Reply to: cash in hand or cheque

[rootsnall]

So it sounds like getting 10% off should not be too much of a problem... thanks people.

Yes, but you don't normally get the full 15% VAT off in my experience. Some still give you a receipt, if there is any sort of guarantee involved I'd ask for one, if not who cares. Being known as a cash payer is also good for getting them to turn up in future.

[scooterscot]

So it sounds like getting 10% off should not be too much of a problem... thanks people.

[Gonzo]

A mate of mine runs a car servicing and repair business. He will do cash jobs for friends that are discounted by the VAT and don't go through the books. He said it was a bit of a nightmare keeping on top of it all because he didn't want to get to the point where he was reclaiming more VAT than he was collecting as it would look suspect.


Twenty years ago I brought a guitar from a shop. When I went to pay for it with cash the bloke knocked 12.5% off the price and said "That's the best I can do." I was innocent of such things in those days and had no idea why I suddenly got this discount.


I have turned down quotes from removal firms in the past because the bloke assessing the quote has said "If you don't want to pay the VAT we can do something about that."



It's endemic.

[Sysman]

There are a number of trades people I know who "will knock the vat off for cash" The punter thinks he on on to a good deal nudge nudge but the trader still puts it through the books and pays the vat.

Yep. I used to know a chap who used that technique regularly in order to

• get the sale
• get paid promptly without the hassle of bouncing cheques or credit card charges

[ASB]

And only libellous if it turns out to be untrue.

Bizarrely truth is not necessarily an absolute defence in a defamation case. Though it will generally win.

[TheFaQQer]

There are a number of trades people I know who "will knock the vat off for cash" The punter thinks he on on to a good deal nudge nudge but the trader still puts it through the books and pays the vat.

My plumber does the same - I still get a VAT invoice for everything that I pay him, but pay cash because it makes no odds to me but helps his cash flow.

[Paddy]

That's libellous. How do you know that he's not paying VAT on it, or putting it through the books?

As a small trader, he may find that accepting cash is a better payment method because he incurs lower charges, or enables him to purchase materials quicker, since he doesn't need the payment to clear.

There are many legitimate reasons for accepting cash payments.

There are a number of trades people I know who "will knock the vat off for cash" The punter thinks he on on to a good deal nudge nudge but the trader still puts it through the books and pays the vat.

[centurian]

It's only libellous if I identified the individual involved.

And only libellous if it turns out to be untrue.

[Spacecadet]

Shouldn't that be


"</pedant>"


?

We have a tag for spelling and pointless pedantry

[TheFaQQer]

</pedant>

<pedant>
Shouldn't that be

<pedant>
"</pedant>"
</pedant>

?

</pedant>

[AtW]

<pedant>
It's not libellous. You can't identify an individual.

</pedant>

[ASB]

That's libellous. How do you know that he's not paying VAT on it, or putting it through the books?

As a small trader, he may find that accepting cash is a better payment method because he incurs lower charges, or enables him to purchase materials quicker, since he doesn't need the payment to clear.

There are many legitimate reasons for accepting cash payments.

<pedant>
It's not libellous. You can't identify an individual.

[DaveB]

That's libellous. How do you know that he's not paying VAT on it, or putting it through the books?

As a small trader, he may find that accepting cash is a better payment method because he incurs lower charges, or enables him to purchase materials quicker, since he doesn't need the payment to clear.

There are many legitimate reasons for accepting cash payments.

It's only libellous if I identified the individual involved.

[HairyArsedBloke]

And if it goes wrong - what evidence you got to get him to fix it?

I'm all for a bit of the black economy (can we still say that?), but sometimes it can work against you.

[TheFaQQer]

If it's not going on the books, what happens if it develops a fault?

The person who does the work.

Get a receipt for the work, same as you would with any other payment mechanism.