Not accepting cash ... Legal?

[FerrariEnzo]

Im fine with no Cash shops.. I dont usually carry around cash anyways... I use Google Pay wherever I can and its handy. As soon as they make IDs digital, Im gona switch... I hate carrying out cards and cash.. the less I can carry around the better.

[TOS'd]

I've been to that location prior to a Whitecaps game. Saw the no cash sign, which was fine. Restaurant was quite busy, but I managed to get a table. Overheard the table next to me asking for the bill, and they informed them that their card machine was down, so they would have to wait. They asked if it was ready multiple times, sat there for as long as it took me to order, get my meal, and eat. Seemed like no one else was asking for the bill during that time. Anyways the guy on the table next to me got fed up as he was going to the game as well and wanted to take his kid early. He said he would just give them cash since he doesn't want to not pay for his meal, they were quite hesitant but said okay although he won't get any change because they have no money on hand, lol. I end up finishing my meal, paying my bill in cash and leaving. Told the giant line up outside that they are card only, but their machine is down, so if you pay cash, you won't get change. 10/10 experience.

[Great68]

Originally Posted by SkinnyPupp

VVV

That makes sense to me where payment of a good or service is made up front.

I think in restaurant setting where the debt is paid after the service, I think it becomes more a grey area.

[Mr.HappySilp]

I always use cash whenever I can. Is a way to control my spending. With credit card is way too easy to overspend. With cash if you don't have enough you can't buy. With credit card even if you can't afford something as long as your credit card isn't overlimit isn't reach.

Also a lot of the places I go to take cash only (Crystal mall, bubble tea place, different bakery etc etc...)

[JqC]

Originally Posted by Mr.HappySilp

I always use cash whenever I can. Is a way to control my spending. With credit card is way too easy to overspend. With cash if you don't have enough you can't buy. With credit card even if you can't afford something as long as your credit card isn't overlimit isn't reach.

Also a lot of the places I go to take cash only (Crystal mall, bubble tea place, different bakery etc etc...)

I'm the exact opposite. I avoid cash whenever I can. My credit cards each give me 2% back on purchases, 3% back at restaurants. The businesses I'm spending at are making money off of me already so I don't feel bad at all about the merchant fees. Tapping and NFC makes credit cards so much easier than cash nowadays. Apps and real-time notifications help keep tabs on your balances too. There really is no reason to 'overspend', unless you're really lazy/irresponsible.

Proud to say I've almost never carried a balance on my credit cards. Usually paid off in full within 2-3 weeks. Cash back with zero interest charges ftw.

[yray]

Originally Posted by TOS'd

I've been to that location prior to a Whitecaps game. Saw the no cash sign, which was fine. Restaurant was quite busy, but I managed to get a table. Overheard the table next to me asking for the bill, and they informed them that their card machine was down, so they would have to wait. They asked if it was ready multiple times, sat there for as long as it took me to order, get my meal, and eat. Seemed like no one else was asking for the bill during that time. Anyways the guy on the table next to me got fed up as he was going to the game as well and wanted to take his kid early. He said he would just give them cash since he doesn't want to not pay for his meal, they were quite hesitant but said okay although he won't get any change because they have no money on hand, lol. I end up finishing my meal, paying my bill in cash and leaving. Told the giant line up outside that they are card only, but their machine is down, so if you pay cash, you won't get change. 10/10 experience.

you got tos'd

[radioman]

Originally Posted by TOS'd

I've been to that location prior to a Whitecaps game. Saw the no cash sign, which was fine. Restaurant was quite busy, but I managed to get a table. Overheard the table next to me asking for the bill, and they informed them that their card machine was down, so they would have to wait. They asked if it was ready multiple times, sat there for as long as it took me to order, get my meal, and eat. Seemed like no one else was asking for the bill during that time. Anyways the guy on the table next to me got fed up as he was going to the game as well and wanted to take his kid early. He said he would just give them cash since he doesn't want to not pay for his meal, they were quite hesitant but said okay although he won't get any change because they have no money on hand, lol. I end up finishing my meal, paying my bill in cash and leaving. Told the giant line up outside that they are card only, but their machine is down, so if you pay cash, you won't get change. 10/10 experience.

I had lunch at Marutama the other day and their machine was down. They simply asked me to wait a few minutes and once they realized it was taking to long said I could go without payment. They did not even ask for cash.

Thought it was great service and I'll gladly go back again.

[Ch28]

Originally Posted by Great68

I've seen this debate about this restaurant before.

The flip side of the argument is that it's illegal to refuse legal tender to settle a debt. Cash is legal tender, a restaurant bill is a debt, therefore they can't legally refuse it.

I don't know which argument would stand up in court.

Yeah, no.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...cash-1.4428655

[Manic!]

Originally Posted by SkinnyPupp

I'd probably tip $1 or $2... it's ramen man, there shouldn't be a tip at all! If that leaves me with $3.60 then that's still $3.60 towards the next bowl

Who cares what the food is you are tipping for the service. Sometimes you just don't want to be bothered with change.

Credit and debit networks are not reliable enough yet for restaurants to not accept cash.

[SkinnyPupp]

Originally Posted by Manic!

Who cares what the food is you are tipping for the service. Sometimes you just don't want to be bothered with change.

Credit and debit networks are not reliable enough yet for restaurants to not accept cash.

I wish I had so much money I could throw away $5 at a time simply because I "don't want to be bothered" with it.. Unfortunately, I have to care about things like that

[Ch28]

Originally Posted by TOS'd

I've been to that location prior to a Whitecaps game. Saw the no cash sign, which was fine. Restaurant was quite busy, but I managed to get a table. Overheard the table next to me asking for the bill, and they informed them that their card machine was down, so they would have to wait. They asked if it was ready multiple times, sat there for as long as it took me to order, get my meal, and eat. Seemed like no one else was asking for the bill during that time. Anyways the guy on the table next to me got fed up as he was going to the game as well and wanted to take his kid early. He said he would just give them cash since he doesn't want to not pay for his meal, they were quite hesitant but said okay although he won't get any change because they have no money on hand, lol. I end up finishing my meal, paying my bill in cash and leaving. Told the giant line up outside that they are card only, but their machine is down, so if you pay cash, you won't get change. 10/10 experience.

That's so fucking sketchy.

Imagine it's a busy Friday evening and it's a packed house. Machine miraculously goes down so they force people to pay cash with no change cause "they have no cash on hand". They'd make a fucking killing doing this every few days/weeks

[Great68]

Originally Posted by Ch28

Yeah, no.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...cash-1.4428655

Yeah no what?



You sit down, they serve you, they give you a bill.
In a restaurant setting at what point was there an agreement to type of payment made?
You say you will pay cash. What are they going to do about it?

[Ch28]

Originally Posted by Great68

Yeah no what?



You sit down, they serve you, they give you a bill.
In a restaurant setting at what point was there an agreement to type of payment made?
You say you will pay cash. What are they going to do about it?

Uh......




"Even though it is legal currency, the Bank of Canada says it is not mandatory for Canadian businesses to accept cash."

[fliptuner]

Originally Posted by radioman

I had lunch at Marutama the other day and their machine was down. They simply asked me to wait a few minutes and once they realized it was taking to long said I could go without payment. They did not even ask for cash.

Thought it was great service and I'll gladly go back again.

If all else fails, you can always slip on a grape.

[Great68]

Originally Posted by Ch28

Uh......




"Even though it is legal currency, the Bank of Canada says it is not mandatory for Canadian businesses to accept cash."

The sign really means nothing. Like I said, if you sit down and they serve you, then hand you a bill at the end of the night and you say "I only have cash" what are they going to do?

Call the cops?

How is that going to go?:

Restaurant: "I'd like to report a theft!"
Cop: "Did someone dine and dash?"
Restaurant: "No"
Cop: "Someone is refusing to pay?"
Restaurant: "No"
Cop: "No? so what's the problem"
Restaurant: "They say they're only paying in cash!"
Cop: "So the customer wants to pay?"
Restaurant: "Uhhh yeah, but we don't take cash!"
Cop: "So they want to pay, but you won't accept it?"
Restaurant: "Yeah"
Cop: "FML"

But if a restaurant wants customers to pay up front for the meal/service but don't accept cash, I agree that's perfectly legal. No services rendered, no debt incurred.

[SkinnyPupp]

Originally Posted by Great68

The sign really means nothing. Like I said, if you sit down and they serve you, then hand you a bill at the end of the night and you say "I only have cash" what are they going to do?

Call the cops?

How is that going to go?:

Restaurant: "I'd like to report a theft!"
Cop: "Did someone dine and dash?"
Restaurant: "No"
Cop: "Someone is refusing to pay?"
Restaurant: "No"
Cop: "No? so what's the problem"
Restaurant: "They say they're only paying in cash!"
Cop: "So the customer wants to pay?"
Restaurant: "Uhhh yeah, but we don't take cash!"
Cop: "So they want to pay, but you won't accept it?"
Restaurant: "Yeah"
Cop: "FML"

But if a restaurant wants customers to pay up front for the meal/service but don't accept cash, I agree that's perfectly legal. No services rendered, no debt incurred.

I think you missed the part of a cash transaction being an agreement between two parties to accept a transaction.

If you offer someone something and they don't want it, but they provided a service to you, you're still on the hook for that service. You can either negotiate and see if they'll take your cash, or in your scenario, call the cops on them and have them assist the situation.

In your scenario, you walked in there, saw the sign, saw that they don't want the thing you are offering them, and chose to ignore it. You're on the hook still.

[Great68]

All I'm saying is that I'd like to see some actual precedent on that scenario.

[SkinnyPupp]

Originally Posted by Great68

All I'm saying is that I'd like to see some actual precedent on that scenario.

Try it and report back

If they wanted to go by the legal books, my assumption is that they could take you to small claims court and make you pay notarized cash or bank draft, along with their court fees (and the notary fee/bank draft fee)

More likely they would just take your cash and not welcome you again if you wanted to go back. Or you would give up and use your credit card or debit card.

[TOS'd]

Originally Posted by yray

you got tos'd

Wow. Changed to 1/10 experience now.

Originally Posted by radioman

I had lunch at Marutama the other day and their machine was down. They simply asked me to wait a few minutes and once they realized it was taking to long said I could go without payment. They did not even ask for cash.

Thought it was great service and I'll gladly go back again.

Wow that's pretty nice of them given the situation. The table next to me really forced the cash on the waiter as he didn't want to make it seem like he was going to dine and dash. I'm sure if I waited around a bit more or made a fuss, they would have let me go without paying as well. At least for me, the bill for two people plus tip was pretty close to whole bills so I didn't need any change.

Originally Posted by Ch28

That's so fucking sketchy.

Imagine it's a busy Friday evening and it's a packed house. Machine miraculously goes down so they force people to pay cash with no change cause "they have no cash on hand". They'd make a fucking killing doing this every few days/weeks

That does sound sketch, but based on radioman's experience, it seems like they are willing to take the loss due to the inconvenience of their chosen payment method going down.

On a side note, Marutama.
They need more locations Canada-wide.
Also, don't go to the Gaiden location on Main Street. The menu is not the same, and it's their fusion/pop-up kind of restaurant. Was disappointed when I went and found out after I was craving their signature ramen.

[Great68]

Originally Posted by SkinnyPupp

Try it and report back

If they wanted to go by the legal books, my assumption is that they could take you to small claims court and make you pay notarized cash or bank draft, along with their court fees (and the notary fee/bank draft fee)

More likely they would just take your cash and not welcome you again if you wanted to go back. Or you would give up and use your credit card or debit card.

I don't really give a shit about ramen or shitty little restaurants like that so I'd never be in that situation

[Nlkko]

Originally Posted by Mr.HappySilp

I always use cash whenever I can. Is a way to control my spending. With credit card is way too easy to overspend. With cash if you don't have enough you can't buy. With credit card even if you can't afford something as long as your credit card isn't overlimit isn't reach.

Also a lot of the places I go to take cash only (Crystal mall, bubble tea place, different bakery etc etc...)

You're doing it wrong if you lack so much self-control that you have to rely on the physical inconvenience of cash to control your spending habit.

Any half decent credit cards give somewhere between 1% to 2% cashback on all category. 1% on what you spend. That's huge.

[SkinnyPupp]

Originally Posted by Great68

I don't really give a shit about ramen or shitty little restaurants like that so I'd never be in that situation

Why are you making a big deal out of it then

Ramen, OK it's down to personal taste but in my experience, a lot of the time it's the "shitty little restaurants" that have the best food of all

[twitchyzero]

cash only = must be a front/skimping taxes
cards only = WTF my legal rights?!

it's on the fucking door when you enter so you can vote with your wallet, bunch of other restaurants within a two block radius that are more than willing to take your cash

[Mr.HappySilp]

Originally Posted by Nlkko

You're doing it wrong if you lack so much self-control that you have to rely on the physical inconvenience of cash to control your spending habit.

Any half decent credit cards give somewhere between 1% to 2% cashback on all category. 1% on what you spend. That's huge.

Yea ok try going to crystal mall and get some grocery and give the cashier your credit card. Or go to their food and pay with credit card. Heck even a ton of bubble tea place only accept cash.

Is been proven that people are far more likely to over spend if they use credit card vs cash. Maybe try to do your research. Is not about people lacking self control is about the big companies trying to get you to spend more/rag the system to be in their favor. Why do you think credit card company give you so much incentives to use their products and why retail stores loves it when you use your credit card even though they have to pay a % transcration fees? They aren't dumb lol.

Is happens more common than you think lol. Happens to most people when they go grocery shopping. Oh that's on sale, I still have some of that at home but let's get it anyways, let's try these new snacks...... then you get a big bill that went over your budget and since you can pay with your credit card you just get them anyways vs if you only have cash to get what you need then you are more less likely to get anything that you don't need.

[Manic!]

Gym in Nanaimo. It's a large us chain.