Traders that ask one price for cash.....

[Mick Mac]

Traders that quote one number for cash and another if cheque/bank transfer.

Is this practice justifiable?

I have a tradesman asking me for cash, he said he agreed this with my missus at the outset of the job....

Apparently his daily rate is ?20 cheaper if cash and that's what he quoted on.

[StraferJack]

"Is this practice justifiable? "

never mind justifiable, you probably know why they are doing it and that's illegal (them not paying tax, not you knowing!)

[miga]

.

[Mustard]

I once employed a trader who did not have a bank account, and if people wanted to pay by cheque then they had to make it payable to his son. He was a great worker and I was happy to do either/or.

[????]

Give us ?4 and I'll tell you (?5 if it's a cheque)

[Jah Lush]

I had my flat completely redecorated last year and paid the builders in cash. Most of their employees were very nice hard working Poles. On payday they got paid in cash. Sometimes it's just more convenient that way.

[Jeremy]

Of course most tradesmen prefer cash. But I've not had someone offer me two different prices before... it's a pretty cunning way of pushing the blame of their morally dubious practises back onto the customer.

[Mustard]

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Traders that quote one number for cash and another

> if cheque/bank transfer.

>

> Is this practice justifiable?

>

> I have a tradesman asking me for cash, he said he

> agreed this with my missus at the outset of the

> job....

>

> Apparently his daily rate is ?20 cheaper if cash

> and that's what he quoted on.

What did your wife say about it?

[Jeremy]

Oh, and I've also had the same trick ("it was a cash price all along, otherwise we wouldn't have given you this deal") for a 40K building job. When of course they'd made no such mention of this when quoting us.

[red devil]

Jeremy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Of course most tradesmen prefer cash. But I've not

> had someone offer me two different prices

> before... it's a pretty cunning way of pushing the

> blame of their morally dubious practises back onto

> the customer.

Another trick is to not add VAT onto their quote in order to look more competitive.

There's always a risk paying CIH as there's usually no paper work/receipt/guarantee, so you have little recourse if things go wrong...

[uncleglen]

Also they can claim working person's tax credits if they are self-employed and earn less than a certain amount. Given the climate in the building trade I'm not surprised they are doing these things- personally I try and do things myself!

[StraferJack]

what IS the climate in the building trade?

because whenever I try and get a range of quotes AND choose someone, they all seem INCREDIBLY busy

[uncleglen]

Everyone is trying to undercut everyone else....Around ED it seems there is work going on in every other house so I'm not surprised you can't get people.

[StraferJack]

so tradesmen are oversubscribed AND unable to charge more? I would argue that many people would pay a fair bit extra if they could be sure the person would turn up on time and deliver as promised

[????]

Jeremy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Oh, and I've also had the same trick ("it was a

> cash price all along, otherwise we wouldn't have

> given you this deal") for a 40K building job. When

> of course they'd made no such mention of this when

> quoting us.

Jeremy with all due respect you must have been very naive not to clarify things like VAT on a 40K job!

I'm happy paying cash if someone fixes my fence but any job over say ?2K it's proper quote all legit for any come backs etc (as RD says); same witha car but by a factor of a tenth.

[Mick Mac]

Mustard Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Mick Mac Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Traders that quote one number for cash and

> another

> > if cheque/bank transfer.

> >

> > Is this practice justifiable?

> >

> > I have a tradesman asking me for cash, he said

> he

> > agreed this with my missus at the outset of the

> > job....

> >

> > Apparently his daily rate is ?20 cheaper if

> cash

> > and that's what he quoted on.

>

> What did your wife say about it?

She said - oh yeah that's right.

I'm with Jeremy on this.

[*Bob*]

It's more gentlemanly for the trader to wait until the customer suggests it.

[Jeremy]

???? Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Jeremy with all due respect you must have been

> very naive not to clarify things like VAT on a 40K

> job!

Quote included VAT.

[red devil]

So what happened Jeremy?

[*Bob*]

red devil Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> So what happened Jeremy?

*taps nose* - nothing you need to know about

[*Bob*]

Anyway, why would paying cash deprive you of either a receipt for the money or a guarantee for the work, regardless of the amount?

You only don't get these things if the trader refuses to give them to you.

[red devil]

*Bob* Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Anyway, why would paying cash deprive you of

> either a receipt for the money or a guarantee for

> the work, regardless of the amount?

>

> You only don't get these things if the trader

> refuses to give them to you.

Usually it's because the tradesman doesn't want a paper trail for the taxman to follow...

[Jeremy]

We caved in and paid cash, of course!!

No problem regarding receipt, guarantee, and any issues with the build were fixed swiftly. Just doesn't feel great to be complicit in tax avoidance.

[red devil]

Was it ever in writing that it was a 'cash only' quote?...

[MrBen]

*coughs*

Sorry, I've got something in my throat.