Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Chatting on the Plot => Topic started by: jezza on June 27, 2020, 17:57

Title: Electronic payments
Post by: jezza on June 27, 2020, 17:57
Hello I'm having problems with some one I work for insisting on paying me by electronic payments when I started working for them in November it  was agreed to be cash as the job was temporary now they are paying fortnightly in arrears I have asked to return to weekly cash payments, does any one know what the legal position is please I have refused to work for them till payment system is changed .  jezza
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: Aunt Sally on June 27, 2020, 19:56
A lot of people aren’t using cash now due to COVID risks.

A number of the people I paid by cash now want electronic payment. 

I don’t know what the legal position is but I suspect if they are willing to pay electronically then that’s meeting their legal responsibility to pay for work done.  Why do you want cash ?

Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: grinling on June 27, 2020, 21:59
do you have a contract with them? Even 0 hours is a contract
have you asked why they are paying you 2 weeks in arrears instead of the 1 week.
If you are self employed then you could withhold services, they might decide to no longer use you
this person might not have been declaring you for tax purposes,but covid has changed a lot of practices.
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: Growster... on June 28, 2020, 06:01
Might be something to do with bank charges.

I pay by ET for as much as I can, because the recipient doesn't get clobbered by the banks - apparently!
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: jezza on June 28, 2020, 09:42
Hello I was brought up that a days work for a days pay and cash in hand when the jobs done or the works be done for now,t I'm also getting clobbered for bank charges every time an electronic payment goes in, they dont pay I have their charges added to my account  which I dont think is fair  jezza
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: Aunt Sally on June 28, 2020, 11:29
Direct credit by BACS is very cheap.  Fast Payments are free. 

Have a look at this advice

https://gocardless.com/guides/posts/bacs-payments/

https://gocardless.com/guides/posts/faster-payments-explained/
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: jezza on June 28, 2020, 11:40
Hello FasterPayments aren't cheaper into my business account I'm getting charged for their bank putting in and my bank charges  as well  j,ezza
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: Aunt Sally on June 28, 2020, 11:48
Ah yes, business account.

Can’t you increase all your charges a little to accommodate the charge.  It would be a shame to loose customers because they don’t want to go to the cash machine in these dodgy virus days.
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: jezza on June 28, 2020, 12:29
Hello it doesn't matter if I lose this one I dont really want to work for them I work for their uncle I was helping them out after they made their head gardener redundant  last October, we dont get on as the guys wife is crackers she's ruined a beautiful garden by covering every bed and border 4 inches thick of Strulch mulch then complains that nothings growing  she also likes to do the Chelsea chop which in my eyes is a daft idea   jezza
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: Yorkie on June 28, 2020, 12:53
Contract law is not my strength!

But I agree with others' comments.  In these times where public health has come to the fore, they were within their rights to pay you electronically and, as they have changed the terms of your original contract and as a result your bank expenses have gone up, you'd be within your rights to therefore increase your prices to cover that extra cost.

But, cash in hand is suggestive of tax evasion (I am not saying that you are evading tax by payment in cash, just that it can look suspicious) and therefore it may also be that what is now clearly not such a temporary job, must be paid through what looks like more legitimate means and that would not raise any auditor's eyebrows.

Who knows?

Your choice is, as I see it, to see if you can negotiate increased costs, walk away, or continue with the arrangement as it currently is.
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: jezza on June 28, 2020, 13:59
Every penny I earn is declared and I dont have a contract with them I go mow round  the wild flower areas then leave  jezza
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: Yorkie on June 28, 2020, 14:17
Actually, despite being a freelance worker for them, you do have a contract with them, even if it's only a verbal one i.e. what you'd do, when you'd do it, how much they would pay you, when they would pay you, and how they would pay you.
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: jezza on June 28, 2020, 15:01
Hello that's got to be wrong  in my eyes a contract is written and signed i  have no such contract so therefore they are in the wrong  if they continue to be awkward I'm doubling the hourly rate and putting bank charges on top  jezza
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: John on June 28, 2020, 16:21
Hello that's got to be wrong  in my eyes a contract is written and signed i  have no such contract so therefore they are in the wrong  if they continue to be awkward I'm doubling the hourly rate and putting bank charges on top  jezza
A verbal contract is a contract but proving it and what was said is a lot more difficult than a written one. Still, you're not going to be engaging in court actions at the moment and even if they were working as normal, the costs are daunting.
With this sort of job, it's pretty reasonable for either party to terminate basically without notice. If I was you I'd tell them straight that if they really must pay electronically that it will increase your bank charges and admin time so you'll need to increase the rate if you're to carry on. Also, with things as they are and your increased costs you're going to have to increase your rate soon. Oh, and by the way, I'd appreciate you paying what you owe me.
I suspect they'll cave when they realise you don't need them.
Our business account (HSBC) costs a stupid amount of money to pay in a cheque or cash on top of a fixed monthly fee for the privilege of banking with them. On the business savings account we get paid £1 per £1000 from them. Woo, blinking, hoo!
PayPal manage to skim off around 45p on our book sales - it all mounts up but what else can we do? There are alternatives but basically they're the only game in town for us with our sort of low value sales.

Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: jezza on June 29, 2020, 07:53
Hello miy business account is only cash  cheque deposit  withdrawal account I found an excess charge charge after the first electronic transaction I queried this with the bank it's to cover the  setting up fees from the depositor s bank ,they have no charge they pay on faster pay to me then my banks charged for depositing it then my bank charge me  per deposit and an extortionate amount to take money out    jezza
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: mumofstig on June 29, 2020, 11:14
I'd try to find another bank that's more friendly to small businesses..
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: Growster... on June 29, 2020, 12:14
It's no small wonder that cash is still King, Mum, Covid or not!

Hang in there Jezza!
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: jezza on June 29, 2020, 19:00
Hello I've been out all day grass cutting every customers paid me cash it left in pre arranged areas so that I dont have any contact with anybody the last one on the list is 93    jezza
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: wighty on June 29, 2020, 20:29
In our shop we only accept cash, cheques or Bacs    payments.  We've enquired about machines before and the bank has told us we don't have a big enough turnover to make it 'WORTH THEIR WHILE' We never have any problems with customers paying in cash. 
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: Growster... on June 29, 2020, 20:29
We need people like you in Westminster, Jezza, you're wasted on real work!

Goferit!
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: John on June 30, 2020, 01:00
In our shop we only accept cash, cheques or Bacs    payments.  We've enquired about machines before and the bank has told us we don't have a big enough turnover to make it 'WORTH THEIR WHILE' We never have any problems with customers paying in cash.
Things are changing though - when I went to Norway 15 years ago I got some currency and my Norwegian pal laughed when I told him. I found out why: the taxi from the airport took a card, the market stall took a card, the pub took a card. They looked at cash as if it was something from history! Mind you, the taxi was £80 and a couple of rounds in the pub wasn't much less.. All the traders had card machines linked to their mobile phones.
Incidentally there are a number of merchant service providers who can handle card transactions for you, not just your bank. Even PayPal do something for card transactions linked to your mobile phone. I really must get a smart phone... :)
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: Growster... on June 30, 2020, 06:05
We use a local Waitrose, which has a Post Office counter.

I had to cash a small cheque recently, and apart from a bit of a palaver with C19 and not touching anything (or anyone), It went through with no charge, and appeared on our statement a day or so later described as 'Night Safe'.

Saved me a trip to Cranbrook too...

(And I bought some beer while I was up there, so I was well pleased)!
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: snowdrops on June 30, 2020, 08:11
They closed the branch of the bank we’re with, we used to have a business account but I don’t recall having to pay to deposit a cheque. I digress, now if I want to pay in a cheque I do so online by taking a photo via their app, front & back & within a couple of days receive a text to say it’s been approved & if the originators bank approves it tge money will be in my account in a few days. I deposited one in this manor on Saturday evening, & got the text yesterday . Far easier than going to the bank.
I’d check out other banks & types of accounts does it need to be a business account?
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: jezza on June 30, 2020, 16:02
Hello when I opened the account 25 years ago I was told that I had to have a business account as a personal account couldn't be used for business paying in , jezza   
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: jezza on June 30, 2020, 18:06
Hello  just had a call from the owner of the garden I work in begging me to go back,theres foing to be a cash payment at the end of the day,he's realised that the other workers can't cope with the grass cutting ,I did mention that its companies like his that
has put Great Britain into dooddoo street with electronic payments for every thing, now  just need him to buy mowers fit for purpose, have just opened a new account with Mr Crawford it's free banking same interest rate as other banks ,nowt and I can access it any time  jezza
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: Aunt Sally on June 30, 2020, 19:04
A good end to the story, jezza  :D
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: mumofstig on June 30, 2020, 19:12
Quote
opened a new account with Mr Crawford
Never heard of that one  :wacko:
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: jezza on June 30, 2020, 20:39
Hello Mr Crawfords bank is a biscuit tin in Yorkshire theres also Jacob's  biscuit tin  jezza
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: mumofstig on June 30, 2020, 21:51
Hello Mr Crawfords bank is a biscuit tin in Yorkshire theres also Jacob's  biscuit tin  jezza

 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: jezza on July 02, 2020, 09:50
Hello I've just got the list of jobs(17) to do tomorrow with the times for each job and a note that all the lawned areas have to be cut to a height not exceeding 3mm,they dont under stand that the mowers wont go lower than 10mm   jezza
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: Aunt Sally on July 02, 2020, 10:57
They probably mean 3cm, jezza.
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: John on July 02, 2020, 11:11
Hello I've just got the list of jobs(17) to do tomorrow with the times for each job and a note that all the lawned areas have to be cut to a height not exceeding 3mm,they dont under stand that the mowers wont go lower than 10mm   jezza
Gillette?  :D
Our grass is about 3 inches high but mowing in the rain doesn't work. It has to stop sometime.. doesn't it?
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: grinling on July 02, 2020, 13:50
any charges on your business account is an expense for tax purposes
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: JayG on July 02, 2020, 15:46
I digress, now if I want to pay in a cheque I do so online by taking a photo via their app, front & back & within a couple of days receive a text to say it’s been approved & if the originators bank approves it tge money will be in my account in a few days. I deposited one in this manor on Saturday evening, & got the text yesterday . Far easier than going to the bank.

Only 3 HSBC branches left in the whole of Sheffield, none near me, so having queued at my local Post Office earlier this week to pay in my Christmas cheque from my mother (bless her), I thought this was a Eureka moment...

...until I read the reviews about their app on Gurgle Play Store - guess which feature, in particular, seems not to work for most users?  ::)  :nowink:  :(
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: jezza on July 03, 2020, 06:39
Hello thanks for that info Grindling all the years I've done the tax return I didn't know the charges could be claimed for  ,as for using the post office I was told by the manageress that they didn't accept business cheques I said they're in an envelope how does she know,had to go to the nearest bank ,fortunately the manageress has changed so now they've list 7 cheques that were deposited in April they're in the post office system some where  hope they find them soon  jezza
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: jezza on July 05, 2020, 20:36
Hello I got paid in cash on Friday its all written down and deposited in Mr Crawfords bank,the local post office informed me yesterday that they have found my cheques that went missing in April apparently they'd been put on a shelf and other things put on top    jezza
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: Aunt Sally on July 05, 2020, 20:59
All good news then, Jezza  :D
Title: Re: Electronic payments
Post by: Blackpool rocket on July 05, 2020, 21:29
,the local post office informed me yesterday that they have found my cheques that went missing in April apparently they'd been put on a shelf and other things put on top    jezza

I would have thought that was criminal negligence, however, it's good you have it sorted.