AIBU to refuse to pay cash in hand?

[Dontasksillyquestions]

This recently came up in conversation with a friend and she disagreed with me.

I generally avoid hiring anyone who asks to be paid cash in hand. I don’t see how cash is more convenient these days unless it’s to avoid tax, benefits rules, etc., and I don’t want to be involved. I also rarely carry cash and getting to a cash machine is inconvenient.

Last year I stopped using a regular gardener when he suddenly asked for cash only, despite there being no payment issues (I always transferred the money on the day he’d done the work). My friend thinks I’m being ridiculous and that it’s none of my concern how people run their business. AIBU?

They are probably avoiding taxes or child support so I think it's fine to avoid. My childcare person started doing this and I kind of regret not ending the arrangement sooner. (For other reasons too but I think she lacked integrity in general.)

Since the vote is so close, could someone explain why I’m being unreasonable? I genuinely want to understand people’s reasoning.

i really can’t see the issue
Asking for cash doesn’t mean they are up to no good

it doesn’t bother me for small amounts. How they run things is up to them. if they do a good job, are reliable and turn up. Not a problem.

I have a few people I use, eg chimney sweep, mole catcher, window cleaner, all cash only. They all give me a receipt.

It would be a 30 mile trip for me to get cash, but I know when they are coming.

I actually fine it harder when places won’t take cash. Especially fairs, shows, things where children are included. It is so much easier to give the kids a couple of pounds for cash only stalls at a show than one which is card only.

Of course you are not being unreasonable. I have concerns that if a tradesperson doesn't issue invoices, receipts and allow non-cash payment, then the chance of them working without insurance is higher and I'm not willing to take that risk in my home.

I agree with your friend.

It’s your choice of course but I think the underlying assumption that anyone who requests to be paid in cash is a tax dodger or benefit cheat is wrong.

Cash jobs don't always go through the books but I think it's fair as self employed people don't get paid for annual leave or for being sick. If they don't work they don't get paid. It can also be complicated for households with a self employed earner to claim Universal Credit as a top up as earnings vary so much.
Sometimes doing a few cash in hand jobs are a little fuck you to the government.

For what other reason would a tradesman want to be paid in cash? Genuine question?

Or to their own children.

Unless they don't have a bank account I don't think there is a legitimate reason to ask to be paid cash is there other than small amounts perhaps? Logically it's more hassle as they would have to go to a bank to pay it in. But I don't imagine they do that so it's not traceable for benefits or tax.

It's up to you

I pay my window cleaner in cash - it's £15

I pay my hairdresser in cash- she happily takes cards but I choose cash as I think she gets more that at as no charges being paid

I never have cash so would hate to pay someone regularly in cash!

We were bullied once by a decorator when we were young and first moved in. Then he said we had given the wrong amount (definitely had not as we had had to withdraw it all so knew how much had come out) and chased us for more, unable to keep his story straight about how much short it had been. We just paid him and have never paid cash for anything since!

Small businesses/sole traders pay a lot of charges when customers use cards. I often pay cash and get a discount. Win win.

I use bank transfers if I need proof of payment for work done but will pay cash at farmer's markets and the like.

Isn’t the main reason self-employed tradesmen charge crazy rates that they don’t get sick leave, paid holidays, and other benefits?

Dodging taxes isn’t a fuck you to the government, it’s a fuck you to the taxpayers, who end up paying more to cover the gap while getting worse services.

Where was it mentioned that no invoice would have been presented?

Bank charges, credit control, cash flow
To Name 3

I dont think its always as clear cut as you might think.

Person A - single parent, works part time as no support with DC. Lives somewhere with no breakfast/after school clubs. Huge credit card bill for legal fees trying to divorce abusive ex. Works a few hours a week "on the side" cash in hand, to survive. Second hand clothes, freezing house, ex pays little to nothing. Does no "childcare" Would i begrudge her few hours a week cash in hand? Absolutely not.

Person B - self employed, numerous cash jobs as a tax fiddle and to avoid child maintainence. Prolonging the divorce from person A, simply by refusing to engage. 5 vehicles (2 motorbikes) expensive hobby. Do i begrudge him? Yes.

This is actually a real life example

I’m happy to pay cash to any tradesman that asks for it. We just had an opening widened and I gave the builder £1900 in cash.

Crazy rates?? What a silly statement.

cash is great, card payments you have to pay for the privilege, bank transfer is great with no fees.

when I take cash it is still invoiced, pay my suppliers with it. Way the world works like it has for years!

I was chatting to an owner of an independent off licence/drinks ship- bank charges for him cost 2,500 when people paid by card - cash was free to pay in.

YABU
It’s simply none of your judgemental business.

Does anyone get an invoice from the cleaner/gardener/window cleaner? I know I never did when I used them.

It’s different if there’s an invoice, but then again, I’ve never had anyone issue an invoice and insist on cash instead of a transfer.

So they expect me to make a trip to the cash point AND pay more in taxes to cover their benefit fraud. Appealing.

I pay my hairdresser and my window cleaner cash. My hairdresser used to work out of a shop with one other hairdresser and then they took cash and card. The hairdresser they shared the premises with decided to retire and my hairdresser couldn’t afford the rent for the premises on their own. They worked out that if they could keep 3/4 of their clients they could work out of their home and make money. I get a good cut for £25 and my hairdresser has been cutting my hair for 35 years. They are past pension age now and I don’t object if they are making a little money on the side. I suspect my window cleaner only declares around half his earnings but good window cleaners are difficult to get here and I live in a first floor flat.

A lot of SE/small businesses prefer cash as it means they get to keep 100% of the profits. Using card machines or doing bank transfers means that they have to pay charges on any transaction made thus reducing their margins.
Asking for cash payment also ensures you are paid at the time of service and not when the client remembers to pay you. Most SE people cannot afford to bank roll all their late payers! Just because you always pay on time, its their business, their terms. It also avoids unnecessary admin by constantly having to check to see if people have paid. This eats into a massive amount of time and someone will need to be paid for that time spent too.
Just because someone is asking for cash, doesn't mean they are automatically fiddling the books; its just their preferred method of payment. If you're worried about a transaction history, then just ask for a receipt!