Hi programmer- I read your response to the thread about the new system being installed at the Federal Reserve, and noted your comments about asking them anything and they will tell you. There is one thing I attempted to find out about two years ago, that I called everybody and their brother in local, state, and D.C., without getting an answer. Maybe you can find out for me. I live in Bermuda but had visited Orlando, Florida. I needed to Fed-Ex an envelope to N.Y., so I went to the main Fed-Ex location on Bennett Drive. When it was time to pay, they refused to take the U.S. money that I found was accepted everywhere else in America. The reason given was "we don't accept cash". When I showed the clerk the writing on the bills which states "this note is legal tender for all debts, public and private" she said Fed-Ex has the right to accept cash or not to. It really upset me that such a big U.S. Company could circumvent the law (as I understood it) so I ended up calling Atlanta,(who gave me a run around) then D.C. (who not only gave me a run around but told me I should consult with an attorney!) So, I guess the long & short of it that I just would like to know: Is U.S currency legal tender (as it states) and can a U.S. business refuse to accept it (well, I know they CAN, because they did) and why? Would you be so kind as to find out for me, if possible? Many Thanks.

on de rock

-- Walter (on de rock@northrock.bm), January 12, 2000

Answers

Welcome to the real world Walter. They have us all by the nuts and squeeze at will. There are alternatives.

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), January 12, 2000.

Good morning, Walter!
Jay in Charleston, S.C.

-- Jay Urban (Jayho99@aol.com), January 12, 2000.

Andy: 1) Thanks,see snooze button's post that eve is referencing. 2) I Know 3) I Know 4) Still need the question answered 5) How come you don't post much anymore? I miss 'em.

on de rock

-- Walter (on de rock@northrock.bm), January 12, 2000.

You can't rent a car with cash either.

-- Taz (Tassi123@aol.com), January 12, 2000.

Hi Taz! Yeah, I found that out in Florida too. But....yes you can! All you have to do is leave an amount of cash equal to the value of the car with the agent. Of course, then you need to fill out Federal forms as to where you got that kind of money, but hey, you get the car and a free tank of gas! :)

on de rock

-- Walter (on de rock@northrock.bm), January 12, 2000.

Right Taz, I am a member of a credit union with a VISA plastic cheque card. Does the business in a pinch.

Hi Walter, yes things have calmed down slightly. Just watching and waiting, I'm just really pleased that y2k did not go anywhere like a nuclear or poisonfire scenario. This forum has been an education in and of itself - time to move on slightly, lots happenining. It's a shame a lot of folks have bailed, y2k is by no means over, as many businesses and countries will find out.

There are many weird currency laws. Some 7-11's will not take $50's or $100's. Some won't take more than $5-10 in dimes. My ex won't take less than $1000 in $100's. Go figure.

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), January 12, 2000.

Somewhere I picture some old codger going, "what do you mean I can't ride my horse on the highway?"

-- H.H. (dontscrewme_2000@yahoo.com), January 12, 2000.

Thant's odd, because right on the airbill is a box you can check off if you are paying by cash or check. I'd call 1-800-go- fedex and tell them what happened. It's possible the clerk didn't know what she was doing.

When I was a truck driver I had to Fed-Ex my paperwork back to my home terminal, and I just stuck $10 in cash under the airbill. It always got there.

BTW, you can't rent a car with cash because your credit card is held as insurance in case you wreck the car.

-- Three Dots (three_dots@work.now), January 12, 2000.

Walter,

FEDEX has done this for over a decade at drop off centers in NYC (to avoid making them a robbery target). I am not a lawyer but it's my understanding that a business can refuse cash but have to pettition the Treasury Dept. for permission to do so first. They also have to post NO CASH ACCEPTED at the entrance to warn customers. I think this all came about when a fancy, upscale restaurant in Beverly Hills kept getting robbed and started refusing cash. There was a big battle about the legalities of this and the Treasury granted them a waiver. FEDEX got permission shortly thereafter.

Taz,

You CAN rent a car with cash but you must leave something like a $2,000 deposit. Again, there was a legal battle claiming this was discriminatory to poor communities (where they are less likely to have credit cards). Somehow, requiring a deposit of several thousand in cash isn't. Go figure...

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), January 12, 2000.

Tech 32- Thanks, makes sense,anyway. Maybe it should now read "....for MOST debts,sometimes public,sometimes private". BTW they DID have a sign "NO CASH". The ironic ending to it was that they had our company acct in Bermuda in their system and allowed me to charge it to that with no ID ! Go figure.

on de rock

-- Walter (on de rock@northrock.bm), January 12, 2000.

I save throughout the year my quarters, dimes and nickels and then we take a ride to Reno. None of the casinos in Reno accept dimes. When we tried to turn them in for money, the clerk laughed and said, "oh, looks like your stuck with dimes, no one takes them anymore." We stopped at Boomtown on our way home and they were the only casino that exchanged dimes for paper money even though they do not have dime machines. They will even take pennies too--I'll exchange those the next time around since it's a waste of time rolling them. BTW, I hit a $400 jackpot on the money I got back from the dime exchange.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), January 12, 2000.

Walter,

...Maybe it should now read "....for MOST debts,sometimes public,sometimes private". Technically, they are not refusing the cash. They are just refusing to accept a 'debt' that will be paid in cash. That's why they have to let you know up front. At least that's how I think the Treasury Dept. justifies it...

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), January 12, 2000.

Tech 32- Now you're two for two. Good point, no debt if not accepted! Dear Programmer: Thanks, but never mind!

on de rock

-- Walter (on de rock@northrock.bm), January 12, 2000.