Curiousity with a purpose... how do you pay your farrier?

[dozzie]

Cash/cheque.

 

[ester]

cheque, we leave it on the yard so wouldnt really want to leave cash about.

I also know where this has caused issues in the past, re was the money ever there, who took it etc etc

 

[magic14339]

if i am leaving payment at yard for farrier I tend to leave a cheque made out to him as I think this is better than leaving cash around anywhere. out of choice I would pay by cash though as like you say it does make it a bit cheaper!

 

[TequilaMist]

cash or cheque.
Mind you do like paying some things esp livery by cheque as see it as visible proof if needed to prove payment.

 

[Milliepony]

I always pay the farrier with cash...

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Cheque.

 

[PapaFrita]

Cash. It's always been cash

 

[marmalade76]

Cash.

I don't know what we would do if they got rid of cheques. My OH is self employed and he is usually paid by cheque, occasionally with cash. I write out bills for over a grand sometimes, you wouldn't expect those to be paid in cash.

 

[Blue-bear]

My farrier has a card machine thingy, much easier

 

[Rouletterose]

Always pay for everything horsey with cash. Hate cheque books, never know when the moneys going out, some people don't bank them for maybe 2 months we found in the past.So I know when I've paid cash the moneys gone out and it's done, we also pay for very little household bills by DD as I hate the way companies can just take what they want from MY account, eg mobile phones!!

 

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

In kind..............



JOKE!!
Cash

 

[spookypony]

cash or cheque, depending on what's handy at the time. I do use cheques a fair amount to pay people that don't have card machines on hand.

 

[251libby]

I always pay in cash... even when I'm not there I leave it in a secret place in my stable

I hate cheques!

 

[_HP_]

The only option my farrier gives me is 'cash or couch'

 

[Nina76]

Cheque, for 2 reasons

1. I have to leave payment with YO/YM/general staff in advance, as I am always working when he comes.
2. There are 2 farriers that do our yard so by making the cheque out to a specific one, I know I'll get the best! Otherwise if its a busy day, horses get shunted off to the other (IMHO) less experienced and not as careful one!

 

[a_e_d]

My farrier invoices the yard and then the cost is included in my livery bill (I am on full livery).
I pay my livery by cheque as they don't accept cards, and it's easier than going into the bank to get cash out (they dont accept BACS transfers either!!).

 

[BeckyD]

[ QUOTE ]
Cash because if we pay by cheque they add VAT on

[/ QUOTE ]

Naughty! (farrier, not you!) Ask for a discount - if they're not putting it through their books, they're not paying tax on it therefore you should get some money off

 

[Ellies_mum2]

Cash

 

[Annagain]

Always cheque and I pay by cheque for livery bills, entries for competitions and anything like horse dentist etc. I don't know how i'll manage without cheques. I can't se them going completely, maybe for businesses but not for individuals.

 

[Lanky Loll]

Thanks for all the replies folks - I hope this change doesn't go through to quickly for some of the reasons on here but especially:
- Increased risk of theft with cash only transactions (plus more headaches courtesy of the tax man - we've already had to justify the amount we take in cash

)
- Training Dad to use some technology may take some time, we did actually discuss a card machine a couple of months ago and quickly came to the decision of dad + electronics = BAD IDEA but I think he may just have to learn.

Just hope the banks realise what a difference this will make for small businesses and the costs the businesses will incur and not focus on the extra money they make out of BACs vs cheque payments.

 

[Dubsie]

Farrier is coming for first visit today - and he's getting cash as they're not shod currently, so not expecting a big bill.

With regard to chip and pin machine, they're not as user unfriendly as you might think. These days all you have to do is pop the card in the slot the right way up (client can do this) then enter the ££amount, hand machine to client ask them to check it's correct, press enter and ask them to put the pin in. It then tells you to press enter again and prints 2 copies of the receipt, one is marked merchant copy one is marked customer copy so he can hardly go wrong - all the instructions appear on the screen.
Then all he has to do when he gets home is 'bank' the payments. This involves pressing a few function buttons and a password and the machine dials up the centre and transfers the payments and prints out a list of the day's takings - would save on some admin time I'd think. We have our instructions printed out by the machine and a note on the door of the unit 'have you remembered to bank the card machine?' so the last numpty in the office does it, it's really very straight forward, about 12 buttons in total to press in the right order - and there's a 'back' button if you get it wrong. The only 'problem' I can see is if he entered the wrong amount and pressed enter and the customer didn't spot and a refund was needed (can be done but involves entering the password etc )- but maybe he could refund in cash?

We have one at work, we got it from Chip and Pin Solutions - discount to NFU members if that helps, it cost about £500 to buy, or you can rent them - your bank will typically charge £20+ a month to rent one, you have to buy the receipt rolls (about £20 a box of 20) and airtime for the SIM card it has (to dial base and accept the payments) is £9 a month. In addition he'd have to ask his bank to set up a merchant account for him to take payments (about £20 a month, there may be a set up fee - haggle, all the banks want good cash flow rich businesses at the mo) and there'd be a small % taken of each transaction (depending on volume of business) but might be 2-3% for credit cards and 35p per debit card transaction - which will probably compare favourably with cheque banking fees as they get scarcer. It'd save having to go and bank cheques, and the money would appear in the account the next day, so a little quicker than cheques, but above all safer than carrying £££ about each day as cheques disappear. I would say that even the most technologically challenged could manage it with a day's training and a crib card typed out with 'how to do it' and I'm sure the customers wanting to pay by card would be happy to help if he got stuck.

 

[Hippona]

A blank cheque.....

Seriously, either cash ( if I'm there) or if someone else is handling my horses, he will text me to tell who's had what done, give me a breakdown and a total and I post him a cheque out same day.

He then texts me to say that cheque has arrived.

My farrier is ace....we have fish n chips when he comes

 

[jaynedoc]

cheque...as I can keep a better eye on shoeing dates and times having a written record.

cause my memory is pants...

 

[TallyHo123]

Cash always

 

[Puppy]

Cash.

 

[Happy Horse]

It seems there are lots of farriers not declaring income. I wonder if they will be insured if your horse is injured and they are doing it for cash in hand. If the IR catch up with them, will they still be around to shoe your horses? I would insist on paying full price and getting a receipt (although thankfully I don't have farrier bills any more!)

 

[soph21]

Cash.

 

[MrWoof]

CASH - as we do not want to loose him!
I just cannot imagine anyone paying a Farrier via the BACS System or with a Credit Card - totally ridiculous.
If you insist on Cash, I am sure you won't loose too many customers because of it - and the ones that do decide to go elsewhere, will be more than compensated for by those that come on board.

 

[MrWoof]

Then all he has to do when he gets home .....

You very obviously do not appreciate just how many hours some farriers work in a day.
Also, how many clients are actually in situ when the farrier comes to shoe?
Not a lot by the sound of some of the posts on here.

 

[cariadssogreat]

Cash with a receipt