AIBU to be so sick of tradespeople/ cleaners asking for cash in hand?

[Endlesspasswords]

So my cleaner charges £21/hour cash, but just said she wants more if I pay by bank transfer, because bank transfer means she can’t dodge declaring it. As if paying by transfer (i.e. traceably) is some kind of favour/ privilege I should pay extra for.

Same with some work I got a quote for- it’s the attitude that if I don’t want to pay in cash, I’m the one ‘hurting’ their bank balance or being awkward.

I’m freelance B2B myself. No sick pay, no employer pension contributions, no paid holiday, I know exactly what it’s like to carry your own tax and NI. But I still pay tax on every invoice, because that’s the deal.

I’m so sick with the fact that self-employed people in one sector get to treat tax as optional while others pay for their healthcare, schools etc.

and yes, I’m getting a new cleaner.

No YANBU. Why is it that people constantly complain about ‘benefit scroungers’ but seem to think that stealing from the state is otherwise ok?

it’s such a double standard and really annoys me.

Our area has a complete dearth of builders. Trying to even get one to turn up to quote has taken me 4 years, and no I am not joking. As this one actually turned up and seemed keen I jumped at it! He has recently moved to our area, presumably because he can see everyone wants work doing but no one is doing it. It seems the other builders all made their ££ and moved abroad.

I've never had a trades person ask for cash.

And what I meant by my comment is that almost nobody would dare admit that they are (or try to) commit benefit fraud but openly admit they dodge taxes because they feel like it.

I paid my cleaner in cash (£12.50, it was five years ago) and figured it was none of my business if she declared it or not. But to say it outright when it’s more than what some nurses get paid beggars belief. I do think cleaning needs skills but you can learn on the job and it doesn’t require any qualifications.

But if you're a one-man/woman or little family business, cash doesn't have to be paid in to the bank at all.

It's perfectly possible to account for cash income legitimately for tax purposes, but then keep it as your wages. My parents ran their own business many years ago and they never actually banked the cash that our family needed for our own everyday personal expenses, only to needlessly pay bank charges for doing so - every penny went through the books for the accountant and taxman, though.

Yes this annoys me no end. People up in arms about those on benefits or arriving on small boats, but don’t seem to care about all the lost revenue from tax dodging. Especially when they are not even charging less. I’d pay bank only as cash is a real pain.

Not sure about that. I remember over 30 years ago good hairdressers were self employed and would rent a chair in good salons in Mayfair etc as the tips made it worth the journey in.

not sure if that still happens now.

Do you want a criminal working for you? Is the cash in hand not just to dodge tax, but also to make payments for illegal drugs?

I agree with @Zanatdy about the double standards. Though the level of cash in hand jobs available is part of the attraction for those migrating in small boats, compared with other countries.

Just to be clear - he isn't asking for cash but has said a few things about me paying in amounts of under £2k and into his "other account" so it doesn't have to go through the main one. As far as the invoices go I am paying tax but I don't think he is...Plus he pays a wage to a family member, who I have never even seen but sends me invoices with all the same spelling mistakes as the builder.

I pay cash wherever I can
I paid for my holiday in cash
any small work on my house I pay in cash
I prefer it
if a shop says no cash - that’s fine but I won’t shop or buy anything from them

I just had new carpets paid cash in the shop
paid the carpet fitter in cash on the day

none of them had a problem with it

Is this how people see low income female cleaners?

This really doesn’t require another sodding app! It’s a staggering level of privilege when people just assume that everyone has access to smart phones, let alone bank accounts.

Or an ambulance - I don't know anywhere in the UK where you have a private A&E and ambulance.

Sadly I think it is. I’m astonished how many people here seem to automatically think that cash equals criminality. I’m wondering if it is a generational thing.

I think it is great if you can choose - where I am currently, it is either cash or no plumber, and even our cobbler put out a sign 'cash only' for all to see. I see more and more people reverting to cash, strangely.

Well done - I see elderly people in bank queues harassed by bank employees to 'use the app'. Unconscionable. Ageist and ableist.

Couldnt agree more. It's a joke and people should start putting their foot down because tradespeople have got everyone by the short and curlies. I too am sick if people who think they have got everyine iver a barrel and that the rules dont apply to them. Vote with your feet people !!!!!

It’s not strange and this thread has set out so many legitimate reasons why some traders prefer cash.

Totally agree.

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I stopped going to a very skilled nail technician because of the cash only payment demands. She is very good at her job and recently put her fees up and now charges £52 for a set of nails but will post weekly on her instagram a rude comment reminding her clients she can’t and won’t accept anything but cash. I found another girl who uses the same nail prep technique, charges less and doesn’t dodge tax so she will be getting my money.

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I’m perfectly happy to pay my cleaner in cash. It’s legal tender, a perfectly legit way of paying and what she chooses to do in regards to her tax and record keeping is entirely up to her, not my business.

In reality she’s a SAHM with a few cleaning clients on the side so owes no tax anyway as she’s below the threshold so as far as I’m concerned it’s a moot point anyway. But even if she wasn’t it’s still none of my business.

Also pay the window cleaner in cash and the farrier. I would never risk upsetting our brilliant farrier who has done our horses feet for over 20 years and never had so much as pulled shoe! He is made of solid gold as far as I’m concerned. 20 years ago nobody would have ever dreamed of paying for these sort of services in anything other than cash and we have carried on the same as we always have.

People are struggling. Those of us under the yoke of PAYE (including me) have no choice.

Look at all the self-righteous complaining about tradesmen when there is a tax dodger and convicted fraudster sat at the cabinet table.