Dog walker wants cash in hand

[funtimetoni]

Started using a new dog walker in January, as old one moved away. Today he messaged and asked if I can start paying cash. Ive been paying by bank transfer and always on time. AIBU to think no, you can be paid through the correct channels like everyone else. For the record he charges towards the higher rate for the area, so it's not like I'm getting a bargain.

I personally would pay cash if that’s what he now wants. Or change dog walker.

It’s completely fine. I’ve been self-employed for 15 years+ and have always just used my personal account, or some clients have preferred PayPal.

I’ve never been paid in cash but my business is remote and digital so it’s very different to a dog walker.

Things have changed so much in the last 10 years. I still find it mad that some restaurants refuse to take cash payments.

If you’re worried about it being a tax fiddle OP then just ask him for a weekly receipt or invoice. That should make it harder (but not impossible) to not declare their income properly.

I’d say you’d rather keep paying for bank transfer. There’s only one reason for asking for payment in cash. Or ask if there’s a discount for paying in cash. It annoys me as the country would be in a better position if everyone paid the correct cash. Children would be better financially supported if the estranged parent declared all their earnings and paid appropriate maintenance. Let’s not pretend they want cash for anything other than tax avoidance.

I’ve always paid mine via bank transfer at the end of every month. Same with previous dog walker.

I would ask if I can carry paying as I do. It would be a pain in the arse to remember to have cash for them.

I'm not sure how I could have paid DD2's tutor in cash as I never saw her in person, she did one to one online tuition.

What cash machine?

I would not want to pay cash. If he insists, ask for invoices while you look for another dog walker.

I see the contrarians are out in force. Of course the most likely reason for asking for cash is to conceal earnings for some reason. In any case, the whole point of outsourcing things like cleaning and dog walking is to make my life easier so no way am I giving myself the extra job of going to get cash out. It’s a flat no.

I would find paying cash an inconvenience as I'd have to make a special effort to go to an ATM. The dog walker is free to request cash but you are also free to decline and say you prefer paying him the usual way. If they have a problem with that find another dog walker.

No, you pay by whatever means the business/service provider accepts and gives the option for.

I’ve no idea what his reason is but actually neither do you. And in any case it’s irrelevant. He can set his terms, clients can make their choice.

do you work for hmrc?
why such judgement op

i would prefer to pay by bank transfer but i dont spose you pay him that much.
whatever is easiest for you
would you pay your window cleaner by bank transfer?

why does she need invoices?

Some of my customers like to pay me cash because those who also use it for their businesses know I get charged on my SumUp transactions.
I never ask though, I say it’s either cash, card or bank transfer, totally their choice.

I hope those who think the dog walker is earning huge amounts of cash and hiding it from the tax man don’t buy from the likes of Amazon!

I absolutely do have an idea of the reason actually. And that's my problem with it.

Bank transfer does NOT cost the seller. Card transactions do.

I dont think there is automatically anything nefarious about it but I personally wouldnt do it.

Firstly, I never carry cash so to have to constantly find a working ATM that doesnt charge me a fee to withdraw cash would be difficult (most of them charge where I live).

Secondly, if there was ever a dispute about non payment, I would have no proof that I had paid - I would need to get a receipt every time which is a PITA for everyone.

I appreciate they prefer cash but I prefer not to use it so unless someone is making life easier for their customers then there are plenty of other dog walkers who will

Cash is normal. I pay my hairdresser and gardener in cash. My window cleaner prefers BACS. A yoga class I go to sometimes is cash only. It's not necessarily nefarious, a lot of businesses prefer it for reasons other than tax! I know my eyebrow lady has put her prices up to cover the additional charges of using sumup - not everyone feels they can pass that on to customers so they stay a cash business

I have a small business and rarely get cash payments, it's a pain to go to the bank to pay it in and get charged for the privilege!!

only client who asked to pay in cash last year asked for a discount and was offended when I refused, stating the flights, fuel etc don't give discount so why would I?

Amazon don’t evade tax.

I pay my window cleaner by bank transfer yes. I wouldn’t use them otherwise.. It’s how professional businesses operate. I don’t work for HMRC but as a tax advisor I’m well aware that the tax evaded in these sorts of areas his HUGE and it’s down to all of us in society to work to close the gap with little things such as refusing to pay cash. Just like not dropping litter, or not parking on the zig zags outside primary school or reporting children you suspect are being abused. Be a responsible citizen.

I’m with you. I would presume he’s avoiding tax.

I'm a tutor. I accept both. Anyone I've had to chase has to pay upfront. No transfer no lesson. I'm fully booked. I cba with chasing. I move on to the next one.

far more likely trying to stay under a UC threshold / not declaring for UC I would have thought