this post was submitted on 10 Jul 2025
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[–] onslaught545@lemmy.zip 23 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I know there's been a few cases of people paying fines with wheelbarrows full of loose pennies.

[–] palordrolap@fedia.io 20 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Obligatory caution that that can backfire if the recipient insists that the debtor counts the pennies. Or if the creditor refuses the pennies entirely, which is legal in some jurisdictions. (e.g. in the UK, pennies and 2p coins are legal tender up to amounts of only 20 pence. Anything beyond that is left to the discretion of the recipient.)

[–] onslaught545@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 day ago (2 children)

In the US, pennies are legal tender and have to be accepted as payment for debts owed. This tactic usually ended up in the fine being dismissed.

[–] LogicalDrivel@sopuli.xyz 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Pennies only have to be accepted if there is a state law saying so. For example in California if a landlord refuses a cash payment (pennies or otherwise) then the tenant basically gets free rent that month. Businesses generally set their own rules as to what is accepted. Just like you see signs saying "No bills over $20" - 50's and 100's are legal tender, but they can refuse them just like a bucket of pennies can be refused.

[–] onslaught545@lemmy.zip -1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Title 31 (Money and Finance), Subtitle IV (Money), Chapter 51 (Coins and Currency), Subchapter I (Monetary System), Section 5103 (Legal Tender) of the United States Code 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. Foreign gold or silver coins are not legal tender for debts.

[–] LogicalDrivel@sopuli.xyz 0 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

Since you feel like quoting things is conducive to proper discusion:

Is it legal for a business in the United States to refuse cash as a form of payment?

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.

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 U.S. money as identified above is a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor.

https://www.federalreserve.gov/faqs/currency_12772.htm

[–] onslaught545@lemmy.zip 1 points 20 hours ago

Yes, you're correct. That's where the "debt" part comes in. If it's before you incur the debt, they can refuse to accept any legal tender.

[–] LilB0kChoy@midwest.social 1 points 20 hours ago

are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues

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

Goods or services ≠ debts, public charges, taxes, and dues.

A retail store, a restaurant etc. can refuse currency from a customer but a loan/lien holder, a public utility company, a government entity or an HOA must all accept any legal tender.

You're confusing two separate situations.

[–] mj_marathon@programming.dev 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

There is no federal statute requiring private lendors to accept payment in the form of coins. The coins are legal tender but they dont have to be accepted.

[–] Cort@lemmy.world 4 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

If payment offered in legal tender is refused, the debt would be cancelled.

There's no requirement to accept cash for pre payments, but for debts cash must be accepted.

[–] onslaught545@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

The discussion is about fines. I'm not sure why you're talking about lenders.

Also, Title 31 (Money and Finance), Subtitle IV (Money), Chapter 51 (Coins and Currency), Subchapter I (Monetary System), Section 5103 (Legal Tender) of the United States Code 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. Foreign gold or silver coins are not legal tender for debts.

So yes, there is a federal statue requiring private lenders accept coins as payment.

[–] mj_marathon@programming.dev -2 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I don't think that says what you think it does. Just because they are legal tender does not inherently mean (nor does that snippet say) that they cannot be denied as a form of payment.

[–] onslaught545@lemmy.zip 3 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

Yes it does. It's a legal form of payment, and if a lender denies it, you can sue to have the entire debt discharged because the lender is refusing legal tender.

If you're a debt holder, you're required by federal law to accept any form of legal tender as payment, which includes coins.

Here's the full article I got the statute from.

[–] jaybone@lemmy.zip 2 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

I see child comments turning into some debate. lol

Wasn’t there a case somewhere where someone tried to pay a settlement in pennies, and then they themselves were fined?

Edit: maybe I’m thinking of this story https://www.costanzo-law.com/angry-employer-pays-in-pennies-then-gets-in-deep-legal-trouble/

Though it’s not entirely clear to me what law this violates regarding legal tender. Seems more to do with employer / employee labor relations.

[–] jawa22@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 18 hours ago

My grandmother furnished an entire house with quarters in the 80s, all in one go. It was apparently around $1,000 worth of quarters.