5 ms·

> Already there are a (small) number of modern restaurants that don't accept cash in my area. Is that even legal?

vkou 4y ago
Yes, if they are pay up front establishments.
woodruffw 4y ago
It isn't in NYC[1]. We have some local businesses that ignore the law, and are (supposedly) being fined daily for continuing to violate it[2]. I'm not sure if the city has managed to collect yet. [1]: https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3763665&GUID=7800AFC9-D8B1-41FD-9C31-172565712686 https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3... [2]: https://nypost.com/2021/12/04/nyc-businesses-told-to-pay-up-after-not-accepting-cash/ https://nypost.com/2021/12/04/nyc-businesses-told-to-pay-up-...
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
naet 4y ago
It must be in my area, and it seems to be legal at the federal level in the USA. "There is no federal statute mandating that a private business, a person, or an organization must accept currency or coins as payment for goods or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether to accept cash unless there is a state law that says otherwise." https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12772.htm https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12772.htm It may be illegal to refuse cash as payment for an existing debt but businesses are free to choose how (and with whom) they conduct business, including which forms of payment they accept.
- kQq9oHeAz6wLLS 4y ago
  Interesting, thank you
- daniel-cussen 4y ago
  Well a restaurant bill is in some sense a debt for the food that was already provided.
  - hunter2_ 4y ago
    For sure, and I think even a cashless restaurant would take cash rather than let you leave for free. Presumably the ones truly refusing cash are the type that take payment before you incur any food debt.
    - ghaff 4y ago
      Probably. Although they may not really be setup to handle it and presumably can’t make change.
  - function_seven 4y ago
    I'd love to see what happens if I eat a meal, then say, "Sorry, I only have cash." They can be mad about it, but I don't think I'm breaking any laws by not having their preferred payment method to pay that debt, right? They can even ban me from the restaurant but—for that meal—I can't get charged with theft of services (or whatever the innkeeper laws are that relate to this situation)
    - showerst 4y ago
      The ones I’ve seen that don’t take cash are fast food where you don’t get your meal until after paying. Sweetgreen, for example.
    - Mountain_Skies 4y ago
      Might depend on if there was clear notification before ordering your meal that they don't accept cash. In that case, you've incurred a debt that you knew you would be unable to pay. That might be some sort of fraud but it probably varies by jurisdiction.
      - Eisenstein 4y ago
- AngryData 4y ago
  That only really applies if you pay before eating. If you eat before paying, that is an outstanding debt, and they have to take cash to settle it.
kube-system 4y ago
Broadly speaking, doing business on the internet doesn’t have a separate set of laws. Many online retailers don’t accept cash.
- daniel-cussen 4y ago
  Some do. Some you can go in person to pay for the good to be delivered online. Then, some (mullvad) you can mail cash. Don't, in America, they steal it. But you can.
deleted 4y ago
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thehappypm 4y ago
Its illegal in Massachusetts
- ghaff 4y ago
  And yet there are restaurants that do it anyway.

vkou 4y ago

Yes, if they are pay up front establishments.

It isn't in NYC[1]. We have some local businesses that ignore the law, and are (supposedly) being fined daily for continuing to violate it[2]. I'm not sure if the city has managed to collect yet. [1]: https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3763665&GUID=7800AFC9-D8B1-41FD-9C31-172565712686 https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3... [2]: https://nypost.com/2021/12/04/nyc-businesses-told-to-pay-up-after-not-accepting-cash/ https://nypost.com/2021/12/04/nyc-businesses-told-to-pay-up-...

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

naet 4y ago

It must be in my area, and it seems to be legal at the federal level in the USA. "There is no federal statute mandating that a private business, a person, or an organization must accept currency or coins as payment for goods or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether to accept cash unless there is a state law that says otherwise." https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12772.htm https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12772.htm It may be illegal to refuse cash as payment for an existing debt but businesses are free to choose how (and with whom) they conduct business, including which forms of payment they accept.

kQq9oHeAz6wLLS 4y ago
Interesting, thank you
daniel-cussen 4y ago
Well a restaurant bill is in some sense a debt for the food that was already provided.
- hunter2_ 4y ago
  For sure, and I think even a cashless restaurant would take cash rather than let you leave for free. Presumably the ones truly refusing cash are the type that take payment before you incur any food debt.
  - ghaff 4y ago
    Probably. Although they may not really be setup to handle it and presumably can’t make change.
- function_seven 4y ago
  I'd love to see what happens if I eat a meal, then say, "Sorry, I only have cash." They can be mad about it, but I don't think I'm breaking any laws by not having their preferred payment method to pay that debt, right? They can even ban me from the restaurant but—for that meal—I can't get charged with theft of services (or whatever the innkeeper laws are that relate to this situation)
  - showerst 4y ago
    The ones I’ve seen that don’t take cash are fast food where you don’t get your meal until after paying. Sweetgreen, for example.
  - Mountain_Skies 4y ago
    Might depend on if there was clear notification before ordering your meal that they don't accept cash. In that case, you've incurred a debt that you knew you would be unable to pay. That might be some sort of fraud but it probably varies by jurisdiction.
    - Eisenstein 4y ago
AngryData 4y ago
That only really applies if you pay before eating. If you eat before paying, that is an outstanding debt, and they have to take cash to settle it.

kube-system 4y ago

Broadly speaking, doing business on the internet doesn’t have a separate set of laws. Many online retailers don’t accept cash.

daniel-cussen 4y ago
Some do. Some you can go in person to pay for the good to be delivered online. Then, some (mullvad) you can mail cash. Don't, in America, they steal it. But you can.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

thehappypm 4y ago

Its illegal in Massachusetts

ghaff 4y ago
And yet there are restaurants that do it anyway.