like paying cash in hand. It’s a total inconvenience and I happily pay more to someone who takes a bank transfer

Which is fine, but that "someone" who prefers cash has every right not to work for you any more. You're not dictating their terms. They are.

glintandglide · 09/09/2018 10:32

I don’t go to a cashpoint. Monday to Friday i get up, do nursery drop off, I drive to work (motorway) and work in a business park in the arse end of nowhere, usually without time for a lunch break.
When I get home I am exhausted and do dinner- bath- story- bed.

Weekends- gymnastics and music lessons at a university campus, birthday parties, visiting family, preparing for the coming weeks and much needed down time

Isn’t it impossible to go to a cash. Machine at any point? Of course not! But it would have to be diarised, reminders set and out of my way. I don’t think my life is unusual at all!

DameSylvieKrin · 09/09/2018 10:39

If you think it would be easy to find another person to do your ironing who accepts transfers, I would agree to pay in cash but point out politely that you have long valued the convenience she offered you as a customer by accepting bank transfers and that it does make you want to think things over.
If you won't find anyone else, and you're happy with her work, don't mention anything.

RB68 · 09/09/2018 10:42

It may also be she is in an abusive relationship where partner is controlling financially and this is her way of pulling money out without him having control. She may be divorcing and needs to separate things out

I think I would say you can do it for the short term but longer term would prefer electronic as it suits you better, and that if there is any additionally incurred costs you are happy to pay a transaction fee etc

Marie0 · 09/09/2018 10:44

Polkeris - yes I couldn’t agree more! I tell people up front how I wish to get paid.

I get the odd ‘sorry I haven’t had chance to get cash out’ which is fine but people who more than occasionally can’t pay or want to ‘pay double next week’ because they can’t be arsed to simply ensure they have a tenner is a bit crap and I’d be dropping them Smile

Sunnymeg · 09/09/2018 10:49

I would imagine that the bank have questioned the number of credits going into her account. She is probably running a business through a personal account and it has flagged up somewhere. Personally I wouldn't pay someone in cash unless I received a proper receipt. I am a tax man's daughter though, and. normally if I have someone to do a job, I tell them I won't pay in cash before they start the job . If she just pockets the cash without offering a receipt, I would presume she wasn't going to record it anywhere and I wouldn't pay her in cash again.

JacquesHammer · 09/09/2018 10:51

Who are these people that never have the opportunity to go to a cashpoint in the course of their working/social week??

I work from home. I do school run (via bypass and A-Road so no cash point). The only one anywhere near is also near a school. So you simply can’t park around school times.

Neither party is wrong either the OP or the cleaner wanting to be paid cash. They aren’t compatible any further which is also fine.

I run two businesses. Any bank charges from clients payments etc absolutely aren’t their problem - they’re mine to absorb.

Clionba · 09/09/2018 10:54

That's trueJacques. I live and work miles from a cashpoint too but am a bit anxious about not having any cash to go into the city centre once again week to get some. . Anyway, folks would just need to dump their ironer/cleaner or whatever if they can't do that.

cantkeepawayforever · 09/09/2018 10:58

Now live in a town, but used to live somewhere where it was 5 miles to a cashpoint. Never went to a supermarket, as had shopping delivered.

I would cheerfully swap 'pay by bank transfer after the service has been done' to 'pay by bank transfer in advance of the service being done', especially for regular payments to someone have worked with for a while. I would not swap to cash, for lots of the reasons stated on this thread.

I have, over the years of renovating several houses, employed many trades. Any who come to estimate and then suggest i pay in cash are straight off the 'possibles' list. I usually mention in passing that DH is an accountant, and several haven't provided quotes after I have mentioned that. it's a basic test of trustworthiness - if someone is fiddling HMRC, why would I trust them to do major work, or dangerous work, to my house and then come back to fix any problems over the coming years?

glintandglide · 09/09/2018 11:02

That’s interesting, I’m an accountant and it makes no difference whether I’m offered a cash in hand price. I think most people know accountants aren’t tax inspectors

JacquesHammer · 09/09/2018 11:02

Clionba

I have a bit of cash in the house. And if I happen to be near a cash point I’ll “stock up” but it would just be too awkward to get money each week.

I guess there are plenty of people who would rather pay by cash so suspect it’s just a case of juggling around until the cash folk are matched and the bank transfer folk are.

Clionba · 09/09/2018 11:07

Yes, Jacques, I hear what you're saying. My plumber wanted £60 cash, I said no, but I always give the window cleaner cash for example. I suppose I just feel more for lower earners like ironers, cleaners etc. But whatever suits.

cantkeepawayforever · 09/09/2018 11:23

Glint,

It's just one of a number of 'are you real or dodgy?' probes that I use - terms of payment, whether they prefer to e-mail or provide printed invoices etc, landline number and full business address....

It may be the simple mention of a husband - I always manage all the works, and I do get people who don't want to 'take orders from a woman' or 'expect a woman to be a soft touch / not as informed when it comes to the details of plumbing / electrics' - rather than the mention of an accountant...

Original poster
stretchmarkqueenie · 09/09/2018 13:31

Thank you to all the posters that have empathised and agreed, and I'm shocked at being so flamed for simply asking a question on views, I thought that was essentially what mumsnet is for, a resource to ask these things! I'm certainly not trying to be all high and mighty, I do not look down on the people that I pay help me with these tasks, I very much appreciate them. As a busy working mum with no family support nearby I work to a regimented schedule from 6am till whenever DD goes to sleep. It's just I have my personal preferences around carrying cash and that's why it works for me to pay everyone with bank transfer. As I said, she has always been happy with bank transfer for the past year so it's the sudden change that has got me questioning it. It is an inconvenience, and I don't really want to pay cash. Just unsure how to respond to her message now!

OP posts:
PattiStanger · 09/09/2018 15:02

it's just one of a number of 'are you real or dodgy?' probes that I use - terms of payment, whether they prefer to e-mail or provide printed invoices etc, landline number and full business address

@cantkeepawayforever - please do explain which is more indicative of someone dodgy - an emailed invoice or a paper copy?

My utility supplier sends me my bill by email, I had my washing machine fixed recently and the repairman gave me a paper bill, my childs music teacher emails me a bill, my council tax is a paper bill - which do I judge as dodgy? I'm stuggling to see what your logic behind this is.

PattiStanger · 09/09/2018 15:04

stretchmarkqueenie - surely you simply say that you'd prefer to carry on paying by bank transfer and understand if she's no longer able to do your ironing.

Winebottle · 09/09/2018 15:18

Just pay cash. It is not your fault if she does not declare it.

I too don't like the 'too cool for cash brigade'. Why can't you just carry a bit of cash around for when you need it? Uneasy about carrying £50 around but quite happy to carry a £600 iPhone.

JacquesHammer · 09/09/2018 15:20

Why can't you just carry a bit of cash around for when you need it?

I never need it. Why would I carry it around?

penisbeakers · 09/09/2018 15:25

If she's overdrawn in her bank account and struggling financially, it might make it easier for her to buy stuff she needs without it being eaten by bank fees. I know a lot of people might think she's trying to dodge the tax man, but realistically it's more likely to be down to needing the money in her hand to use.

Bluelady · 09/09/2018 16:02

Just give her the cash. Or find someone who'll accept a bank transfer. Do people really spend days agonising over such trivia?

LakieLady · 09/09/2018 16:28

I'm mystified by the number of people who never go anywhere they can get cash. I realise that not every supermarket has a cash machine, but lots of petrol stations now have free cashpoints and most shops will do cashback.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 09/09/2018 16:34

There is a strange morality with the MC when it comes to cleaners

We All know that people can’t survive on a tenner here and a tenner there

We all know that cleaners don’t get either sick pay or holiday pay

We all are wilfully blind to the fact that many probably claim Benefits !

Just pay her cash 💰

Unless you want to start paying sick and holiday pay ?

User12879923378 · 09/09/2018 16:38

I don't really want to have to remember to get cash out. I have a very erratic and stressful job and just want to set up a regular transfer. I am very happy for anyone who doesn't want to do that to tell me so that I can use someone who won't mind a standing order.

PolkerrisBeach · 09/09/2018 16:39

Stop... where do you even start with that.

Most cleaners aren't also Benefits cheats.

Cleaners don't get sick pay and holiday not because they're on the fiddle, but because they're self-employed.

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