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Child Item

B&Q Refusing Cash Tranactions

Nozebleed

I was at my local B&Q this morning..where i queued for 20 mins to get in and then a further 20 mins to pay for my stuff only to be told the no longer take cash transaction in accordance with government guidelines. I was shocked..told the woman i have only cash..i was then asked by the staff member do i know someone with a back card who could pay for the items in question..but she new by the face on me..not to ask anymore questions.

is this legal practice on the part of B&Q?

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[Deleted User]

L1011 wrote: »

Someone coming in asking for a large amount of obscure colours and a ridiculous timber cut is going to be obvious as a crank pretty quickly though. And what you've described is not a "few buckets" and "a bit of timber".

If you want to try force someone to take a form of payment they have blatantly told you they don't take, try think of a less idiotic way to do so.

Have you ever done any DIY? Paints come in hundreds of colours, making up cans of “obscure” colours is exactly the same as making up the most popular colour in a paint shop, you just click on the colour needed on the computer and the machine mixes it. It’s as simple as that. One colour is no more “idiotic” than another, not everyone wants rooms painted magnolia or brilliant white. You don’t get asked how you pay or if you want it on account just because you want a colour that is rarely seen by the shop assistant.

Bass Reeves

L1011 wrote: »

Someone coming in asking for a large amount of obscure colours and a ridiculous timber cut is going to be obvious as a crank pretty quickly though. And what you've described is not a "few buckets" and "a bit of timber".

If you want to try force someone to take a form of payment they have blatantly told you they don't take, try think of a less idiotic way to do so.

It obvious you have never done much DIY, a lot of lads getting a flat trolly in BnQ are leaving 3-500 euro. Most people get paint mixed in non standard colours unless you want everything in magnolia or white. Only a small fraction of paint bought by random lads is pre mixed colours.

meeeeh

Caranica wrote: »

Revolut will sort most of those issues. I know parents that give pocket money to kids via Google pay or apple pay.

Not me. My 7 and 11 year olds get coins. It helps with maths and gives them idea what is behindthe number in their bank account. They both have their accounts topped up monthly but are not allowed to spend that. I think kids should be first thaught basics and understanding how much stuff cost and seing if they can afford it. It also teaches them to be careful and make sure they don't loose their money.

I'm fairly on top of different payment methods, I have N26 account, I have Google pay, PayPal account, two irish bank accounts (in process of closing one) and credit card but when I want to pay my cleaner it is cash only. I 'm not going to ask what taxes she does or doesn't pay.

tjhook

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

They signed him up to a charity DD, again, its about the only thing they can do with it, not steal it. and its full reversible (he chose not to iirc)

What about all those people that handed out their bank details (cheques) to people for decades without any thought of it?

In his case, I'd argue that it is theft. Regardless, if funds are taken from my account without my knowledge, I won't be happy. I wouldn't hand a cheque to a stranger on the street either.

You have a point about cheques too - the existing banking system isn't without its flaws. All the more reason not to eliminate the option to use cash.

L1011

Bass Reeves wrote: »

They be losing a lot of business if they start questioning every guy getting a few buckets of paint or a bit of timber cut up. Average two detached house with a plaster finish will need about 3 buckets of Dulux weathershield, contrast fir plinths and around windows and doors is another 5-10litres, a detached garage or front wall another bucket.

A lad painting the inside of a new house might be buying 30-40 litres of mat or silk paint and another 10litres each of primer and satinwood. Throw in another few bits and pieces and you have 4-500euro of gear.

Someone coming in asking for a large amount of obscure colours and a ridiculous timber cut is going to be obvious as a crank pretty quickly though. And what you've described is not a "few buckets" and "a bit of timber".

If you want to try force someone to take a form of payment they have blatantly told you they don't take, try think of a less idiotic way to do so.

Bass Reeves

L1011 wrote: »

Some rando going in and asking for that quantity in B&Q will be asked for their trade card before they start mixing/cutting, realistically.

They be losing a lot of business if they start questioning every guy getting a few buckets of paint or a bit of timber cut up. Average two story detached house with a plaster finish will need about 3 buckets of Dulux weathershield, contrast fir plinths and around windows and doors is another 5-10litres, a detached garage or front wall another bucket.

A lad painting the inside of a new house might be buying 30-40 litres of mat or silk paint and another 10litres each of primer and satinwood. Throw in another few bits and pieces and you have 4-500euro of gear.

Guy:Incognito

tjhook wrote: »

Yes, if you both happen to have Revolut, and you have to know the other person does. Mobile-to-mobile transfers aren't a standard. Of course, Revolut has to make money themselves, so there are fairly hefty fees after the first few hundred euros of withdrawals.
.

There are loads of ways to give people money digitally now, I just picked 2.

tjhook wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7174760.stm.

They signed him up to a charity DD, again, its about the only thing they can do with it, not steal it. and its full reversible (he chose not to iirc)

What about all those people that handed out their bank details (cheques) to people for decades without any thought of it?

tjhook wrote: »

Yes, but I can withdraw more so I can still buy food.

If you have more. Either way, the money you lost is gone forever.

Plus isnt bank chargers what people are giving out about? Are they not charging for ATM withdrawals.

freshpopcorn

I feel sorry for the teenagers with only having cards. It would be hard for you to buy a few drinks without your mammy and daddy checking up on you!

tjhook

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Youve been able to send money to people just using their mobile number for ages.

If you have revolut (assume other systems are similar) you can send it to them from the contacts on your phone without knowing any details beyond their number being in your phone.

Yes, if you both happen to have Revolut, and you have to know the other person does. Mobile-to-mobile transfers aren't a standard. Of course, Revolut has to make money themselves, so there are fairly hefty fees after the first few hundred euros of withdrawals.

Theres very little you can do with someones bank details beyond giving them money. Every cheque has the persons bank details on it btw, how come no one had issues with them?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7174760.stm

What happens if your cash is lost or stolen? Its gone forever

Yes, but I can withdraw more so I can still buy food.

Guy:Incognito

Caranica wrote: »

Revolut will sort most of those issues. I know parents that give pocket money to kids via Google pay or apple pay.

I do it with my elder son all the time ( I got a monese card and gave it to him, the revolut junior account wasnt out at that stage) . He doesnt carry the card anymore even, he uses his phone to pay then.

Guy:Incognito

tjhook wrote: »

- How to you pass small amount between (non-commercial) people? E.g. pocketmoney for kids. Or asking a colleague who's nipping out to the shop "Here's a fiver, can you get me a sandwich?". I can't see us instead saying "Do you know your BIC and IBAN off the top of your head, so I can go online, set you up in my online banking as a payee, and transfer a fiver plus charges".

Youve been able to send money to people just using their mobile number for ages.

If you have revolut (assume other systems are similar) you can send it to them from the contacts on your phone without knowing any details beyond their number being in your phone.

tjhook wrote: »

- Charities. Big difference between throwing a few quid into a bucket versus detailing your bank details on a form. Would you trust your bank details or card to a person on the street that you don't know?

Theres very little you can do with someones bank details beyond giving them money. Every cheque has the persons bank details on it btw, how come no one had issues with them?

Anyway, Id be very surprised if charities dont have machines on collections now, as above, even buskers have a machine for people to tap to give them money.

If they dont then the charities really need to step up or they will lose a lot of money.

tjhook wrote: »

- Your card is lost/stolen/broken. How do you get by for the week or two until a new one is issued? It's useful to be able to bring ID to the bank and withdraw (spendable) cash.

I barely ever use my card even at this stage. I use my phone the whole time to pay.
What happens if your cash is lost or stolen? Its gone forever.

skooterblue2

borderlinemeath wrote: »

My neighbour is in his late 70's and has never had a bank account. During his working life he recalled how depending on his employer, he either got a cash envelope or a cheque that would go behind the bar in the local pub and he'd get the balance at the end of the Friday night!

If he ever needs to buy anything "on the internet" he gets his nephew to do it and gives him the cash. Prior to CoVid he would head to the post office on Friday for his pension and get it in cash. He wouldn't know what to do with a card at an ATM.

have you tried to open a new bank account lately? Its a nightmare. they want so much paper work and documentation. I opened a new bank account in a new bank and found out my PPS card is not a method of ID that can be used. I do have a passport but dont drive.

Cabaal

Caranica wrote: »

Revolut will sort most of those issues. I know parents that give pocket money to kids via Google pay or apple pay.

N26 as well, no contactless or card fee's and no min deposit,
Can't fault mine.

They also allow a certain amount of ATM transactions per month with no fees.
I use mine purely as a emergency card

Caranica

Revolut will sort most of those issues. I know parents that give pocket money to kids via Google pay or apple pay.

addaword

tjhook wrote: »

I can completely understand a business or an individual not wanting to pass cash at the moment. I'm avoiding cash myself. I'd be more doubtful about "the death of cash" in the longer term though. Sweden be damned People can use cards if they like, but there's no harm having a cash alternative. I can think of a number of disadvantages to not having the option of cash:

- How to you pass small amount between (non-commercial) people? E.g. pocketmoney for kids. Or asking a colleague who's nipping out to the shop "Here's a fiver, can you get me a sandwich?". I can't see us instead saying "Do you know your BIC and IBAN off the top of your head, so I can go online, set you up in my online banking as a payee, and transfer a fiver plus charges".

- Charities. Big difference between throwing a few quid into a bucket versus detailing your bank details on a form. Would you trust your bank details or card to a person on the street that you don't know?

- Your card is lost/stolen/broken. How do you get by for the week or two until a new one is issued? It's useful to be able to bring ID to the bank and withdraw (spendable) cash.

- I've been in shops where the card system was down. Cash only for a while. Without cash, should these shops just shut down until card services are resumed?

.

And other occasions cash is handy eg paying a teacher for a grind for the kid coming up to exams, or paying the neighbours son to cut the grass when you are on holiday.

tjhook

I can completely understand a business or an individual not wanting to pass cash at the moment. I'm avoiding cash myself. I'd be more doubtful about "the death of cash" in the longer term though. Sweden be damned

People can use cards if they like, but there's no harm having a cash alternative. I can think of a number of disadvantages to not having the option of cash:

- How to you pass small amount between (non-commercial) people? E.g. pocketmoney for kids. Or asking a colleague who's nipping out to the shop "Here's a fiver, can you get me a sandwich?". I can't see us instead saying "Do you know your BIC and IBAN off the top of your head, so I can go online, set you up in my online banking as a payee, and transfer a fiver plus charges".

- Charities. Big difference between throwing a few quid into a bucket versus detailing your bank details on a form. Would you trust your bank details or card to a person on the street that you don't know?

- Your card is lost/stolen/broken. How do you get by for the week or two until a new one is issued? It's useful to be able to bring ID to the bank and withdraw (spendable) cash.

- I've been in shops where the card system was down. Cash only for a while. Without cash, should these shops just shut down until card services are resumed?

I imagine none of these issue are insurmountable given time and changes to everyday life, but why remove a simple long-standing option that's proven to work?

The state (which issues currency and taxes its transfer) should provide a way to transfer that currency without additional charge. Cash is fine for that. In the absence of cash, the state should provide a free cashless transfer mechanism - free for sender and recipient, with guarantees on privacy. As has been said elsewhere on this thread, I don't want the state to outsource these responsibilities to commercial interests for them to charge both payer and payee. Not to mention state tax on these cards.

[Deleted User]

L1011 wrote: »

That'll be news to O'Briens and Insomnia.

Some rando going in and asking for that quantity in B&Q will be asked for their trade card before they start mixing/cutting, realistically.

They will mix up whatever you want, with the machines they have it really doesn’t matter what you ask for, it’s all the same to them, just a matter of inputting the colour.

L1011

Bass Reeves wrote: »

The issue is the stores doing this are not Irish stores.

That'll be news to O'Briens and Insomnia.

Dav010 wrote: »

You’ve never been to a paint shop or a builders providers, have you? You walk around the shop or stand at the desk and you will hear the staff regularly being asked for items like this, albeit the 1 inch squares might have been a step too far.

Some rando going in and asking for that quantity in B&Q will be asked for their trade card before they start mixing/cutting, realistically.

Bass Reeves

addaword wrote: »

Lol. A great idea. That will teach them.

The stores want people to use cards because even though the card companies take a percentage, people spend more with cards and lose track of how much they are spending. With cash they may not have enough for certain impulse purchases they may regret later if they buy using a card.

The reason these bigger stores want people to use cards is if they can force cash out of the economy it gives them a competitive advantage over smaller shops and stores. This is immaterial whether it is in hardware, homeware or electrical goods. It just like if when buying a car a dealership would ideally love everyone to use a loan. You are more libel to borrow a larger amount that you would if spending your own money out of your bank account. As well these larger companies are also trying to bring in there own store cards so that if you do not pay on time they can charge you a high interest rate.

Dodge

To be fair credit cards and debit cards are completely different.

A side issue of course...

Bass Reeves

Dodge wrote: »

There’s studies to show the opposite is true (google them for yourself). If people have cash, they’ll spend it but if they go out to get a single item and pay by card, they’re more likely to do that

Getting back to the OP, there’s no way he didn’t pass signs everywhere in B&Q saying that cash wouldn’t be accepted. No chance at all

Any budgeting advisor advising people that are in financial trouble ( and mostly it is impulse spending on a credit card) advises people to cut up the card and draw down a weekly allowance in cash to spend until COVID arrived. COVID has not changed the rational.

Dodge

addaword wrote: »

The stores want people to use cards because even though the card companies take a percentage, people spend more with cards and lose track of how much they are spending. With cash they may not have enough for certain impulse purchases they may regret later if they buy using a card.

There’s studies to show the opposite is true (google them for yourself). If people have cash, they’ll spend it but if they go out to get a single item and pay by card, they’re more likely to do that

Getting back to the OP, there’s no way he didn’t pass signs everywhere in B&Q saying that cash wouldn’t be accepted. No chance at all

addaword

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Here is the real nub of the matter. If I go into my local BnQ and head for the paint counter. I get them to mix 40 litres of masonry paint in am obscure colour, I also get them to mix another 50 litres of mat silk in 2-3 dark colours,as well as mixing 10-15 litres of satinwood in s colour of my choice. After that I arrive over at the wood cutting service and get them to cut 10 sheets of 8X4 ply into 1 inch squares.

Now when I arrive to pay at the till and hand them part of the dirty wad I have in the sole of my sock will they refuse it.

Lol. A great idea. That will teach them.

The stores want people to use cards because even though the card companies take a percentage, people spend more with cards and lose track of how much they are spending. With cash they may not have enough for certain impulse purchases they may regret later if they buy using a card.

Bass Reeves

The issue is the stores doing this are not Irish stores. While most other stores prefer cards they will accept cash. It's delusional for people to think that over times banks will not add charges to those using cards. The government already has a tax on cards. While traders get charged for lodging and the withdrawal of cash smaller firms get charged over the top for card usage by customers. That is why for cards a lot if shops had a minimum transaction amount until lately. Recently just pre COVID I was paying a substantial bill and had the cheque book as well as the card with me. The owner perferred the cheque as when it was lodged in the account he could draw down against it. Card payments often take days to appear in business accounts

It amazing the way some people assume everyone who uses cash must be dodging tax. The reality is a large portion of people may have no bank accounts, find cash easier to budget with. I myself when I was financially challenged in the last recession always found it easier to budget by taking a set out out each fortnight. I still did up to pre COVID. At present I have a house tenant that pays me part of the rent in cash. He is a HAP tenant. As it costs too much to lodge I just spend it mostly.on car fuel as I can use it in a single transaction. But I also use it in self service in supermarkets as well.

I off down to BnQ now to buy a few tubs of paint I wonder will they take legal tender.ðŸ€”ðŸ€”ðŸ€”

endacl

Nozebleed wrote: »

im sure they can request a preferred method of payment but the cant refuse legal tender.

Like stamps? Stamps are legal tender. Bring in a load of stamps and see how you get on.

Hannibal_Smith

JohnC. wrote: »

I wish people would stop talking as if old people are too stupid to use a card. That includes some old people themselves. In my experience, they are perfectly capable, if they just try. Age isn't a barrier, just willingness is. I know someone who turned 100 last year who would put some people literally half her age to shame, just because they don't want to try. Some of those younger old people have eventually tried and love it now.

My mother insists on using cash. Because the card is attached to the 'household money account' or something funny like that. So she only uses it in emergencies and will continue with cash for as long as she can... Despite the current issues.

JohnC.

Dav010 wrote: »

Where are you seeing this?

Waterford/south Kilkenny region.

[Deleted User]

JohnC. wrote: »

I wish people would stop talking as if old people are too stupid to use a card. That includes some old people themselves. In my experience, they are perfectly capable, if they just try. Age isn't a barrier, just willingness is. I know someone who turned 100 last year who would put some people literally half her age to shame, just because they don't want to try. Some of those younger old people have eventually tried and love it now.

Where are you seeing this?

JohnC.

I wish people would stop talking as if old people are too stupid to use a card. That includes some old people themselves. In my experience, they are perfectly capable, if they just try. Age isn't a barrier, just willingness is. I know someone who turned 100 last year who would put some people literally half her age to shame, just because they don't want to try. Some of those younger old people have eventually tried and love it now.

Hannibal_Smith

Every day's a school day. I thought the same as you OP, that shops have to accept legal tender, but I just googled it there and apparently shops can demand any method of payment they like.

Would have been nice if they told you this before queuing for 20 mins and then finding out!