Latest news with #cashpayment
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Is it reasonable to pay a Kos villa owner in cash?
Q I have booked a villa in Kos for September. Unusually, the owner wants to be paid in cash when I turn up. I am somewhat wary of taking bundles of euros with me. In your view, would it be reasonable to rely on extracting cash from ATMs? Ian Robins A Both your destination and your timing are excellent; the Greek islands are at their best in September. However, first you will need to pay for the stay. I recommend that you take the euros you need to pay for the villa, and then a bundle more for your holiday spending. Yes, there is some attendant risk, but I believe it is tolerable (last year I had to take $10,000 in cash to Nepal to pay for a group trekking trip, and that worked). Crime levels in Crete are low; take extra care going through transport locations in the UK and on arrival. There are several reasons against relying on ATMs. The first: in my experience, electronic banking is not to be relied upon in the Greek islands, whether you are seeking to pay for a restaurant meal or hotel bill, or withdraw money from a cash machine. Next, all the ATMs I have checked out recently in Greece have applied substantial charges – upwards of €5 – for withdrawals. This reflects the costs of providing and maintaining the machines, and appears to be spreading across Europe. Most significantly, though, my bank limits daily withdrawals to £500 or the equivalent (in this case, about €575). Even if there are two of you, each able to withdraw this sum, I imagine it would take a couple of days to generate sufficient cash – awkward for you and the property owner. If you are persuaded to take euros with you, the next question is: how to procure them in the UK at the most advantageous rate? Ordering in advance at a decent rate and picking them up at your departure airport may be easiest. High street providers may be competitive, if you are buying a large quantity. Or, if you plan to be in London between now and September, try a bureau de change such as Currency Online Group or Thomas Exchange Group – the companies I tend to use because of their reliably keen rates. Q Like many thousands of people, I received the news that ELO had cancelled their Sunday gig in Hyde Park just 24 hours before the concert was due to take place. We had already travelled to London and had booked a hotel for two nights, plus car parking, plus putting our dog into the kennel for two nights. The only recompense we will receive is our ticket money. Our travel insurance does not cover this either, as it is not cut short by one of our party being ill. Had we been informed earlier, we would have been able to cancel our hotel and the kennel. Is it worth taking this further with the organisers? D South A The pop legends ELO have been on a final tour, branded Over and Out. The last performance of Jeff Lynne 's ensemble was due to end the BST season at Hyde Park in London. Ticket holders were told about 24 hours ahead: 'Jeff Lynne is heartbroken to report that he will not be able to perform at tomorrow's BST Hyde Park show.' The organisers said he had been 'battling a systemic infection' and that doctors had told him neither performing nor rescheduling was possible. We all wish Jeff Lynne a swift and complete recovery. Nine pretty solid support acts were ready to perform, including fellow 1970s sensations the Doobie Brothers and Steve Winwood. Yet the whole sold-out event was called off. I think this decision will be much-discussed over the coming weeks, as disappointed fans get their tickets refunded. From a travel perspective, though, I am afraid that the tightly written terms of the promoter, AEG, make it clear that a claim will not be entertained: 'To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither we nor any other party shall have any liability to you beyond the face value of the ticket.' Even if a legal claim were mounted, I believe a defence that you enjoyed the benefit of a short break in London might be accepted. Could you insure for future gigs? Insurance for cancelled events is aimed at organisers, not ticket holders. I know of no policies that cover the costs of travel and hotels when the gig is called off. Q My two boys (aged 10 and six) and I are heading from Dover to see friends in Cornwall. We all have bikes and would like to build in a couple of days of cycling along with doing most of the travelling by rail. Can you suggest a stretch that would be safe, fun and not too demanding? Stephanie S A National Cycle Network route 1 starts beside the ferry port at Dover and runs all the way to John O'Groats in northern Scotland. The first stretch, from Dover around the coast to Sandwich and then inland to Canterbury, could be just what you need – a little hilly, but fun, and 12 miles/20km for each portion. Two relaxing days or one really challenging one. If hills are not what you need, then allow me to direct you to the Kennet and Avon Canal Cycle Route. This connects Reading with Bath – a distance of 82 miles/133km, but it can be sliced and diced. However, rail access is patchy. Devizes would be the ideal place to start, except that the station closed in 1966. So instead I recommend Trowbridge. An advantage of this Wiltshire town is that you can access it by rail without the need to navigate London with youngsters and bikes in tow. Take a train from Dover to Waterloo East in the capital, walk across the link bridge to the main Waterloo station and board the fast(-ish) train to Salisbury. Change again, and you can be in Trowbridge about five hours after leaving Dover. You will need to cycle a mile or so north to the canal, but from then on it should be an easy 13-mile/21km ride through beautiful Bradford on Avon to Bath. You could overnight in the spa city and then tackle the quite different – but safe and rewarding – Bristol and Bath railway path. This is another largely flat and traffic-free route that includes an exciting stretch in a tunnel. You will be taken close to Bristol Temple Meads station, from which there are plenty of trains in the direction of Cornwall – though you may need to change at Plymouth.
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
I'm 87 and my mobile phone fell into the toilet but Vodafone won't send a cheque for £120 lost credit
I'm 87 and had an accident with my simple pay-as-you-go mobile phone when it slipped out of my pocket and into the toilet. It was ruined. It had £120.46 credit on it with my provider Vodafone which I'd purchased with cash via a top up card at my Post Office. I have spent ages on the phone with Vodafone trying to obtain a refund, but they keep asking for a bank card number. I paid by cash, so I requested a cheque. It refused. This is most unfair. B.L., Lincoln. Sally Hamilton replies: You told me this incident happened as you had to keep your phone on you all day awaiting a call from social services. You had been in the garden admiring the surroundings when nature of a different kind called. This was when the phone slid out of your pocket and into the toilet bowl. You fished it out and tried to get it working but all efforts failed. Despite getting the credit amount checked and verified by Vodafone, and spending a long time on the phone to them, they would not send you a cheque. You rightly asked me why it wasn't easier for vulnerable, elderly people like you, who pay with cash to top up their phones, to resolve the situation. You felt bereft after having to give up on your 'faithful friend of 20 years' – a phone that was easy to use with just a couple of buttons – and aggravated you couldn't even get back the money you were owed. Cash users often feel like second-class citizens in such circumstances. I asked Vodafone to dial up its efforts to help you, which it has now done. I asked Vodafone to dial up its efforts... its customer care team finally sent a cheque Its customer care team got in touch directly with you – requesting further information and photos of yourself – before finally sending a cheque. Apparently, refunds aren't usually made by cheque to unregistered pay-as-you-go accounts due to strict anti-money laundering policies. This seems a bit heavy handed for such a small sum, but rules are rules, I suppose. You have purchased a new phone which you find more complicated than your trusty old device. You say your daughter, who works for Age UK, is organising a few lessons for you with the charity on how to use it.
Daily Mail
20-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Can I pay builder in cash and could my bank stop me withdrawing £40,000 over eight weeks?
I've recently had planning permission to build a loft conversion and roof terrace at my home. The builders are about to start, but the man in charge - who heads the business - has asked if he could be paid half the funds in cash. He says his team prefers cash so he pays them that way. However, I suspect their motivation might be something to do with tax - although this is just a theory and I have no proof. Would I potentially be at risk of aiding and abetting tax evasion by paying them in cash or am I within my rights to pay them as they wish? After all, it is legal tender. They have also asked for me to pay the cash in weekly installments over eight weeks to help their cashflow. Given the total cash sum will be £40,000, that will mean I have to withdraw £5,000 each week. I'm assuming I can't just go to the cash machine and do this and will need to visit a bank branch to do so. But won't the bank clerk ask questions about what the cash is needed for and if so what should I say? Surely honesty is the best policy and paying builders in cash is a perfectly normal practice. Also my only experience of visiting a bank branch was akin to a hospital waiting room - it took over an hour to be seen and I felt rather sorry for all the staff. So out of interest, what are the least busy times of day to visit a bank branch? Ed Magnus of This is Money replies: Unless the builder has told you they want cash to evade tax, there is nothing illegal about paying them in cash. It is their responsibility to declare this to the taxman, not yours. The bigger headache for you is having to withdraw this cash on a weekly basis. Bank branches can have long and slow queues. The best time to visit will depend on the local branch you intend to visit. Luckily, Google often shows information such as popular times and typical waiting times for stores, including bank branches. It tends to appear below your regular business information on Google Maps and Search. On your first trip to the bank, you could also ask the bank clerk about the quietest times to drop in for future visits. You are correct that withdrawing £5,000 from an ATM will almost certainly not be possible to in one day unless you have multiple current accounts with different banks. Most banks have daily ATM limits. How much you can withdraw will depend on your bank and what type of account you hold. For example, Barclays has a daily limit of £300 on its standard current accounts but customers are able to set any limit between £0 and £500. Premier banking customers can withdraw £1,000 each day - but again have the power to set that limit to anything between £0 and £2,000. If you opt to make regular cash withdrawals from an ATM then be aware that your bank may contact you to verify the transactions are yours. But just remember banks will never ask you to move money from your account - if you receive a call asking you to do so, it will be a scam. If you decide to withdraw cash by visiting your local bank branch, they may well ask about the purpose of your withdrawal given it may be seen as unusual and a necessary check to guard against fraud or money laundering. Again, you are perfectly within your rights to say you are withdrawing cash to pay a builder for home renovations. Some banks have been known to be quite difficult and may request proof of the building works in the form of an invoice. However, most should be more relaxed and not require any documentation. For expert advice we spoke to Angela Kerr, a director at property advice website HomeOwners Alliance and Chun Wong, head of dispute resolution at Hodge Jones & Allen. Is it okay to pay builders in cash? Chun Wong replies: Paying cash for goods and services is on the face of it not illegal. It is only a criminal offence under the Criminal Finances Act 2017, if you knowingly aid or abet (i.e. facilitate) the tax evasion. The builders have provided you with an explanation and you have no evidence to believe otherwise. You may wish to check if they are VAT registered and if so they should provide you with a VAT invoice or receipt for the monies and work done. You should also check that they have insurance in the event that there are any issues with the works and you need to bring a claim for poor workmanship and any consequential losses, given the value of the works being undertaken is substantial. You should check whether on completion of the works there will be a guarantee or warranty issued. Angela Kerr adds: You're not the first person to toil over how to pay tradespeople. When we commissioned a YouGov poll with the Federation of Master Builders to find out more about this it revealed a third - approximately 5.3million - homeowners confessed to paying cash to avoid VAT costs on home improvements and make their project more affordable. What about withdrawing cash from a bank? Chun Wong replies: The amount of cash that can be withdrawn in one go will depend on the bank's own terms and conditions. If an explanation is requested (usually for fraud prevention) you should tell them the true reason – that you are paying for substantial works to your house Should they pay the builders in a different way? Angela Kerr replies: There is no standard approach to how, when and what builders can charge and what's the best payment schedule to protect theirs and your interests, so everyone muddles through. But 50 per cent sounds a lot upfront but firms do ask it for bigger projects. But doing a significant home improvement project like yours and paying cash with no audit trail in the form of an invoice, receipt or bank transfer trail is a big risk. You'll end up with no proof that they have done the work – and therefore no guarantee that if things go wrong they will come back to put things right. And having an agreement in writing and a receipt or payment trail is essential if you ever need to take a builder to the small claims court. So I'd recommend sitting down and pulling together a contract. Rics provide domestic project friendly building contracts. Or at the very least get payment terms agreed in writing. Rather than big lumps of cash in arbitrary weekly payments, could you negotiate a smaller percentage up-front and then push for payments according to milestones or stages of the project. For example, at completion of the opening up works, completion of steel installation etc. Save a good percentage for final payment on completion and once any final snagging is done. That would be more meaningful and ensure they have an incentive to get on with the work. Best mortgage rates and how to find them Mortgage rates have risen substantially over recent years, meaning that those remortgaging or buying a home face higher costs. That makes it even more important to search out the best possible rate for you and get good mortgage advice, whether you are a first-time buyer, home owner or buy-to-let landlord. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you To help our readers find the best mortgage, This is Money has partnered with the UK's leading fee-free broker L&C. This is Money and L&C's mortgage calculator can let you compare deals to see which ones suit your home's value and level of deposit. You can compare fixed rate lengths, from two-year fixes, to five-year fixes and ten-year fixes. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use This is Money and L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you.
Daily Mail
17-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Coles and Woolworths anger shoppers with issue Australians can't avoid
Shoppers who prefer to use cash are feeling 'discriminated' against at Coles and Woolworths as it becomes increasingly difficult to avoid paying by card. Cash payment options at self-serve check-outs have dwindled in recent years in favour of card-only terminals despite research suggesting cash remains an important payment method for many Australians. 'Coles and Woolworths discriminate against cash users, everybody knows it, and it goes on every single day,' Melbourne-based financial journalist and campaign manager of CashWelcome Jason Bryce told Daily Mail Australia. 'They say they provide staff members to help us but when they ask us, "How are you paying today? Cash or card." If you say you're paying with cash, you end up waiting in a queue for 15 minutes for one or two terminals. 'If you say you're paying with a card you sail straight through with no waiting, that's blatant discrimination against millions of Australians.' Mr Bryce said that at his local Coles in Williamstown, only two checkouts accept cash, while 14 are set up for card payments only. Meanwhile, he said his local Woolworths has slightly more terminals that accept cash, but still only about four or five out of 20 self-serve checkouts. 'I have to wait longer to pay for my shopping, that's clear discrimination,' he argued. Mr Bryce explained he wants to continue to be able to 'budget with cash'. 'None of us can avoid going to the supermarket, so they've got to do more to support the way people want to pay,' he added. He has started a petition calling for mandated cash acceptance by essential retailers and local cash access for Australians has received over 200,000 signatures, In September 2023, Woolworths announced a new limit of $200 Eftpos cash-outs while Coles introduced the same limit in March 2024. The campaigner said this is unfair to the 'millions of Australians who budget with cash and rely on cash every single day'. The Reserve Bank of Australia's most recent Consumer Payments Survey found that the share of consumer payments made in cash had fallen from around 70 per cent in 2007 to 13 per cent in 2022. However, seven per cent of respondents used cash for 80 per cent or more of their in-person transactions, equivalent to around 1.5 million Australians aged 18 and over. A Coles spokesperon said: 'We disagree with the claims. We know that cash remains an important payment method for some customers, and we have no plans to remove cash self-service options. 'If any of our customers can't find their preferred checkout option, we always have team members in the service area to who are there to help.'
The Sun
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Millions of Nationwide customers to nab £100 Fairer Share payment in DAYS – check if you'll get the cash
NATIONWIDE customers will start getting £100 free cash in a matter of days. Millions of customers will receive the payment through its Fairer Share scheme, which rewards loyal members who save or borrow with the building society. 1 The first payments will hit bank accounts on June 18 - meaning there's less than a week to go. Nationwide has said the payments will be made between then and July 4. However not all Nationwide customers will be eligible. To receive the payment you will need to have opened a current account with Nationwide on or before March 31, 2025. You must have also had at least £100 in savings, or owed £100 or more on a mortgage by that same March deadline. Plus you'll need to have used your account between January 1 and March 31 this year. Still, about four million customers are set to benefit from the cash payment. A total of about £410million is being paid out. The building society has run its Fairer Share scheme for three years in a row now, so if you open a current account now you may have a chance of getting the free cash next year. However there is no guarantee Nationwide will run the scheme again. Last year, Nationwide paid out £385million to 3.85million people. Separately, it also paid out £50 to around 12million customers between April and May. Nationwide also recently offered exclusive access to a top savings account rate for its customers. Those who already bank with the building society can open up a Member Exclusive Bond account which has a very attractive 5% interest rate. The 18-month-fixed term account will net you £759 in interest if you put in the maximum £10,000. What other banking perks can you get? Banks often pay you to switch to their current accounts, and there's four currently offering switching freebies. First Direct is giving away £175 to people who switch to its 1st Account. You just need to open an account and set up at least two direct debits or standing orders within 45 days. You will also need to pay in £1,000 and make five debit card payments within the same timeframe. TSB is handing out £100 cash but £15 a month in cashback for six months to those who switch to its Spend and Save account. Plus you can get either £120 credit towards a hotel booking via Expedia's Travel Credits website or 12 months of activity tickets with the National Activities Network. Where to find the best savings rates Many savings accounts offer miserly rates meaning that money is generating little or no return. However, there are ways to get your cash working hard. Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to make sure you money is getting the best interest rate. Easy access savings accounts offer flexibility for customers, meaning they can dip in and out of cash when needed. However, the caveat is that rates can change at any time. If you're keeping your money in an easy access account, you'll need to keep checking whether it's the best paying account for your circumstances and move if not. Check in at least once a month to see what is happening in the market. Check what is offered by your bank - sometimes the best rates are for customers only. But do search the wider market as often top savings accounts are offered by lesser known providers. Comparison sites are a good place to check for the top rates. Try or Moneysupermarket. You can search by different account type. You'll usually get a better interest rate if you can lock your money away for a fixed amount of time, but it's always a good idea to keep some money in an easy access account in case of emergencies. Don't overlook regular savings accounts often pay some of the best rates, but you'll need to commit to monthly payments. This can be a great way to get into a savings habit while earning top rates at the same time.
