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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask how I check the money politely?

154 replies

Scienceseeker · 13/04/2022 11:09

Lady coming to collect something for over £200. She’s paying cash.

How do I say politely I want to check the money before handing the item over?

OP posts:
Original poster
Scienceseeker · 13/04/2022 11:09

AIBU to want to check the money? Woman is a stranger!

OP posts:
Ifailed · 13/04/2022 11:10

just count it out in front of her, don't have to say anything.

Sexnotgender · 13/04/2022 11:10

YANBU. Just, give me a minute while I check everything is in order should suffice.

goodnessidontknow · 13/04/2022 11:11

You don't need to be polite about it, just crack on and check it when they give it to you, anyone sensible would expect it. If you're confident and matter of fact there won't be any problem. 😃

FTEngineerM · 13/04/2022 11:11

Just count it out and say to make sure she’s not paying too much.

Or do you mean get the magnifying glass and uv lamp out?

ImAvingOops · 13/04/2022 11:11

I think you just have to say. Tell her you mean no offence but since you don't know her you have to check.
I have one of those pens that highlights fake notes. I wouldn't be offended if I was buying something from a stranger and they wanted to check.

Original poster
Scienceseeker · 13/04/2022 11:12

I don’t have any way to check if it’s fake, I just meant count it out!

OP posts:
SevenWaystoLeave · 13/04/2022 11:13

You might be overthinking it, it's likely she'll hand the cash over to you in the first place anyway. If she doesn't, just say "That'll be £200 please" and look expectant.

MurmuratingStarling · 13/04/2022 11:13

Why do you need to be polite? Coz you're a woman? Hmm

Just say 'I will just count this out, won't be a minute...' Make sure it's all there.

This happened with me and DH once. A WORKMATE of his was buying some furniture off us, and was paying £450. He put it in a sealed envelope. I ripped the envelope open and started counting it. It was £100 short. The man said 'oh did I not put it all in? And pulled the other £100 out of his wallet.

Cheeky cunt.

The main moral of this story is TRUST NO FUCKER.

babyjellyfish · 13/04/2022 11:14

Obviously you just count the money in front of her.

Defender90 · 13/04/2022 11:15

I would just say thank you, I'll double count this now keep us both right.

Then count it and handover the item.

TracyMosby · 13/04/2022 11:15

@MurmuratingStarling

Why do you need to be polite? Coz you're a woman? Hmm

Just say 'I will just count this out, won't be a minute...' Make sure it's all there.

This happened with me and DH once. A WORKMATE of his was buying some furniture off us, and was paying £450. He put it in a sealed envelope. I ripped the envelope open and started counting it. It was £100 short. The man said 'oh did I not put it all in? And pulled the other £100 out of his wallet.

Cheeky cunt.

The main moral of this story is TRUST NO FUCKER.

Shock
BlancmanegeBunny · 13/04/2022 11:15

You just take it and count it out straight away in front of her .........no need to be embarrassed. it's a business transaction!

Chasingsquirrels · 13/04/2022 11:16

As everyone has already said.
Presumably she will want to check the item.
It's mutual checking!

MurmuratingStarling · 13/04/2022 11:16

@ImAvingOops

I think you just have to say. Tell her you mean no offence but since you don't know her you have to check. I have one of those pens that highlights fake notes. I wouldn't be offended if I was buying something from a stranger and they wanted to check.
Again, why the 'don't mean no offence' garbage?!

Just count it. DO NOT be apologetic. I literally ripped the envelope open when this workmate of DH's handed it to me before he could make his escape. Did NOT apologise. And when it was £100 short, I said There is only £350 here. Should be £450. Where's the other £100?' With a Hmm look. Why should I have been polite exactly, and said 'no offence?!' Confused

MurmuratingStarling · 13/04/2022 11:17

@TracyMosby

Yep, I swear down as God is my witness, that happened! DH was like Blush I was fuming. The guy HAD the other £100 so knew exactly what he was doing!

ShadowPuppets · 13/04/2022 11:18

Ha, you never know, the woman could be like me… whenever I pay in cash for something I always get flustered and say ‘we said £200 didn’t we? It should all be there but please check it…’

It covers you both to count it out when you’re both there face to face, it’s as much for her protection as yours Smile

MurmuratingStarling · 13/04/2022 11:21

@ShadowPuppets

Ha, you never know, the woman could be like me… whenever I pay in cash for something I always get flustered and say ‘we said £200 didn’t we? It should all be there but please check it…’

It covers you both to count it out when you’re both there face to face, it’s as much for her protection as yours Smile

I do this too. As you say, it covers you both.
fluffiphlox · 13/04/2022 11:23

‘Nothing personal, just going to check the cash’. Why on earth agonise over this?

Lougle · 13/04/2022 11:24

I always count money out as I hand it over if I'm buying, then ask them to also count it. Wouldn't expect anything less.

Chely · 13/04/2022 11:24

You check for under or over payment, beneficial to both so perfectly acceptable to do it in front of a buyer.

ColinFirthsClingyWetShirt · 13/04/2022 11:27

Really, as pp have said, no need to be "polite" -- it's not rude to simply count it as soon as she hands it to you. Just like the cashiers do at the shops. (Well, like they used to, when cash was used more often than it is now.)
You don't have to say anything at all.
Just count it.

CherryRipe1 · 13/04/2022 11:27

Count it out in front of them. Mistakes can always be easily rectified at the time , not afterwards. I always say people have been known to overpay, so works both ways.

BeforeGodAndAllTheFish · 13/04/2022 11:31

You've never worked in a shop, have you?

It isnt a big deal. You take the money, count it, swipe each with the checking pen. Takes 20 seconds and is just totally normal.

Why would it be any different just because it's a private sale? You still count and swipe with the pen.

You're a bit silly to not have a pen to check it though. There are a lot of fake £20 around at the moment.

whywhythough · 13/04/2022 11:37

@BeforeGodAndAllTheFish

You've never worked in a shop, have you?

It isnt a big deal. You take the money, count it, swipe each with the checking pen. Takes 20 seconds and is just totally normal.

Why would it be any different just because it's a private sale? You still count and swipe with the pen.

You're a bit silly to not have a pen to check it though. There are a lot of fake £20 around at the moment.

I thought pens went out with paper notes?