[IamZeke]

So my dad is in the hospital and I am staying at his place until he gets better. The water bill comes in the mail and it says "no cash payments"? wtf?

There is an online payment option which I will do, but not being able to pay in cash just seems weird. What if someone doesn't have a checking account or internet? How can a utility company not take cash payments?

On a side note the bill was for $96.46, the actual water use was $6.63, then there was $20 for trash, $4.75 for city waste service. The rest is just fees, like $15.99 for low waste water flow. That is one that gets me, because you don't use much water, you get charged. Even when he is not here, he still has pretty much the same bill.

Am I crazy for being upset that this is the new normal?

Sounds like the decades old normal to me, other than the amount.

Would you rather get a bunch of different bills from the city every month? It costs money to pick up garbage, build separate storm drainage, deal with sewage, manage the city dumps and recycling centers, etc.

I suppose they could roll it into your property taxes but that is always a voter 3rd rail political thing. I don't approve of a lot of things my city spends money on but I don't have a problem with them providing drainage, sewage, clean water, and trash pickup and then charging me for it as long as they are being efficient with those funds for those jobs.

As for the city not taking cash I believe that most chain grocery stores will let you pay most of your municipal and utility bills at the courtesy booth. They have no trouble taking cash. I've paid a lot of my city bills for decades that way. No need to mail anything, no need to put your info out over the phone or online, no need to go downtown, and I'm already going to the grocery store regularly anyway. I like paying my bills at the grocery store.

 

[ih8ppl]

The walmart in my area has a cash to "bill pay" service for those without checking accounts.

On the other hand, who 'doesn't' have a bank account these days? How else do you deposit your "income" check? Maybe just cash it and carry around a wallet full of 100s?

Are you kidding? I do not have a bank account. What good is your money in the bank if the SHTF?

 

[IamZeke]

Are you kidding? I do not have a bank account. What good is your money in the bank if the SHTF?

Then you have to work for yourself off the books or some very small outfit because almost all companies pay by direct deposit these days. The government is also about to stop mailing government checks for disability, welfare, social security, employment, or tax refunds. The federal government has been trying to go checkless for a long time now. They will tell you if you want your money then you will have to provide them with an account number. Also, as a business owner operating legally you need a bank account for your quarterly tax payments.

 

[Lagnar]

Illegal aliens. They get paid in cash, they pay in cash. My lizardoid ex-brother-in-law was that type of employer. Home builder in Littleton, Colorado. The "underground economy" is getting bigger and bigger, the more illegals we let in.

That was essentially my point without saying it.

 

[Lagnar]

Many working poor do.

Do I have to define "many" to you?

I also have had a bank account since I was 15.
So?


I personally know 2 people without bank accounts. One works for Bed Bath and Beyond, the other is a contract used car salesman who also does auto body work. (small place, commission type job)

Your first reply confuses me. Are you saying working poor do or do not have checking accounts?

And my post was about why should it matter whether you are rich or poor? If you want to function financially in today's society there are certain things you ought to do to make life easier. Having a checking account is one of them.

Don't want to? Fine. Just don't complain about the inconvenience of paying bills in cash.

I really don't care what people do with their money.

 

[ExArmy]

Sounds like a tax. Deduct it from your 1040.....


Just looked on my $10 bill. Still says: "This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private" .

Exactly! I would even be nice and not pay in pennies :

 

[ExArmy]

What state is that in?

California, I left the state years ago, now that he is retiring he is doing the same. He already has a house in a another state with a few acres and a well, so no more water bills once this house is sold.

 

[cujet]

Back to the water bill.

Those monthly fees are taxes. The infrastructure was, in most cases, long since paid for. Often via bonds, and via the construction firms that build neighborhoods.

During times of water restrictions, to cover lack of income, fees often increase. Interestingly, during such times, there are often new consumers coming online, so total water volume may not be much different!

 

[Hazeleyes]

I pay all my bills with my bank card except the water company.I pay them in cash,check or money order.That is how they take payments.Just last year they put in new meters so we don't have to read our meters anymore.

 

[Tackleberry41]

Lots of places wont do cash anymore. For some its an open invitation to skim from the till. Its also an invitation to be robbed. Most apartment complexes wont take it, bad guys would know that on the 1st of the month they would have a good pile of cash to take. And if a place takes cash, they also have to provide change, it has to be counted at the end of the day, kept locked up.

Or they can say check or money order only, no change required, less security required, your employees cant skim, the book keeping is easier.

Its also a way they can tack on a few fees. My ex is bad about paying bills on time. If you pay on time at her apartment they take a check, one day late, well now they require a money order, 2 actually. One for the rent another for the penalty.

 

[derivativegal]

My town sold their water business to United Water, a foreign corporation. Nice to know my life depends on foreigners. And no, we can't build a well; we are a next to contaminated former Exxon oil property. Oh, yeah, my governor just settled that lawsuit for less than pennies on the dollar.

Some toll roads are owned by foreign companies too. We don't even handle all our own infrastructure anymore!

 

[gungatim]

I don't get the no cash accepted thing either. I don't see how that can be legal.

Went to Home Depot a couple years ago, their computers were down and they were writing down people's CC# and handwriting receipts. told customers they would run the transactions later and send out the actual receipt. I said no thanks, I've got cash. They flat out refused to accept it. Said this was the only way.

 

[Goodwrench708]

I have to agree with a lot of posters here.... a lot of service businesses are not set up for cash payments. So if you dont have a bank account..get a money order...have someone else who has a bank account pay it for you...or..get a bank account.

Hard to imagine someone without a bank account...especially if you have a job or drawing some sort of pension...etc.. Cause most employers dont issue actual PAY CHECKS anymore...they use direct deposit. But i guess if you work for some Mom and Pop business...or you work for cash ( standing at entrance to Home Depot parking lot ) ...then you might get by without a checking account.

 

[papabob56]

They did the no cash accepted where I used to live and their attitude in the utility office teed me off.

So after that, everytime I wrote a check for the monthly water bill, I'd overpay it by some random amount from 1cent to 99 cents.

Just gave me a cheap chuckle that they had to go through a few extra steps to tally my bill each month.

 

[LeftCoast Grower]

I have two employees who receive their paycheck via cash.

One has an ex with an axe to grind, ready to sue/take/steal $$ every time she smells an opportunity.
Divorced for many years, and no kids involved.

The other has a spouse who can't see a checking account /checks/ATM card just sit there with no one using them.
And use them he did...

In both cases, the folks are born here but live in a cash only world.
They also lack a spine with relationships, but that's another story.

 

[juskom95]

Illegal aliens. They get paid in cash, they pay in cash. My lizardoid ex-brother-in-law was that type of employer. Home builder in Littleton, Colorado. The "underground economy" is getting bigger and bigger, the more illegals we let in.

Illegals are not the only reason the 'underground economy' is getting bigger. Some simply cannot support themselves AND pay the increasing taxes.

 

[juskom95]

Then you have to work for yourself off the books or some very small outfit because almost all companies pay by direct deposit these days. The government is also about to stop mailing government checks for disability, welfare, social security, employment, or tax refunds. The federal government has been trying to go checkless for a long time now. They will tell you if you want your money then you will have to provide them with an account number. Also, as a business owner operating legally you need a bank account for your quarterly tax payments.

My last three employers would send me a check if I asked them too. I just cash that, no need for a bank account. :thumb:

 

[usmc0331]

It's for convenience and they city can't trust their employees not to skim cash.

^^^^This^^^

 

[IamZeke]

My last three employers would send me a check if I asked them too. I just cash that, no need for a bank account. :thumb:

Yes, some employers will do that, but the number that do shrink every day. Big companies and government are almost all going that route now. Smaller companies are finding that banks will offer them a complete service to manage payroll for them at a price less than keeping a dedicated payroll employee on staff.

Back to the water bill.

Those monthly fees are taxes. The infrastructure was, in most cases, long since paid for. Often via bonds, and via the construction firms that build neighborhoods.

During times of water restrictions, to cover lack of income, fees often increase. Interestingly, during such times, there are often new consumers coming online, so total water volume may not be much different!

What you say is mostly true but remember that infrastructure is not eternal. It requires maintenance and replacement to keep running properly. My city will have several thousand water main breaks per month in the summer as the ground heaves in the heat.

 

[neo71665]

The walmart in my area has a cash to "bill pay" service for those without checking accounts.

On the other hand, who 'doesn't' have a bank account these days? How else do you deposit your "income" check? Maybe just cash it and carry around a wallet full of 100s?

I don't have a checking account. I also don't have a credit card.

If I need to pay for something I tend to use 20s but have had a wallet full of 100s on larger purchases.