From: linley@netcom.com (Bruce James Robrert Linley)
Subject: Re: Sorry, we don't accept cash... Huh?
Organization: Computer Science & Engineering, UCLA
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 08:14:23 GMT

In a previous article pecampbe@mtu.edu (Paul Campbell) spake...
>In article <1992Dec29.191801.6412@netcom.com> linley@netcom.com (Bruce James Robrert Linley) writes:
>>
>>	I just had a disturbing experience with a Federal Express delivery
>>yesterday. It was a COD for $30.00. So I hand the guy a twenty and a ten. To
>>my surprise, he said that he cannot accept cash. Holy inflation, Batman, our
>>money's worthless! Is this legal? Has the phrase, "This note is legal tender
>>for ALL debts public and private" lost its meaning? What's the world coming to?
>
>So, quite well within their legal grounds, the carrier refused your
>offer. And no, that paper you offered is worthless (unless the coinage
>act of 1787 has been recently repealed or they suddenly started
>placing wording on the notes stating that they were redeemable for
>something other than more worthless paper).
>

Well, I have about $75 in U.S. silver certificates, which unlike the 'notes'
(which they bear an uncanny resemblance to), say that they're redeemable for
silver ON DEMAND. But I'll be dammed if I'm going to spend those just to
please Federal Express.

The reason I'm upset about the refusal to accept cash is that it can lead to
a dangerous situation. Consider the following: MasterCard offers retailers
all over the U.S. incentives (read: bribes) to refuse all forms of payments
other than MasterCharge. If enough retailers comply we'll end up in a 
situation where MasterCard is in a position to control the effective supply,
flow, and value of money in the U.S. A bad credit rating can now totally ruin
an individual (more than it can now). The federal reserve board will be
rendered useless. And MasterCard can now exert enormous political control
over industry and individuals (government? who needs that?)

Getting back to Fed Express' refusal to accept cash, let me point out that
the check I wrote him was backed up by my cash (the notes again) in the bank.
Any credit payments made are back up by U.S. funds (read: cash) by the Credit
company. So I ask again why do they refuse to accept cash as payment? Since I
needed something from Federal Express, a refusal to pay by something other
than cash would only hurt me. But If someone I owe money to refused to accept
cash repayment, I'd tell them to get screwed. If they took action against me
for lack of payment, I'd go to court and win, because I offered to pay with
something good for ALL DEBTS PUBLIC ***AND PRIVATE***. And before anyone talks
about how I pay the Credit bill, let me say that I do not send cash ONLY 
because it is not a good idea to send cash through the mail. I would, however,
expect any company (credit card/gas/phone/etc.) to take cash If I paid at
their office in person. And again, if they refused my cash, I'd consider any
services/goods that I got from the company to be a free gift to me.

Flame away.

-- 
Bruce James Robert Linley | "Well, I tried shoving a weiner in the warp drive,
Comp Sci & Engr, UCLA     |  but it didn't do a bit o' good."
<linley@netcom.com>       | - Star Dreck, c/o Dr. Demento
<linley@seas.ucla.edu>    |
Newsgroups: misc.legal