"Sorry, we don't take cash." ... Is that legal???

I am so irritated.

Yesterday DH and I go the mall, to get gift cards for the four kids for Christmas. I had planned to write a check. We get to the mall office, and they have a hand-printed sign up on the door saying, "We no longer accept checks as payment for gift cards." Grrrrrr ... it's below zero, the wind is howling, the bank is closed. So, we go home.

Today, I go the the bank and get the cash out. I go back to the mall ... now it's below zero, the wind is howling, and it's snowing. I go in the office and tell the person working that I need four gift cards. She gets them all prepared ... after many false starts and confusion on her part. I hand her the money, and she says, "Sorry, we don't take cash." I laughed ... I really thought she was making a joke about the fact that they stuck the sign up about not taking checks. No, she was serious. They don't accept cash as payment for gift cards. So, unless you have a credit card, forget it. So, I ended up charging it after all, something I really didn't want to do.

Is that legal, not to take cash? I own a business, and I can see not taking checks or credit cards. But cash?? Does it not say on paper money bills, "legal tender for all debts public or private"?

I don't know if it's illegal but it certainly is stupid not to take cash! I can see not taking a check; you're essentially exchanging paper, although cash is paper but you get my meaning. Unless you pay your credit card balance in full, you will be paying interest on that gift card and that's just plain wrong! Could you have put it on your debit card? That way it comes directly out of your checking account. The whole thing is irritating to me and I'm only reading about it! I don't blame you for being upset!

The Mall office is not normally "selling" anything. They do not have anything in place to prevent theft -- either from someone walking in, OR theft by employees working there. Which is why it is being handled this way.

Frustrating perhaps, but good business judgment.

Hmmmm... that is very strange. I would think that would be considered "refusal to accept payment"

Hubby thinks its because they can't have sticky fingers on the part of employees.

What about the people who don't have credit cards? (Like myself) I thought EVERYWHERE took cash.

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Originally Posted by sumbirdy

What about the people who don't have credit cards? (Like myself) I thought EVERYWHERE took cash.

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I agree, I would have been screwed, I only pay with check, cash is second if they don't take check.

There is a store in my mall that only takes credit cards called lady's foot locker. I was shocked when they told me that, I have never gone back in that store two years later.

I was under the impression that refusing cash, otherwise known as legal tender, was illegal for a private business. It appears I was wrong.

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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.

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Source.

ETA: Be wary of paying with 2 dollar bills. Link.

Not taking cash has actually made it to the federal court system at least once that I can remember, and one of the US District Courts of Appeal ruled that it's not legal.

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Originally Posted by Freedom

The Mall office is not normally "selling" anything. They do not have anything in place to prevent theft -- either from someone walking in, OR theft by employees working there. Which is why it is being handled this way.

Frustrating perhaps, but good business judgment.

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This was the Mall office policy at the mall where I worked in Findlay, too. No cash - they aren't set up for it like a business is.

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She gets them all prepared ... after many false starts and confusion on her part.

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Not sure I'd want my cold hard cash in THOSE hands! ;):D

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Originally Posted by cyber-sibes

This was the Mall office policy at the mall where I worked in Findlay, too. No cash - they aren't set up for it like a business is.

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Well, they should be when they know people are going to be buying gift cards.

Costco does not take cash for gas, you need one of their cc or a debt card. You pay at the pump, the attendent does not handle any cash.

I use my debit card for everything. Much easier.

I can understand the "pay at the pump" thing for gas, it prevents drive-offs. I can also understand the "no big bills" policy, especially for small businesses. But I was handing the exact amount of money to the mall manager in person.

I agree that the mall office should be set up to handle cash. They sell gift cards all year long, and I'm sure they sell thousands of them at Christmas. Buy a safe, and have the manager put the money it in. Seems pretty simple to me. I own a small business, and I manage to keep my money safe.

If I wouldn't have had a credit card handy, they would have lost a lot money, because I would have had to walk out and go somewhere else. We don't have a debit card ... DH is horrible at managing money, and there is no way he could be trusted to handle a debit card. He's not allowed access to the check book, either.

You have to remember that they CC companies make money on CC transaction. And the 'loss prevention' thing is true, you can trace a GC to a CC transaction.s

Yes, they can deny taking cash. Credit Cards end up getting paid with cash or checks, and a check is drawing cash you deposited in your bank account out.

It is also probably a matter of insurance - you need a certain amount any type of insurance if you are having people handle cash.

This is the first time I've ever heard of this. I always pay with cash, faster and easier. I use a credit card only for big ticket items so I don't have to carry that much cash on me. Imagine putting a few carsds on a credit card...hmmm...

I'm a cash person myself. I hate waiting in line while the person in front of me pays with a credit card or a check. For some reason peope think its faster. Just be sure your mall isn't in danger of going out of business soon. Our local mall might go but they are still allowed to sell gift cards up to the day they close. There are a lot of malls in the US at risk right now.

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Originally Posted by IRescue452

Just be sure your mall isn't in danger of going out of business soon. Our local mall might go but they are still allowed to sell gift cards up to the day they close. There are a lot of malls in the US at risk right now.

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Oh, believe me, the kids will be at the mall on the 26th, and that will be the end of the gift cards!