While it becomes harder and harder for poor people to even find a place that will cash their measly paychecks and don't qualify for a debit card or credit card, businesses have figured out how to stop "undesirables" from attempting to come in. It happened with hotels/motels 25 years ago.

Most "norms" will never give a damn about the nickle and diming of the poor, and too many live off it.

...I utterly hate the "no cash" trend. Ultimately, it will be another way of fucking over poor people, for reasons too obvious to state. The damned money says plainly, "this note is legal tender for all debts, public and private". This either means what it says, or it doesn't.

Good for the poor, good for the Post Office.

They surely can't have someone arrested for not paying if they offer cash.

It was Christmas, and there had been a lot of counterfeit 50s passed in the city.

It was really weird. We just stood there stunned when he was asked for ID!

Cash has a tendency to go missing

don't they?

Really?

that it is legal. It actually probably solves many problems that handling cash presents.
As for me, I would go elsewhere.

You now have to download an eTicket to your smart phone. This is problematic for me as I still have a dumbphone.

...and his smart phone. But, hey!!!!

You can go to will-call but have to notify them 24 hours in advance and arrive an hour early.

Boy, does that make me nervous.

Gives the retailer access to all kinds of juicy demographic data.

Cash is anonymous

But it becomes problematic to enforce. Since you rarely pay "up front" at restaurants, if they don't accept your offer of legal currency, about the only thing they can do is attempt to force you to through the courts. The courts will accept "cash" and may expect them to as well. Many places these days don't accept cash. Airlines, hotels, car rental, etc. often won't take cash, or at least make it very hard.

think about how it would be if we went all plastic? There would be no more extra cash to be made on craiglist, or those other places. Nor would grass cutters, snow shovelers, and all those all round cash workers be able to hide anything from the revenuers.

problem solved.

I will break this to you gently: not all of us have a "smart" phone.

Embrace the technology of our day and utilize it.
If people aren't willing to help themselves by obtaining modern tools, I'm not willing to let them bitch to me.

People pay one another with things like PayPal, Venmo, cash app, Apple Pay etc. all of the time.

Who are “the revenuers”?

I’m not particularly learned in backwater hillbilly vocabulary, but if you are suggesting that tax evasion is somehow okay for some class of persons, I’d be fascinated to hear your personal rationalization for why this group of persons has the right to fuck over everyone else.

person to person and instead of writing a check asked for a "cash" discount"/

There is a large service economy that deals that way. Not everyone has the services you listed. The revenuers, well you figure it out.

I don't want to think that a government agency could see exactly how much a person makes, how much and where they spend it with just a keystroke.. Kinda like intuitive marketing only more so.

Yes, I’ve bought things “person to person” and yes I run my own service business. No, I don’t ask for and don’t accept a “cash discount” because I’m not as interested in fucking everyone else over by being a tax cheat or helping tax cheats - small scale Trumpers.

Says so right there on the dollar bill. So I doubt that it's legal to refuse to accept cash for any sale.

Unless a State has such a law, there is no law.

But, since you are insisting I prove a negative instead of doing due diligence:

https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12772.htm

https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/watchdog/2014/12/24/ask-watchdog-can-business-refuse-cash/20883777/

http://theconversation.com/if-cash-is-king-how-can-stores-refuse-to-take-your-dollars-63516

https://www.expertlaw.com/library/consumer-protection/it-legal-refuse-cash-payment

https://culinarylore.com/dining:is-it-legal-for-restaurants-to-not-accept-cash/


https://money.stackexchange.com/questions/74196/in-what-cases-can-a-business-refuse-to-take-cash

https://www.outsidethebeltway.com/what-happens-when-a-business-wont-accept-cash-for-payment/

not even one page of google

the court is going to accept cash payment. You won't even need an attorney. At most, you pay court fees.

So if you had the money and wanted to be a jerk and go on principle, ultimately, they'd have to accept it.

Restauarant calls cops on customer accused of trying to "defraud an innkeeper," police arrive, customer says, "I have cash, they won't take it," cops tell owner/manager to take the damn cash and stop wasting our time.

More likely, if someone has only cash and no other way to pay their bill, the restaurant will make an exception. They can't put that on their sign, though, since that would defeat the purpose of trying to go electronic only. In most restaurants when is bill is unpaid, the server has to pay it. Servers aren't going to let a "no cash" policy leave the on the hook.

Source: been in the restaurant business for over 20 years

you'd owe a debt and have legal tender to pay it. The court would be fine with that.
It's not theft because there is no intent to steal.

Signed, an attorney who has both prosecuted and defended cases.

I bought a donut... 1 donut from a gourmet donut truck that was at an event. I went to hand them cash, and they said they don't take cash. It was weird, I thought, for just a couple of bucks, but, oh well.

There are several restaurants like that in NYC.
A few weeks ago I read that the City Council was going to hold hearings on the matter. It shuts out people who do not have credit or debit cards, usually the poor.

I prefer paying cash for small amounts and don't like pulling out my cards for a coffee and croissant.

although it's long been common for businesses to refuse to accept bills larger than $20.00, usually because of the problem of having enough cash on hand to make the change.

I rarely use my charge card, and prefer to pay cash for day-to-day purchases. It's been my observation that among the reasons so many people can't figure out how to save any money (and this especially applies to the younger generations) is that they pay for everything with a credit or debit card, and don't pay much attention to how much money is actually still in that account. I take a specifif sum out of the bank every Monday and it's my day-to-day money (including gas for my car, groceries, restaurants, and other incidental expenses). I actually divide the money up into five envelopes and if I have enough money in the Entertainment envelope, I can go out with friends. When I have money built up in the Clothing envelope, I can buy new clothes. And so on.

That has really helped me keep a lid on my spending.

And I think excuses about being robbed or light-fingered cashiers is ridiculous. There are steps that can be taken rather than making me spend whatever the credit card minimum is because I want a bottle of water or some such.

you have a system that works for you.
I would think that a place that has a "no cash" policy cannot "afford" to have a "minimum charge" amount for a customer.
I do know that the cc companies do charge a percentage per swipe and if it is a "small" sale the merchant can actually lose money on the deal - hence some merchants posting a "minimum cc amount" for a charge. However, it is also my understanding that the cc companies discourage/prohibit a merchant establishing a minimum charge amount.
I don't know where its all headed - but there will be change coming (no, not as in "change-for-a-twenty!&quot

If I did, I'd never patronize that place again.

on a recent visit to Chicago.
Stepped out of the stairs from the subway and went into a coffee place that wasn't one owned by one of the candidates.
Placed my order (hey, I'm "small town - simple&quot - "plain coffee" - dark roast.
Reached for my wallet and pulled out a $10 - "sorry, we don't take cash."

WOW!

A $3.00 cup of coffee and I have to charge it? I guess I've led a sheltered life!

Can't say I'll never go back - couldn't find it again if I had to!

about it being legal for all debts public and private and then say I don't have any credit cards.

I didn't have a problem with it - just surprise.
I left with more cash for the rest of the day (yeah, like $3 is gonna' make a difference in Chicago!) and I got more "cash-back" points for my purchase.

make that claim! (hope you're not offended by the "terrorist fist-bump!)

The terrorist fist bump. Oh, my.

It's with the person who owns the workplace.

I have been in the situation where I've needed to break a $100 bill for a relatively small purchase, and I know how annoying, aggravating, and difficult it is. But this is simply not the point. It's accepting legal tender. If my legal tender isn't good enough, then what is??

Why should *I* be forced to use a credit card entirely against my will when some jerk has set it up so that I must? And why should I have to charge some specific dollar minimum because I can't pay cash for the lesser amount?

I used to work the information desk at my city's only hospital, and I was directly across from the gift shop, which was also the place the hospital employees purchased snacks and such for themselves at the start of the night shift. I more than once heard the gift shop employee explain about the three or four dollar minimum (I honestly don't recall the specific amount) and always cringed at the unnecessary extra purchase.

In my defense, I want to point out that there were times when someone approached me at the information desk and told me they were hungry, had no money, and could I possibly help? I ALWAYS said yes, and told them to pick out whatever they wanted, and then get my attention as they needed to check out. My hospital ID was also a kind of credit card, and I could simply assume the cost of whatever that person needed. It was the very least I could do.

Sometimes someone would let me know they needed to get home, didn't have a car, and didn't have taxi fare. I 'd call the local taxi company, find out the estimated fare to wherever the person needed, add some more money and give them the cash.

I'm not rich, but I have a bit more than others, and I'm grateful I can help out. My personal philosophy is that we are here to help each other, and I try to do what I can.

to use a credit card. According to the OP, there was a sign in the window stating "no cash." So, you see the sign and you go to another restaurant that will accept cash.

private" (emphasis mine).

You give me a bill for the meal you've provided.

Do I not OWE you the amount on the ticket your waitress has handed me? Hopefully, you agree that I do. And, that amount that I OWE you?

Until it is paid, it is a DEBT.

If you proceed to eat, you either were negligent or intended to defraud. The merchant has the ability to specify how they take payment. It's not a debt - it's a crime.



Legal Tender Status

I thought that United States currency was legal tender for all debts. Some businesses or governmental agencies say that they will only accept checks, money orders or credit cards as payment, and others will only accept currency notes in denominations of $20 or smaller. Isn't this illegal?

The pertinent portion of law that applies to your question is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 31 U.S.C. 5103, entitled "Legal tender," which states: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues."

This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/faqs/currency/pages/legal-tender.aspx

to being "clearly notified", assume I am blind and no one read that sign to me. Do I have no "debt"?

That said, you did educate me as to the statute in question as I assume your construction of its meaning is consistent with that of the courts. Thank you.

and they were given this card that their pay was loaded on. The real crappy thing is that they were charged every single time they used it. It also seems to me they also were not allowed to cash it out. Now that was a rip off. I also have a friend who years ago went to a computer store that would not accept cash.

where my first paycheck was loaded on a similar card. I was outraged, because I knew enough to know I was losing value every single time I wanted to see how much money was on that card.

For what it's worth, my paycheck was only loaded on that card for the first two paychecks with that company, after which I got a real paycheck. But it enraged me, and I was someone savvy enough to understand what was going on. Even so, I knew that I lost some real value because of that system.

That was the only time I personally ran up against that kind of thing. I suspect most people in that situation haven't a real clue how it works and lose a significant portion of their income to this nonsense.

Not fair to people outside the banking card system.

I’m pretty sure the business owners know they aren’t getting those folks’ business.

percentage to the credit card company on credit sales.

What good is it to rob/burglarize a credit only establishment?

They actually do accept cash most of the time, but only for tips.

this was years ago, it was actual paper food stamps. my mom suspected it was a scam of some kind. She knew her brother.

and though the drinks cost money, they did not accept cash.

Complex that accepted cash. And that has been since over 30 years ago.

I'm guessing by check, which really is the equivalent of cash. Not by credit card. Not by debit card.

There's a real difference here.

Any place accepting plastic wanted to add 3 percent for the card processing fee.

be set up to take credit cards quickly. Used to be a real hassle to use a credit card.

I guess if I didn’t have a credit card, even a pre-funded one, I’d have to go with a generic gift card.

Wonder what lack of folks carrying cash does to charities that collect on streets.

In any event, don’t see it as a big conspiracy or inconvenience in most cases.

I'm starting to be too lazy to use my card and phone too. I would love to have a chip implanted in me where i can just wave my hand across a screen and pay that way. Tired of carrying crap in my pockets.

seem very bad at tracking their actual purchases. I've noticed this particularly in the younger generation, meaning anyone younger than I am, and who do almost all of their purchases via debit or credit card. They are completely astonished that long before the end of the pay period they have no money left. And I see this in the pious claims that it is IMPOSSIBLE to save money. Really? Keep track of your purchases and your debts, and honestly, it truly is possible to save money. Especially if you budget and (I know this will sound quite bizarre) spend less than your income.

It is a small family owned hole in the wall place but did a pretty good take out business. Still, i suspect that in order to reduce overhead, they went all cash. Pity, i never carry cash and its a pain to go to the bank to get cash, so i have stopped going there. I'm probably not the only one. I'll bet uf they ran an audit they would find that they have lost more than the credit card processing fees.

Recently I was stranded because of weather in a small town somewhere in Oklahoma. The details aren't important, but when I was imploring the manager of the only motel in town for a room, he said, "Do you have cash?" I responded, "Will $50 get me a room for the night?" He countered with $60, and I was able to give him the cash. The power was out, and he couldn't run a credit card, so if I had not had cash I probably would have been sleeping in my car.

My point is, that both cash and credit cards are important, and to totally dismiss either one is truly stupid.

I carry a reasonable amount of cash with me at all times. I also have credit cards and my bank debit card. I feel as if I'm ready for most situations. If you never have cash, if you don't have a credit card, you're an idiot.

but no cash. If I'm traveling, i carry cash for odd events such as you illustrated. It's just more convenient for me as I'm a senior and i dont go out every day so i dont always have easy access to get cash. I dont have unlimited funds so when i do withdraw cash it isnt much. One or two cash purchases will wipe out whats in my purse.

My post was to give an example of what can happen when an establishment adopts policies that can limit customers.

Signed,
Dumb Stupid Idiot

that requires you toss a quarter or two into the basket to keep on travelling? No provision for a credit card.

Again, never having cash or never having a credit card are two equally bad strategies.

In the incident I described above where I was getting stranded because of weather, the manager of the motel took me in precisely because I had cash. The power had been out for over twelve hours and he didn't seem to have the ability to process a credit card. I wound up getting a discount on the room, and actually got the room precisely because I could pay cash.

I honestly don't understand those who never have cash. It's truly a dumb move as I've noted.

If there is no attendant booth, and you have no change, just drive through without paying.

that wanted you to toss quarters into a basket, no attendant and if no quarter dropped into the basket the arm that needed to go up so you could continue, didn't go up. Not sure how you'd manage that one.

have toll baskets. They have license plate readers. If someone crosses the reader, they get a bill in the mail. Had to explain that to my granddaughter who ran up a bill. There are alternate routes with no tolls.

I take the bus into the city on occasion. Our buses have a passcard system. When my card gets low, i take my debit card to the bus kiosk at my stop and put more money on the card. When i get on the bus, i just need to swipe my passcard on the reader which deducts the fare from the card.

I go to the movies frequently -- debit card. Dinner with a friend, debit card.

Grocery, pharmacy, hardware stores, all debit cards.

Once a month, i take Amtrak to a city 75 miles away to visit a friend . Again, debit card.

In fact, the ONLY time I'm asked for cash is by street people.

My point is that, for me, there is little reason to carry cash on a daily basis.

As a side note, debit records on my bank statement help keep track of my expenditures.

As I detailed above, I draw out the cash I know I'll need at the beginning of each week. Not unlimited funds by any means.

I know I'm a bit of an oddity these days.

It costs them manpower to handle cash, make trips to the bank, and protect the cash from robbers.