I was one of the first to go the bacs route around my way, I'm not going to lie, originally I had it planned that people would pay that way if they weren't in, if they were home when I done it I would have still took cash. But with hardly anyone carrying cash now, when I chapped for the money they just said they will do it online now.  So that back fired a bit lol.

I've no kids or that and don't get any help finacial wise through benefits, so I wasn't loosing any of that by changing mine to banks.  A few people I know won't change to banks because they would loose money they get for having kids. Each to there own I suppose.

Quote from: jay moley on October 26, 2025, 04:10:15 pm

Interesting responses.

I have no plans to start taking it again.

Are you then saying if a customers wants to pay you cash you won’t clean for them ?

I offer bank transfer, card payment if they see me and PayPal. Normally older people want to pay cash but most will pay by card or last resort cheque.

Quote from: NBwcs on October 26, 2025, 10:47:03 pm

I remember a thread like this a few years ago where someone on here told a story about a plumber he knew who wouldn't take cash and made all his customers pay by card or bank transfer. He had a random tug from the tax office and they simply didn't believe he wasn't taking any cash and hit him, with a very large bill. Its the only organisation where your guilty until you can prove your innocent.Cant win with them.

I doubt that very much.....HMRC can't simply make up large tax bills for you to pay unless you were living well beyond what you were declaring and far out of the regular earnings of an average plumber...

As for cash payments for my window cleaning business its less and less as the years go on. I prefer no cash to be honest these days.

The benefits are i always have a record of payment and no collecting. I've been to London for a weekend break (missus birthday) and most places just don't take cash anymore.  Its so much easier to just tap your phone. Its impossible to pay cash for the m6 toll too.

Personally I think we'll be totally cashless within the next decade.

I have no idea how true the story was, and I can't remember who posted it but historically you'll find it's very much how the tax office works. If they find something  wrong they will take an educated guess at how much someone hasn't been declaring and hit them with it. The person then has to prove it's wrong which is very difficult if say they have proof of not declaring everything. It's the only institution where your guilty till proven innocent. Not to be messed with are hmrc.

Ive just cleaned a house that reminded me of this post.

Pulled up next to a trad guy at the same time doing the hose next door, i was kinda laughing at him in my head how ridiculous trad is in this day and age and why would you do it as he moved his ladder about. It was an old chap probably been doing it half a century. I'd finished the whole house as he was just coming round the side of his to the back. I was feeling quite smug at my speed then the side door opened and the bloke handed him over some cash.

Then i thought about it, that guy is probably steady away for a few hours doing 10 or so houses for £150 straight in his back pocket and im running round like a blue assed fly doing 20 or more to hand over almost 30% of it.

Who's the idiot here bet hes laughing when i stuck the note through for bank payment 

Please don’t tell the wife or the tax man about my last post