A cashless society?

[Pale Rider]

If someone transfers you £2k for a car and then wants to take it away, but it hasn't appeared in your account yet, what happens then?

There was a scam in which the thief could somehow reverse the transfer.

I don't know how that worked, but that's what makes it a good scam.

The only sure way is to accompany the buyer to the bank, watch him withdraw the cash, then you can pay it straight into your account.

Fine in theory, but some buyers may take against it seeing it as a suggestion from you they are dishonest.

Awkward, because you are trying to sell them something.

 

[NorthernSky]

every time i go to pay for something i'll mostly use the contactless
i generally have some cash in my wallet but can't be bothered using it, so much easier to tap
also i dont end up with loose change rolling around
we just need to be careful about fraud, wouldn't want to see cash disappear completely

 

[Milzy]

Some samual Smith's pubs are cash only and anti mobile phone.

 

[Brains]

Our local 2 chippies have signs up stating "Cash Only" both fed up of people expecting card payment after ordering.

Talking to our local garage asking which he preferred he now prefers card as he gets charged to pay cash into his account, whereas before he got charged for card transactions

Any business that says 'Cash Only' is obviously on the fiddle.
Even market stalls and buskers can take card payments via a mobile phone app.

Our local Chippy had a 'Cash Only' sign, which obviously attracted HMRC.
HMRC asked how many meals they did per week.
"1,500" was the reply, "and here is all the paperwork to back it it up.
We buy 1,500 fish and 1,500 portions of chips."

"So how come you are buying 3,000 disposable trays per week ? " Asked HMRC before slapping down a massive fine.

The Chippy is now under new management.......

 

[Pale Rider]

Any business that says 'Cash Only' is obviously on the fiddle.
Even market stalls and buskers can take card payments via a mobile phone app.

Our local Chippy had a 'Cash Only' sign, which obviously attracted HMRC.
HMRC asked how many meals they did per week.
"1,500" was the reply, "and here is all the paperwork to back it it up.
We buy 1,500 fish and 1,500 portions of chips."

"So how come you are buying 3,000 disposable trays per week ? " Asked HMRC before slapping down a massive fine.

The Chippy is now under new management.......

If HMRC really get into you it can be a big problem.

Not least because they can make an assessment of the size of your cash business - often without hard evidence - and it's then up to you to disprove it.

Disproving transactions you say you haven't made is all but impossible.

Some farmers got into that difficulty over farm gate sales.

 

[Smudge]

Cash in hand makes the world go around. I often pay people in cash that do jobs for me, knowing its unlikely to be declared to the tax man.

 

[MarkF]

Surely it'll eventually go the way of cheques? I love going out on the lash and not ending up weighed down with change, plus, I don't like things in my pockets, it spoils the lines, MrsF carries everything when we are out together.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Cash in hand makes the world go around. I often pay people in cash that do jobs for me, knowing its unlikely to be declared to the tax man.

I think this is a very difficult scenario, I work hard for the pittance I get, I pay all my taxes, but one of the reason that I have to pay so much is that others aren't, that goes all the way from the multi-millionaire to the builder, plumber, gardener etc. who do all these jobs for cash in hand.

I think the Government has to go down the route of Drink driving, Smoking, etc. where slowly over a matter of decades it becomes unacceptable to pay people cash in hand, but at the same time they need to plug the legal loopholes for the rich & super rich.

 

[ianrauk]

For some reason. Most chippies seem to be cash only

 

[Smudge]

I think this is a very difficult scenario, I work hard for the pittance I get, I pay all my taxes, but one of the reason that I have to pay so much is that others aren't, that goes all the way from the multi-millionaire to the builder, plumber, gardener etc. who do all these jobs for cash in hand.

I think the Government has to go down the route of Drink driving, Smoking, etc. where slowly over a matter of decades it becomes unacceptable to pay people cash in hand, but at the same time they need to plug the legal loopholes for the rich & super rich.

As well as paying people cash sometimes, I've also worked cash in hand myself on occasions. But i live in the real world. Sometimes needs must and people will do things to make their life easier.
Governments and taxations often aren't a level playing field for different people. I find big corporations legally avoiding hundreds of thousands of pounds in taxes, far more of an issue to be concerned about.
The fact my gardener makes a few quid cash in hand to top up his pension, is no big deal to me. For all i know he may well declare it, but if he doesn't then i couldn't care less.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

As well as paying people cash sometimes, I've also worked cash in hand myself on occasions. But i live in the real world. Sometimes needs must and people will do things to make their life easier.
Governments and taxations often aren't a level playing field for different people. I find big corporations legally avoiding hundreds of thousands of pounds in taxes, far more of an issue to be concerned about.
The fact my gardener makes a few quid cash in hand to top up his pension, is no big deal to me. For all i know he may well declare it, but if he doesn't then i couldn't care less.

I wasn't aiming my comments specifically at you, it's a general comment, I agree with you it has to be done across the whole spectrum, but there are a lot of people not paying the tax that they should, I know people who have make it their life's work not to pay tax, but they are the first to complain when services are cut or their children school has cutbacks.

 

[oldwheels]

When I was in “ Dell Boy” mode at agricultural events or Highland games I would certainly not want to take cards. Using a mobile app takes far too long for card transactions. Cash is much easier.
Some years ago a butcher in Vale of Leven declared his annual income at about £1000. Outside his shop was a brand new Rover car which cost at that time about £1000. He made the mistake of telling the tax man when he called that he owned the car but could not explain how he managed to afford it on his declared income. The cash only egg fund paid for it.
We got done over from time to time by the tax people and they always wanted to look at the petty cash records in case we were paying somebody like the office cleaner in undeclared cash.
Since we were an open book so to speak the checks became very cursory just to show their bosses that they were on the ball.

 

[Smudge]

When i worked driving a tipper truck on the second severn crossing back back in the 90's, a hell of a lot of people were working cash in hand, including many of the tipper drivers. At one point, dhss investigators were stationed with the ministry of transport (now VOSA), to catch those working and signing on after the ministry had checked their trucks for defects.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Friend used to declare his earnings as £14500ish for several years, he was really upset when he was turned down for a £185,000 mortgage.

 

[lane]

I knew someone who lost their job. It was very hard for them due to various benefit rules taking into account previous earnings in the tax year in some way or other as I recall, which meany they received few benefits. They had a family, mortgage etc. It was very hard times. They had worked all their life and paid their taxes via PAYE. Did a couple of odd jobs for me and I paid cash (reasonably generously). I didn't feel bad about it. They are back at work and paying taxes again.