topic Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only in Community Chat

Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

Vivian — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 14:36:38 GMT

My husband was at fault in a traffic accident. Nobody was hurt but since he was at fault he agreed to pay the fine. He called our local town offices and was told they will only accept cash or money orders...no credit cards and (understandably) no checks. Doesn't this seem a bit archaic? He will pay in person since mailing cash is a bad idea.

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

Plaid Pants2 — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 14:39:28 GMT

No, it doesn't seem "archaic" at all.

The city wants to make sure that they get paid, and it would be all to easy for people to write a bad check/ money order (they can be faked), and credit cards can have the payment stopped.

Cash only makes perfect sense.

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

fthunt — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 14:41:52 GMT

Credit cards may be max'd out.

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

2blonde — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 14:49:10 GMT

Well, if you were out of town when you got the ticket, it seems near impossible you could return there just to pay it in person. I guess, then, your only alternative is to mail a money order.

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

software — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 14:52:45 GMT

@Vivian Florimond wrote:
My husband was at fault in a traffic accident. Nobody was hurt but since he was at fault he agreed to pay the fine. He called our local town offices and was told they will only accept cash or money orders...no credit cards and (understandably) no checks. Doesn't this seem a bit archaic? He will pay in person since mailing cash is a bad idea.

Money orders can be purchased anywhere.

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

Bri36 — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 14:52:51 GMT

They probably don't want the fees associated with processing credit cards

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

WenGirl42 — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 14:53:24 GMT

I think the biggest issue with CCs is the transaction fee. My state offices didn't start taking CCs for payment until fairly recently, and they add the 2% (ish) fee to the transaction. Plus if they don't have the machines and system to accept cards already, there's a cost to implement.

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

Vivian — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 15:01:13 GMT

I assume the town wants to be assured that they get the full amount due...no credit card fees or bounced checks. However, their offices close at 4. My husband is going to the bank, withdrawing the cash, and paying the fine in person. We're retired so it's not hard to do. We just thought that the options for payment were rather limited.

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

Peaches McPhee — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 15:02:52 GMT

Same thing happened to us. My husband got a speeding ticket and we had to pay via certified check. I actually had to think about this for a second . . . I could not remember how to get such a check (from your bank, duh!).

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

Plaid Pants2 — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 15:03:15 GMT

@Vivian Florimond wrote:
I assume the town wants to be assured that they get the full amount due...no credit card fees or bounced checks. However, their offices close at 4. My husband is going to the bank, withdrawing the cash, and paying the fine in person. We're retired so it's not hard to do. We just thought that the options for payment were rather limited.

The options are limited for a reason.

They don't want to get scammed out of what is due them.

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

WenGirl42 — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 15:19:57 GMT

@Vivian Florimond wrote:
I assume the town wants to be assured that they get the full amount due...no credit card fees or bounced checks. However, their offices close at 4. My husband is going to the bank, withdrawing the cash, and paying the fine in person. We're retired so it's not hard to do. We just thought that the options for payment were rather limited.

Yes, it does sound inconvenient. Shame they can't stay open one evening a week or some Saturday mornings to accommodate other schedules. But then, maybe their philosophy is that the inconveniece adds to the deterrent factor...they don't have to make it convenient, really.

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

Nightowlz — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 15:27:44 GMT

Mail a money order & make a copy & keep the receipt part.

About 40 yrs ago DH got pulled over for speeding so he got a $35 ticket. The cop asked DH if he had $35 & he said yes. DH did not know if he was suppose to pay him or what. The cop asked him again if he had $35 & he said yes. DH got out his wallet to give the cop the $35 & he asked are you trying to bribe me & DH said no but you said it was $35 so I'm giving you $35. He said well you cannot pay me. DH says well how am I suppose to pay it. The cop said well we have to find a Quick Shop so you can buy a money order then we have to find a mailbox so you can mail it. All this time while they were driving around doing this I had to sit in our car waiting wondering when/if he was coming back. Never heard of such a backwoods ways of paying a traffic fine. Totally ridiculous. This happened in Tx. I believe in Denton.

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

StraytoStay — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 15:39:36 GMT

Post offices sell money orders. That way you have proof, or another receipt.

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

Cakers3 — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 17:11:37 GMT

@Vivian I'm glad nobody was hurt. As others have said, cash payments are better for them.

Your bank should also have money orders available; ours does them for free.

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

Lipstickdiva — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:35:40 GMT

How small is this town? That does seem very archaic. I can understand them not accepting personal checks but I'm not sure why they don't allow payments via credit card or their website. Via website people could pay with credit or debit card or choose to have the funds withdrawn directly from a bank account.

I understand there are fees involved with credit cards but they could charge the extra percentage or a flat "convenience" fee.

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

Cats3000 — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 00:17:03 GMT

First, he shouldn't have said anything about admitting fault until he talked to his insurance company; very bad move on his part. If he gets a ticket, so be it. But, stay silent on admitting anything at the scene.

Second, fines can be accepted however the court or town offices choose. No problem as far as I'm concerned.

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

september — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 00:35:03 GMT

@Lipstickdiva wrote:
How small is this town? That does seem very archaic. I can understand them not accepting personal checks but I'm not sure why they don't allow payments via credit card or their website. Via website people could pay with credit or debit card or choose to have the funds withdrawn directly from a bank account.

I understand there are fees involved with credit cards but they could charge the extra percentage or a flat "convenience" fee.

I agree. They at least ought to allow one to pay with a debit card. I did this in traffic court for my husband a few years back. (Why is it always the husbands who incur the fines?!)

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

CAcableGirl2 — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 02:54:22 GMT

I went to an urgent care facility and they had a sign that they no longer accepted "cash". I asked and it wasn't a joke, for some reason they don't want cash anymore....

Re: Fine-Cash or Money Order Only

WenGirl42 — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 11:22:54 GMT

@CAcableGirl2 wrote:
I went to an urgent care facility and they had a sign that they no longer accepted "cash". I asked and it wasn't a joke, for some reason they don't want cash anymore....

A lot of places are moving or have moved away from accepting cash. Having cash on hand is a security and safety risk. Probably especially at a facility like this, where addicts are known to drug-seek.