Man Cited For Trying to Pay $25 Doctor’s Bill in Pennies

[Engineer]

It wasn't about the pennies people. What he did was no different than dumping gravel all over the counter. He was just being an asshole

This.

 

[thecrecarc]

A business has the ability to determine what amount of LEGAL TENDER it gets paid in.

A business cannot say "we only accept payment in Gummy Bears."

Why would a buisness have to accept LEGAL TENDER? For example, a barter buisness system, or something similar.

 

[guyver01]

Why would a buisness have to accept LEGAL TENDER? For example, a barter buisness system, or something similar.

If you want an education on how businesses operate, how incorporation works, etc...start a new thread.

 

[Bignate603]

I agree with you. It doesn't work that way, but it should. Their refusal to accept money that is legal tender for all debts, public and private, is their issue, not yours. As long as its not posted ahead of time, then it really shouldn't be your problem.

When you're paying in coins to be obnoxious they should have every right to refuse you. This guy with pennies went out of his way to be difficult.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

I did some googling on this and while I can't actually find the law, I have seen some references to a law that says a business does not have to accept more than 25 pennies, and that law exists because of this very possibility(of people paying in pennies on purpose to be disruptive). So if it does exist, that's fine, and it should exist. But I was thinking that based purely on 31 USC 5103, legal tender is legal tender and that's that.

 

[jlee]

It wasn't about the pennies people. What he did was no different than dumping gravel all over the counter. He was just being an asshole

This.

OP should read "Man Cited For Disorderly Conduct After Throwing Pennies Around Office."

 

[akouocoop]

http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/faqs/Currency/Pages/legal-tender.aspx


I thought that United States currency was legal tender for all debts. Some businesses or governmental agencies say that they will only accept checks, money orders or credit cards as payment, and others will only accept currency notes in denominations of $20 or smaller. Isn't this illegal?

The pertinent portion of law that applies to your question is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 31 U.S.C. 5103, entitled "Legal tender," which states: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues."

This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. 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.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

... 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.

Am I the only one that finds it hilarious that many businesses such as gas stations still have these signs up despite the fact that the bill often comes to well over that amount? Ex: Filling up my pickup costs about $75, but they won't accept a $100 bill?

 

[angminas]

I really hate all these "police kill whole town after guy drops a spoon" articles.

 

[manlymatt83]

Perfectly legal for them to REFUSE to count it... and even more legal for them to REFUSE to accept it.

Section 31 U.S.C. 5103, entitled "Legal tender," states: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues."

This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor.

There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. 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.

This is why you often see signs in businesses which state "No Bills Larger than $20"

Yes but isn't an outstanding bill a debt? This was my argument when I tried to pay in pennies when my car got towed. I didn't *choose* to use them, they towed my car and I had no choice. Therefore, I was indebted to them and could use pennies.

 

[guyver01]

Yes but isn't an outstanding bill a debt?

you've completely missed the whole thread, so i'll just paste this here again:

There is no Federal statute that FORCES private businesses, persons, or organizations to accept any specific tender as payment for goods and/or services.

Retail store owners can determine which form of payment they will accept and which ones they will not accept. They own the business and can conduct it as they wish, to an extent. Some choose not to accept checks, others do not accept credit cards, while some may choose to not accept rolled coins.

 

[angminas]

Just in case there's still anybody reading this who's too stupid to figure this out- he did not get in trouble for trying to pay the bill with pennies. He got in trouble for disrupting the office.

 

[sixone]

He was cited for disorderly conduct.

Throwing money about a business would probably qualify.

Throwing a temper tantrum when they refused to accept your payment, would no doubt count as well.

Bingo.

Just another example of sloppy journalism, no doubt trying to create sensational headlines to get people to view a site and the ad thereon.

 

[Locut0s]

Note this is no different from a company posting thawed they don't take 50 or 100 bills. Or places that take cash only or credit or debit only. A company is free to decide which of the many forms of legal tender they wish to accept.

 

[Locut0s]

Am I the only one that finds it hilarious that many businesses such as gas stations still have these signs up despite the fact that the bill often comes to well over that amount? Ex: Filling up my pickup costs about $75, but they won't accept a $100 bill?

This has nothing to do with the amount of the bill and has everything to do with counterfeiting. When they take a fake 100 they lose a lot more than when only 1 of the 5 20s happens to be fake.

 

[guyver01]

This has nothing to do with the amount of the bill and has everything to do with counterfeiting. When they take a fake 100 they lose a lot more than when only 1 of the 5 20s happens to be fake.

If i was gonna counterfeit a bill, it would be $5 or $10... noone ever checks those.

 

[the unknown]

Just in case there's still anybody reading this who's too stupid to figure this out- he did not get in trouble for trying to pay the bill with pennies. He got in trouble for disrupting the office.

True, but in CA I think up to a certain dollar point it's illegal to pay purely in coins. This happened after people continued to pay in change to hold up lines at a supermarket if I recall.

 

[Locut0s]

If i was gonna counterfeit a bill, it would be $5 or $10... noone ever checks those.

10s are an ok option but I believe world wide the most copied notes tend to be 20s or their equivalent. Every time you go to pass off a fake you are gambling. You have to weigh the risk of getting caught with the potential payoff of succeeding. 5s are easy to pass off but you need to pass off a fuck load of them to see any reasonable benefit. 100s are hard of course but the reward is much greater. Usually 20 is the sweet spot.

 

[Fritzo]

paid with pennies? makes perfect cents

RIMSHOT!!!

 

[OutHouse]

If I enter an agreement to purchase something, the item is handed to me, and then the seller refuses to take my money, money which the government has deemed to be legal tender for all transactions in the state/country I'm in, then that seller has just given me the item for free. Thanks for the free gift. Its not theft, I paid, but he refused the payment.

lol where did you pull that bullshit from?

 

[OutHouse]

A business has the ability to determine what amount of LEGAL TENDER it gets paid in.

A business cannot say "we only accept payment in Gummy Bears."

sure it can. a business can accept any form of payment it wants. if i need a couple of chickens and me and the buyer agree that for me to rotate his tires would cost 2 chickens then thats the price.

 

[SonicIce]

paid with pennies? makes perfect cents

hehe why did i giggle so much at this

 

[M0RPH]

This.

OP should read "Man Cited For Disorderly Conduct After Throwing Pennies Around Office."

And now YOU are twisting it. Most likely he dumped them on the counter and some fell to the floor.

Being an a-hole? Yes. Deserving of being charged with a crime? Only in this country where cops can pretty much get away with anything.

 

[honkydory]

i remember awhile back seeing a video of a guy getting his car out of impound with pennies as payback for payback or something... this ring a bell with anyone else?

found it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2xcafxhwXI

 

[alkemyst]

all true. but that does not make him paying in pennies a crime.

it would help if you read the OP before posting on it.