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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dog walker wants cash in hand

354 replies

funtimetoni · 13/04/2026 20:15

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
whomadethatmess · 14/04/2026 08:46

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 14/04/2026 08:13

With businesses that provide weekly services requiring immediate payment you you simply text after 48 hours reminding them of your terms of business and explain that the next scheduled violin lesson/dog walk/house clean is on hold until the account is paid up in full. It can't be that hard.

But then you still don’t have the money, have to take action to chase, and don’t know if/when the payment will be made so can’t plan your next week’s work or rely on next week’s income either. All a lot of extra hassle because people can’t pay on time.
All avoided if paid in cash immediately.

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 14/04/2026 08:49

Hamalam · 14/04/2026 08:26

This. In spades! It isn’t Amazon that’s your enemy, it’s the builders paid in cash, the takeaways paid in cash, the barber paid in cash.

People are going to stick their head in the sand over that one. They can't cope with a narrative where the big guy isn't the bad guy. They'd rather bite the hand that feeds them. Meanwhile, millions of small business owners who are honest are experiencing existential crisis, struggling to keep afloat with a government that wants to squeeze them dry from every angle.

CautiousLurker2 · 14/04/2026 08:53

HortiGal · 14/04/2026 08:44

@CautiousLurker2
My town has 16,000 population and we have 6 cash machines, I just can’t abide ppl moaning at a wee one person business asking for cash but justify tax avoidance by huge companies.
So petty.

I’d refer you to the post above explaining that it is not companies using legal means to reduce their tax bills that are the issue - it is small businesses fiddling the system that deprives the government of £billions in funds.

But if it is petty to feel aggrieved that the majority of us pay our legally obligated taxes when others don’t, then yes I am petty. I am probably petty in that I also feel that the few people who shoplift should be also arrested/prosecuted because the rest of us pay for our goods at the check out (and underwrite the losses brought about by those thefts by inflated prices). I am probably petty in wishing people would properly dispose of their personal/business waste by queuing at the local municipal tip rather than fly tipping, especially as I pay for the clean up in my ever increasing council tax bills.

For most of us, it is seen as being honest, following the law, and meeting our civic duty in paying our dues so that the society we live in is fair and can support those less financially privileged than we are.

But that’s just me. Petty.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 14/04/2026 08:55

Nothing wrong with paying in cash in terms of legalities - it’s also the recipients responsibility to pay their taxes etc not yours to make sure they do.

The only thing I don’t like about paying in cash for regular jobs like this - eg my cleaner likes cash - is that it’s a pain to go and get it out. But I do it as that’s how she has decided to run her business and she’s a good cleaner.

You can say no to him but he might decide he doesn’t want to dog walk for you any more.

AmusedMember · 14/04/2026 09:00

I use to run a cake business - for every payment that went in to my business account I lost a small % to fees. So when I went to cash, I paid it in weekly and lost those charges, which trust me all add up!

Cash in hand doesn't always mean they aren't on the books so to speak!

BehindTheMirrorAgain · 14/04/2026 09:03

HortiGal · 14/04/2026 08:21

@Hamalam cash points in every supermarket and petrol station, hardly a faff, you just can’t be bothered.

They charge for cash withdrawals! Also, they are often out of order which means driving around finding one that works and it means carrying cash around which I dont want to do.

I am not making my life more difficult or more expensive for some random business owner- they clearly arent bothered about making my life more convenient are they?

Hamalam · 14/04/2026 09:06

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 14/04/2026 08:49

People are going to stick their head in the sand over that one. They can't cope with a narrative where the big guy isn't the bad guy. They'd rather bite the hand that feeds them. Meanwhile, millions of small business owners who are honest are experiencing existential crisis, struggling to keep afloat with a government that wants to squeeze them dry from every angle.

Edited

People don’t want to hear that there isn’t some magic money tree, that if we just tweak our tax laws to fix it we’ll have excellent public services funded by ‘someone other than them’. They’re living in cloud cookoo land.

If it was that easy, why isn’t Keir Starmer doing it? it’s not as if he’s taking cash in brown envelopes.

Olderbutt · 14/04/2026 09:12

catipuss · 13/04/2026 20:32

The question is whether the cash in hand goes through their books or not. It is often not a good sign for a business to insist on cash. And do they have insurance if they are sailing a bit close to the wind?

This above.......most businesses that are above board insist on bank transfer, as a) it's easier for them b) they have clear records in the case of tax investigation. A business like dog walking, driving tuition, music lessons etc often ask for payment by transfer in advance to cover themselves for no shows. I would be wary of any business that asks for cash, alarm bells start ringing tbh!

Angrybird76 · 14/04/2026 09:14

I think some posters are being a bit obtuse. It is actually more inconvenient to pay by cash for a lot of people. Cash points aren't massively plentiful and often charge, especially if you forget and have to go to the nearest one. I live in a small village with no cash points and my dog walker also likes cash. BACS payments don't usually come with a charge (card machines do) but if the dog walker uses a third party or software to manage this for them then it will (and they often do). Comes down to: how much do you like your dog walker and how easy is it to find another. I would prefer BACS as I work 6 days a week, have no cash point near by, the local shop shuts at 7pm so I cant get cash back (and even then I have to buy something), there is no petrol station anywhere near me and I am used to not dealing with cash so I dont think about getting it out. However my dog walker is AMAZING and anything to make her life easier I will do. She also accepts sometimes I forget and have to pay double the next day. People often also give a discount for cash acknowledging the above.

itswindyoutside · 14/04/2026 09:33

Clefable · 13/04/2026 21:25

It’s fine for him to ask but it’s also fine for it to not suit you, but that means you have to find another provider.

Personally I don’t want to pay cash for regular services as I find it annoying, it’s just another thing I have to remember and go out of my way to do when whatever I’m paying for is meant to make my life easier, so I wouldn’t want to choose someone who didn’t have bank transfer as an option, but it depends how much you value his services, really.

Edited

This.
I avoid tradespeople who ask for cash. Our cleaners have just said they're only going to take cash from now on and I've dropped them, even though they are good cleaners. It's too much hassle, much easier to do a bank transfer.

Cosyblankets · 14/04/2026 09:35

jamcorrosion · 13/04/2026 23:33

Not sure if there’s any rules about using a personal account for a business

I use one with no issues
There's no legal reason to need a business account.
I used to have one but it cost me about a tenner a month in bank charges just to run the account. All i used it for was for people to pay in by BACS then i transferred it straight out again to my own account to pay my own bills.
There was no benefit or need for me to have it

Cosyblankets · 14/04/2026 09:37

Legomania · 14/04/2026 08:25

Only the big ones. The metros near my home and my work don't offer cashback

I shop online. It would be out of my way to go to the supermarket

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 14/04/2026 09:41

whomadethatmess · 14/04/2026 08:46

But then you still don’t have the money, have to take action to chase, and don’t know if/when the payment will be made so can’t plan your next week’s work or rely on next week’s income either. All a lot of extra hassle because people can’t pay on time.
All avoided if paid in cash immediately.

So if you are present (not usually the case if you are a dog walker, but often the case if you are a cleaner and probably always the case if you are a music teacher) you ask that they do the cash transfer immediately and you wait while they do it, in the same way that you would hang around while they fumbled in their purse for cash. Obviously if they offer cash, that's fine. But anyone insisting on it would arouse suspicion in me.

In the case of something like a music lesson or a house clean which is likely to be weekly or fortnightly, you could ask for 50% upfront as standard policy before you even turn up. In the case of tutoring or music lessons you could even ask for the whole amount upfront, before the session even starts. If you explain to new clients why you have this policy they will understand. If they don't, don't take them on.

In the case of daily dog walks it makes sense to have a system where you pay per week or per month, but you pay at least part of it up front, to avoid building up a large bill that people may then avoid paying. People want and need their dogs walked. They know if they don't pay up regularly then you simply don't turn up until they do. If those are your standard terms then people need to accept them. Most reasonable people will understand the need for such terms. What you don't do, is keep giving people the benefit of the doubt until they owe you a ton of money that you will never get back without taking legal action.

In the case of daily dog walks, asking for payment daily is really impractical so I imagine they are billing clients weekly anyway. In that case, whether it's cash or bank transfer they accept, the risk of non-payment for services already rendered is the SAME either way.

As a dog walker, the most you should ever stand to lose from a determined non-payer is a bill for one week, which probably amounts to only 5 dog walks or maybe ten if you visit twice a day, assuming they use you 5 days a week. Realistically it probably amounts to no more than 5 to 8 hours of work per week, per client. It's not a fortune. Simply don't go again until they have paid their outstanding bill and make it clear that this is what will happen every single time they pay late. Anyone who has a dog who needs to go to the loo while they are out at work all day is not going to not pay you for weeks on end unless you let them.

I don't understand why it's okay to ask for cash on the spot to avoid non-payment but not okay to ask for an immediate bank transfer, either on the spot or in advance to avoid non-payment. You are required to be assertive and inflexible about your requirements either way.

I'm not saying you shouldn't be taking cash at all. I'm saying that most people will be immediately suspicious if you insist on it, and they are probably right to be. Especially if you insist on it even when it's not payable on the spot, which negates some of the arguments for asking for it in the first place. For example a window cleaner who will turn up at random times when you are not home, then come around at a later date, sometimes collecting several cleans-worth at once. A regular standing order or a text saying 'cleaned your windows today, please remit by bank transfer' would be far more practical and efficient. If he's not doing that but chosing to text ahead saying 'I'll be around this evening for my £50, please have the cash ready' then there's a reason. If he drives around to see people face to face to ensure prompt payment, then he could just as easily accept a bank transfer while he's standing on your doorstep. If he's reluctant to do that there's a reason. Payment is welcome in any form for most of us who aren't on the fiddle.

Cosyblankets · 14/04/2026 09:41

Maray1967 · 14/04/2026 08:06

I repeat my point. For music teachers etc there is a big problem of parents forgetting to pay by transfer.

Our driving tutor does take payment by bank transfer but it has to be sent 24 hours before the session and if it isn’t he doesn’t turn up. Perhaps other tutors who are less in demand don’t feel they can demand that.

This is exactly what I do. I'm busy enough not to be bothered if I lose someone. The people who don't want to pay upfront are often the same people who will mess you around. I don't need the hassle.

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 14/04/2026 09:46

Cosyblankets · 14/04/2026 09:41

This is exactly what I do. I'm busy enough not to be bothered if I lose someone. The people who don't want to pay upfront are often the same people who will mess you around. I don't need the hassle.

Exactly.

StiffAsAVicar · 14/04/2026 09:50

Its very obvious that he’s not going to declare every single dog walk for tax evasion reasons! Some of you are very naive lol

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 14/04/2026 09:50

Angrybird76 · 14/04/2026 09:14

I think some posters are being a bit obtuse. It is actually more inconvenient to pay by cash for a lot of people. Cash points aren't massively plentiful and often charge, especially if you forget and have to go to the nearest one. I live in a small village with no cash points and my dog walker also likes cash. BACS payments don't usually come with a charge (card machines do) but if the dog walker uses a third party or software to manage this for them then it will (and they often do). Comes down to: how much do you like your dog walker and how easy is it to find another. I would prefer BACS as I work 6 days a week, have no cash point near by, the local shop shuts at 7pm so I cant get cash back (and even then I have to buy something), there is no petrol station anywhere near me and I am used to not dealing with cash so I dont think about getting it out. However my dog walker is AMAZING and anything to make her life easier I will do. She also accepts sometimes I forget and have to pay double the next day. People often also give a discount for cash acknowledging the above.

You have to leave the cash daily? Not even weekly? That's a massive PITA.

BunnyLake · 14/04/2026 09:55

I never go to cashpoints anymore so find it a pain when a worker wants cash. I had a plumber recently who just wanted cash, bloody annoying it was.

As you are using them regularly I would probably do a one off cashpoint amount to cover several weeks worth.

Angrybird76 · 14/04/2026 09:57

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 14/04/2026 09:50

You have to leave the cash daily? Not even weekly? That's a massive PITA.

No sorry I meant i sometimes forget weekly. So either I drop it round or pay double the next week. If i paid BACS I would be able to set up a standing order which would work far better for me.

Butchyrestingface · 14/04/2026 09:59

funtimetoni · 13/04/2026 21:03

As stated in opening post I always pay on time. Paying by cash would be inconvenient and I'd be much more likely to be a late payer.

So tell him that. It may be he's found that people who pay by BACS are more likely to be the late payers.

Just don't go about implying he's on the fiddle or that cash payment is anything other than a "correct channel".

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 14/04/2026 09:59

StiffAsAVicar · 14/04/2026 09:50

Its very obvious that he’s not going to declare every single dog walk for tax evasion reasons! Some of you are very naive lol

They are not naive. They know very well what goes on. It just suits their own agenda to pretend otherwise.

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 14/04/2026 10:09

AmusedMember · 14/04/2026 09:00

I use to run a cake business - for every payment that went in to my business account I lost a small % to fees. So when I went to cash, I paid it in weekly and lost those charges, which trust me all add up!

Cash in hand doesn't always mean they aren't on the books so to speak!

Why are you paying bank transfer fees? That's unusual. You should change banks. And if it was card handling, it's only about 1 or 1.5% so it's tiny really. On a £50 cake that's 50p or 75p! Certainly not worth the hassle of doing manual banking. It probably costs you more in time and petrol than your card handling fees. I'm sorry but I don't buy it.

skyeisthelimit · 14/04/2026 10:12

YANBU. If he is insisting on cash then it is clear that he doesn't want to declare his earnings. Tell him that you don't have cash and will only pay by bank transfer. Be prepared to look for another dog walker though.

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 14/04/2026 10:22

Jellycatspyjamas · 13/04/2026 20:25

I have a business where most clients pay in cash, it’s all accounted for and taxed accordingly. Paying cash means I’m not paying bank charges and keep more of the money I’m paid. Given I pay 50% tax and NI on my small business, another 2% in bank charges makes a difference to it being viable to trade at all. It’s not always about avoiding fiscal responsibility.

Can you explain what you mean here? What are you paying 2% bank charges on, exactly? Surely you still have to bank the cash you take one way or another? Or are you not only accepting cash payment for your goods or services, but also using cash to pay your own creditors and your own business expenses, so that cash doesn't go anywhere near the bank, be it coming in, or going out? Or are you taking your own salary in cash?

The problem with that is that it's pretty hard to pay for most of the stuff we need with cash. Supermarket shops and petrol, fine. A few supplies from a trade supplier, maybe, although many won't take cash. Pay your rent or mortgage? Car lease payments? Gas bill? Council tax? School fees? Holiday flights? Nope.

FeeLipa · 14/04/2026 10:43

I'm a dog walker and pet sitter, all my clients pay by bank transfer. (With the exception of 1 older client who can't manage with online banking so pays me, the cleaner and gardeners with cash in white envelopes each week. Tbh it's a pain as most places are card only and a trip to the bank it a pain.)

Having all invoices paid into an account makes self assessment much easier.

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