Tradesmen and cash payment

[Mimmit]

Just wanted to ask if my experience of everyone wanting cash payment immediately is common. Whatever happened to providing an invoice and a chance to check the work?
I know most prefer cash payment but I am due to have largish job done. I have been contacted the day before to say they want cash payment on day of completion of work. We do obviously have the money otherwise we wouldn't be having the work done but I don't want to pay in cash for lots of reasons.
What would you do? The guy is really nice and I don't want to be unreasonable but at the same time I would rather pay by cheque.

cash is so he can evade tax

You usually get a discount for cash. If it's the same price for cash and cheque then you might as well pay by cheque.

the discount is because they do not declare the income to the tax man
black economy

As Talkin says - they don't provide you with paperwork and they don't want traceable payment (like a cheque) so they can underdeclare their income for income tax and VAT purposes.

Well yes but it's not your responsibility what he does or doesn't declare once you've paid him.

We've had this a few times, usually it has been 'harmless' enough. They need to pay their guys and don't want to front the money (plus want to evade the tax man as everyone said.) However, once in our more green days, a roofer did it and I paid him and couldn't check the work as I was pregnant and it was on the roof and he did a really shoddy job and there was no recourse. grr. So now, if it is decorating, fine, I look over the work as much as I can. But for anything plumbing related for instance, I say I can give a third (or half or whatever I feel comfortable with) on completion but want to be able to test things out and can I pay the rest after a fortnight. Best of course to always discuss these things before hand, but come to think of it I think it is what most of our builders have tried for but only a few have gotten huffy at being told no. and they were dubious for other reasons too

How large is large?

You must ALWAYS get a receipt regardless of how you pay. Tax evasion isn't really that common amongst good businesses or tradesmen. If this guy is asking for cash then I'd look elsewhere.

What's the trade?

If you dont get a reciept then you have no real comeback if you pay cash.

A portion as cash, and the rest cheque on completion or within say a week I think is reasonable. That gives time for problems to come to light and cheque can be stopped if necessary.

Is your trades person, I repeat trades person, a member of the Trustmark scheme? This is a gov backed scheme that should cover you if there are any unresolved complaints ensuing from the work done.

Remember that if you ever wanted to sell the house, you would need to supply the building reg certs for all work done. No receipt - you're in trouble and have to get another tradesman in to certify the work - that won't be cheap.

???
building regs cert only needed for relevant works
they came and checked mine as we went along
did not get final sign off because I will not fit fire doors and the regs change next year anyway
building regs will come and sign off when we sell
they sign off diy work

If you are happy to pay cash and as someone else said are getting discount for paying cash, tell him you are happy to pay cash but will need to hold back eg. 100 or an amount proportionate to what you're paying until you & your dh have checked it over and are satisfied with the work

Wouldn't do myself. DH is a builder - he'd never dream of asking for cash. Unlikely that this tradesman therefore has any trade accounts etc etc. Personally, I don't see why you should pay tax and he shouldn't. Rant over

it's very shady. Did you have a written quotation for the work, showing the builders real name and address, and the name of his company, and his VAT number, and his terms of business? Or is he an itinerant with a mobile phone and no address?

If you have paid by cash and have no receipt, what will you do if your house falls down the next day? "nuffink to do wiv me mate"

you have already established that you are dealing with an honest person who attempts to evade tax. You have also established that he is trying to get the money off you before you have had time to become satisfied with his work.

You tell me - what should you do?

"an honest" I meant "a dishonest"

Agree with previous posters - get receipts for all work. We are involved in litigation at the mo and need to provide receipts to the lawyers. We paid many builders in cash and some of them are unwilling to provide any backdated receipts.