If you are above the poverty line, you can't pay by cash?
January 13, 2023 5:53 PM   Subscribe

Does it make sense to you, that unless you can prove you're a working poor or homeless, etc., you have to pay by some other way, no cash? Who would say yes to that proposal? I don't have all the info but some brick and mortar place is saying no to cash payment, Why can't a middle class or wealthy person choose pay cash?
posted by amfgf to Law & Government (7 answers total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: Chatfiltery! -- travelingthyme

 
Response by poster: Cash is legal tender, and there should be no reason to deprive a person of the freedom to pay however they want for security purposes for example.
posted by amfgf at 5:56 PM on January 13, 2023 [1 favorite]


I’m not sure what your question is. Why do businesses do this, or how is it legal, or whether it’s recognized to be a bad trend?

Lots of businesses would prefer not to have to handle cash, which is a liability when on hand, and also slower these days than credit/debit transactions. Some businesses I’ve seen either no longer accept cash, or make it more convenient not to use cash. Perhaps in recognition that some people don’t have easy access to credit/bank cards, these businesses you’re talking about let people below a certain threshold pay by cash but require everyone else to use a credit/debit card? For the business, it’s just a way to save money and keep lines moving quicker (thus making more money). I think some jurisdictions probably require the ability to pay in cash, but it’s not a general requirement in the U.S. Cash is legal tender, but that doesn’t mean that a merchant has to accept it for all transactions.
posted by skewed at 6:06 PM on January 13, 2023 [1 favorite]




According to this PolitiFact article on the topic, generally businesses are not legally obliged to accept cash, perhaps with some state-dependent exceptions.

Now, whether it makes sense is a different question. Business owners' decisions do not always make sense. I'd guess cash is inconvenient for them to handle or they're trying to cut down on theft. But it's certainly crappy from a customer perspective.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 6:09 PM on January 13, 2023


A lot of business no longer accept cash at all, from anyone. Maybe this place doesn't want to accept cash either but recognizes people with few resources are unlikely to have venmo, bank accounts, etc, so they are willing to make an exception for them.
posted by bearette at 6:24 PM on January 13, 2023


There's a growing number of US states and cities banning cashless businesses (for very good reasons, I think).
posted by trig at 6:34 PM on January 13, 2023 [1 favorite]


On the flip side … it’s never been worse for businesses to take cards. Fees are high and rising. Chargebacks are terrible. Businesses with trusted staff are moving to cash only and cash discounts - and if they aren’t cash register operations, ACH.
posted by MattD at 6:39 PM on January 13, 2023


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