To whom do you report......

[sdsumike619]

a business to that says "we don't take CASH" ????

[Treebeard]

what do you mean? file a complaint about company?

Company can do what they want, dont see it doing much good.

[sdsumike619]

but cash?? good ol American cash! that is supposed to be accepted above all other forms of payment...something is wrong when someone says we don't accept cash patients (it's a doctor's office in case you're wondering)

[Treebeard]

I agree, it is strange. but I dont think there is anything that could be done except change doctors

[sdsumike619]

well that's the thing, I don't have a doctor, or health insurance...I don't think it's right to turn down cash from a patient...I feel like something should be done..

[Treebeard]

better business bereu?

[Xylob the Destroyer]

there's really nothing you can do.
tho they should have a big sign when you come in so you know ahead of time.
maybe they don't want to risk being robbed by having cash on hand

[gadgetguy]

As long as you make a good faith attempt to pay them in cash, they would have a hard time accusing you of non-payment. Since it's printed on the bills that it is legal tender for ALL debts public or private, they would have no legal basis to go after you. That doesn't mean they can't put up a sign to discourage people from using cash though.

[yoda313]

Yep LEGAL TENDER it is. Thats something you could also take to your local tv station to get their "investigative reporting" staff on. Threaten that and you should get results - I'm sure they don't want to end up on the 6'oclock news.

[sdsumike619]

yeah out here in vegas we have "contact 13" on channel 13 news and they always go out with their cameras and let the public know of scams (we have many in vegas), etc... I might just do that =)

[ZippyP.]

...let the public know of scams (we have many in vegas)

The whole place was founded on a scam...gambling. Having said that, I'm going there in April and I plan to do a little (very little) gambling.

[iLuvLandingStrips]

Yep LEGAL TENDER it is. Thats something you could also take to your local tv station to get their "investigative reporting" staff on. Threaten that and you should get results - I'm sure they don't want to end up on the 6'oclock news.

Threaten, investigative reporting .. I don't get what you're saying.
They are not scammers or crooks. They just don't take cash.
More than likely the news station would laugh at you, if you told them.

[adam]

In the United States the only time cash cannot be refused is when the debt is already in existence. There is nothing stopping businesses from refusing to take cash for goods yet to be bought, or services yet to be provided. A much more common example of this is convenience stores refusing to break anything larger than a $20. I guess its annoying but there is nothing illegal or scam-like about refusing cash up front before the purchase is made. I think the only argument you really have is that they committed negligence in refusing care to you at a critical time where you would have been harmed by having to spend time in seeking out other treatment. But unless you were bleeding out right there on the floor, good luck with that.

[Supreme2k]

Actually, if it goes all the way to collections (or court), they have to take the cash. As it's been said, you are attempting to pay them. Both the collection agencies and the courts take cash.

On the other hand, if this is simply a "principle" matter, suck it up and write them a check. If you don't have a checking account, you need to either grow up and get one, or have your parent(s) pay it with non-cash and reimburse them.

[jimmalenko]

maybe they don't want to risk being robbed by having cash on hand

... or have to worry about light-fingered receptionists.

[drjtech]

Legal Tender Status

QUESTION 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?

ANSWER 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.

[hech54]

a business to that says "we don't take CASH" ????

Try to rent a car with Cash.
Try to get a decent hotel room with Cash.
They will argue, kick and scream and most times will
not do it...period.
It happens quite often.

[gadgetguy]

Try to rent a car with Cash.
Try to get a decent hotel room with Cash.

I've done both without problems.

[HRMaddie]

Some doctors' offices don't like to accept cash because they don't trust the individuals working at the front desk. I bet if you talk directly to the doctor he/she would be willing to work it out. My wife runs her own practice and this is an issue we deal with, too. We accept cash, but I don't like too, we just don't want to turn anyone away.

[hech54]

Try to rent a car with Cash.
Try to get a decent hotel room with Cash.

I've done both without problems.

"Rent A Wreck" and "Bubba's Bed" don't count..

[gadgetguy]

I rented the car from Enterprise and the hotel was a Radisson.
I called both before and could not reserve either without a credit card, but I walked in to both establishments without a reservation and was able to do business with cash.

[canadateck]

I was able to use cash at Enterprise (in the AirPort) only because I had a return ticket.This was about 12 years ago.

[reboot]

Where I live, (and seems common elsewhere in Canada), one cannot pay cash for Hydro (electric) bill, gas bill, or phone bill.
These are huge corporations, and they simply have done away with a receptionist/front desk personnel.
If you want to pay your bills, do so at a bank, mail a cheque, do it online.
If you don't have a bank account, nor a PC with internet access, you have to pay some sort of transaction fee to pay your bill (usually at a bank).
Generally, this sucks.
When I wish to pay by cash, I always subtract the transaction fee from the amount paid, then phone them to explain why.
They'll get the fill payment, when they either stop charging me a transaction fee, or when they again accept cash.
Yes, I do have a bank account, yes I do have internet, and I could just do it the "easy way", but I believe in my right to use legal tender any time I wish, so I make it more difficult on principle.

[canadateck]

I pay my power bill every month at Sobys with Cash.

[doppletwo]

Only criminals use cash.

[canadateck]

No they like Debit cards and Credt cards.

[gadgetguy]

Only criminals use cash.

No they like Debit cards and Credt cards.

Preferably somebody elses...

[caernavon]

a business to that says "we don't take CASH" ????

Nobody. "This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private" means exactly that: all debts, i.e. you owe money. Purchasing something from a store is not a debt, for example, and the store is not obligated to accept cash. If you owed the doctor's office for a service (a medical visit), then you probably have a case. How much it's worth to make a stink is another matter.