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Questions tagged [legal-tender]

27 questions
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In a state with the common law definition of theft, can you force a store to take cash by "pretending" to steal?

If I understand correctly, (a) under common law, theft requires an intent to permanently deprive the owner, and (b) legal tender only applies to debts, not purchases. B is the reason why stores do not have to accept cash. However, if I take goods…
Someone
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Can a business owner refuse specific Bills and Coins?

I was reading an article article which outlines a Pizza Shop owner in Canada who is refusing to take $10 Bills with John A. MacDonald on them. For context John A. MacDonald(the first Prime Minister of Canada) was on all $10 bills until 2017, when…
Bertrand Einstein IV
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Is it legal for a restaurant to not accept cash?

I recently went to Sweetgreen (a make your own salad place) for the first time. When I got to the end of the counter and was ready to pay, I tried to hand the cashier a $20, but he said "I'm sorry sir, we don't accept cash". I was really taken aback…
BDD
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Does a cash-less place have to accept cash if other payment option failed?

I had it happen to me a few times that my credit card was blocked or deactivated by the bank without letting me know, and I only that found out while trying to pay. To counter that I always carry some cash. Now I've been hearing about some…
Maxim
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Can a creditor refuse to accept a $2 FRN because he doesn't think they exist?

Like all Federal Reserve Notes (FRNs, aka "bills" or "cash"), the $2 FRN is "legal tender for all debts, public and private." However, a lot of people don't know about them. If I owe someone $10, and all I have is five $2 bills, is it legal for him…
Someone
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Does a debt exist for a Parking Charge Notice?

A question on Personal Finance & Money asks for options to pay a parking "fine" when the recipient is not trusted. The asker is not arguing that they owe the money but, for security reasons, they do not want to use any of the methods offered by the…
BWFC
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When can "exact change" policies be enforced?

In general, "exact change" policies are legal. The Department of Treasury provides this helpful explanation: The Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 31 U.S.C. 5103, entitled "Legal tender," ... states: "United States coins and currency …
feetwet
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Can you pay a restaurant bill in pennies?

Say you eat at a restaurant, and after you are finished, the waiter brings you your bill. Is the restaurant legally obligated to accept pennies as payment regardless of the amount? (Of course, I am assuming no explicit arrangements regarding this…
user541686
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Can someone deny cash as the payment method?

There are a few restaurants in my area where cash payments are not accepted. They only accept electronic payments such as credit cards, local debit cards, etc. Is this legal? On most currencies, it is written on the note something along the lines of…
kevin
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Do I have to pay for a drink if a vendor cannot accept payment?

Recently I was served a drink at the pub where I intended to pay by debit card and had no alternative payment method available (e.g. cash). The card reader was faulty and I consumed my drink whilst the barman was attempting to fix the reader.…
Bad_Bishop
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Are "exact change only" policies legal?

I parked in a garage that has an automated pay-to-park kiosk - you specify how many hours you wish to purchase, and then insert payment. For two hours of parking, the price was listed as $6. It was only after I inserted a $10 bill that I noticed…
alexw
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Under what authority can the US make federal reserve notes legal tender?

By what constitutional authority does the US have to make these legal tender. I can see in the constitution that the US can coin money, but the right to make legal tender is given to the states and limited to gold and silver. The 10th amendment…
DAB
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Legal tender: using commemorative coins to pay off debt

This question is somewhat related to: Paying debts in cash in a petty way The Royal Mint issues commemorative coins. For example, they issued £20 coins (made out of silver) but usually shops and banks don't accept them. They are legal tender,…
PraiseTheBaud
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Is a school legally required to accept pennies as payment?

At my public high school in Florida, Seniors are required to pay for parking in the Senior parking lot. There is a student who doesn't like that he has to pay, so in order to spite them he went to the bank and got $15 in just pennies. The school has…
skorux
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What does "Legal Tender" actually entail?

Section 31 U.S.C. 5103 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. I find countless examples…
Cort Ammon
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