6 ms·

Any establishment where you pay after you receive goods or services (post-pay gas stations, restaurants, etc) must accept cash by federal law. If you are paying

• superkuh 8y ago
  At my brother's wedding last year he had a food truck come in that would not even acknowledge your existence unless you used your credit card to enter your order in the computer terminal on the outside of the truck. There are definitely ways to get around the current 'must accept cash for debts' laws being widely exploited now.
• SilasX 8y ago
  That's what I've heard too, but the Federal Reserve site's statement doesn't make that distinction: https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12772.htm https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12772.htm
  • paulgb 8y ago
    It seems to be the same distinction to me, just worded differently. i.e. legal tender is valid for settling debts, such as the debt you have after eating a meal in a restaurant or filling your vehicle, whereas in the process of grocery shopping you do not incur and later settle a debt.
    • SilasX 8y ago
      Right, but it says specifically that businesses don't have to accept cash, no exception for "once the service is rendered" or whatnot.
      • paulgb 8y ago
        Ah, I see what you mean.
• Simulacra 8y ago
  Do post-pay gas stations still exist?
  • sverige 8y ago
    Yes, but they're generally in rural areas where people know each other.
    • taborj 8y ago
      Or, ya know...the entire state of Oregon.
      • mnm1 8y ago
        And New Jersey.
  • superkuh 8y ago
    Yup. They're the standard in Minnesota/Wisconsin as far as I can tell. I always get a little upset when I encounter a pre-pay gas station in other parts of the country. It's offensive.
  • hondadriver 8y ago
    Yes, in most of Europe at least. We've three ways of paying I know of: 1. Fill at the pump, go inside (or sometimes to an outside payment booth) and pay with cash or card. Almost all manned stations offer this way of paying. 2. Start a transaction at the pump with a card. A large enough amount to fill a large car is reserved on the card. After filling up, the real (lower) amount is confirmed and written off. (deferred sale). This is used at most unmanned stations. Also manned stations sometimes offer to pay at the pump this way, next to option 1. 3. You pay an amount up-front, at the pump with cash or card. Tricky part is you have to guess how much fuel you'll need, because there will be no refund if you use less. I've only encountered these pre-paid-only ones at some unmanned stations on the east coast of Italy.
  • classichasclass 8y ago
    Many in Australia, particularly rural areas.