Who carries no cash?

[disneysteve]

I'm curious how many of you, if any, routinely walk around with absolutely no cash on hand. We constantly have a problem at my office with patients coming in for office visits and saying they have no cash with them to pay their co-pay. They want us to bill them, which we don't want to do of course because if we don't get the money right then and there, the likelihood of ever getting it drops significantly. Plus there is a cost involved in billing them.

Besides, they know perfectly well that they have a co-pay when they see the doctor. I'm quite sure that they don't pull up at the gas station, fill their tank, and expect to be billed. I'm also sure that they don't get to the register at the supermarket and ask to be billed for their groceries or eat a meal at a restaurant and ask to be billed. Yet they expect us to provide medical care without payment.

So who out there doesn't carry cash, particularly when you are going somewhere where you know there is a payment required?

[NetSkyBlue]

I don't carry cash. I do carry a debit card and a credit card, so it would be a rare bad day indeed if both accounts had been hacked & shut down, or my cards stolen. I've never been unable to pay for anything.

I suppose if I was going somewhere I knew I'd NEED cash and only cash, I'd just stop at the ATM first.

[MonkeyMama]

I don't carry cash - put everything on credit card.

Are you saying that your office does not accept debit/credit payments or that these people coming in with absolutely no form of payment?

In this day and age the *only* businesses I have come across that do not accept a credit card payment are usually small businesses (generally dining establishments). & we don't eat out that much, so I have no need for cash. (To be fair, I keep a $20 on me in case of emergency - it just seems more moot and pointless with every passing year).

[MoneyTips4U]

I tend to carry only cash and a credit card (for emergencies of course - I do not like having a large amount of credit on my card either).

I feel, that at least for me, using cash is the most tangible way of paying for things. If you set yourself a budget for $200 that week, and you have $200 cash, you can actually "see" and "feel" the cash when you spend it, versus using a plastic card.

[disneysteve]

I don't carry cash - put everything on credit card.

Are you saying that your office does not accept debit/credit payments or that these people coming in with absolutely no form of payment?

In this day and age the *only* businesses I have come across that do not accept a credit card payment are usually small businesses

Yes, we do not accept debit or credit. Cash or check only. And yes, we are a small business, 2 person private practice. But all of our patients know that and they still show up with no money. It isn't a new policy. It's been like that for the 13 years that I've been here and before that too.

[Baby_nurse]

It has been rare for me to carry cash. I always have my debit card with me.

In your case, do you collect the copay up front or after services are rendered? If its up front, you could just refuse service. Having hat happen once or twice would get it through people's heads pretty quickly.

My doctor's office will bill for the copay, but they charge an extra $10.00 for the privilege.

[disneysteve]

In your case, do you collect the copay up front or after services are rendered? If its up front, you could just refuse service.

We used to collect after, but so many people screwed us that we now collect up front and we do refuse service if they have no money. There is an ATM about 50 yards from our office so it isn't like it is hard for them to get the cash. Even with that, there are folks who have to reschedule because either they don't have an ATM card or have no money in the account or whatever.

And we are generally talking about co-pays of $10 or $15, not hundreds of dollars. I just can't imagine ever walking out of the house with absolutely zero cash. You never know what could happen or if a card won't work or a system will be down somewhere. Plus, as I said, our regular patients know that we don't take cards.

[jeffrey]

I carry cash -- always. I think it's a habit from livig in Japan at a time when everything was done in cash (I used to be paid by the company I worked for each month in cash). But I know I'm a dying breed.

[disneysteve]

I carry cash -- always. I think it's a habit from livig in Japan at a time when everything was done in cash (I used to be paid by the company I worked for each month in cash). But I know I'm a dying breed.

Count me in the dying breed also. I ALWAYS have cash, usually no less than a couple hundred in my wallet. If I know I'm going anywhere where I might possibly want cash, it will be more.

I use credit for almost everything but sometimes you just need (or at least want) cash. For example, many gas stations in our area charge less for cash than for credit. I'm happy to pay cash to save 8 or 10 cents per gallon. If we go out to eat with others and have to split the bill, cash is a must. Occasionally, I'll need to make change at the office. Or give a tip to a valet when I've parked my car somewhere. Or lots of other reasons.

[MonkeyMama]

Yes, we do not accept debit or credit. Cash or check only. And yes, we are a small business, 2 person private practice. But all of our patients know that and they still show up with no money. It isn't a new policy. It's been like that for the 13 years that I've been here and before that too.

I think it's a sign of the times. Most my business clients are small Doctor's offices. I am having trouble of thinking anyone who does not accept credit card payments. Some may *have to* due to contracts with hospitals and such. I can think of three people who are like age 70+ and refuse to use a computer and I know they don't accept credit or debit transactions, but that is the exception.

13 years ago credit cards were not accepted by 99% of businesses. These days they are. That is the difference. Most businesses are finding it penny-wise/pound-foolish not to accept electronic payments. If you are going to turn people away for not paying, not sure if it makes much difference. It just depends. My first reaction is disbelief that you would not accept electronic forms of payments, and that is the reaction you are getting from patients. I think that is fair enough.

[maryadavies]

I usually don't carry cash, but I do have my checkbook with me. It's mostly because at the moment, it's more convenient for me. (I don't have a regular job, but i do things for gran which I get paid for) to just put full checks in the bank when I get paid. My credit union doesn't ask me for a deposit slip and usually doesn't have any. I'm also out of deposit slips at the moment (Annoying, I always run out of deposit slips before I run out of checks) so I deal.

I do have check card on me too; I'd be in trouble if someone ran off with my wallet. ^^

[creditcardfree]

Most of the time, I do not have cash. Debit card or credit card. I would never show up without appropriate form of payment for a co-payment. I would go use an ATM if debit cards were not accepeted.

[NetSkyBlue]

For me, just getting cash is somewhat of an inconvenience. My bank is 15 minutes out of my way. I'm paid by direct deposit. It's not terrible to have to go there if I need cash, but since I so rarely need it, it's not really worth the effort of going and getting it.

[Baby_nurse]

Have you considered using something like Square? It's a reader that attaches to a smart phone that let's you swipe debit/ credit cards to receive your payments. The charge is 2.75% per swipe. On a $10 copay that would be less than 30 cents, being out 30 cents seems better to me than missing out on a full fee for your services because someone doesn't have cash. If you needed to, you could charge a 50 cent convenience fee for it's use. That's cheaper for your patients than having to pay a bank charge if the ATM isn't frm their bank (which can run $5.00 a pop!)

https://squareup.com/

[disneysteve]

Have you considered using something like Square? It's a reader that attaches to a smart phone that let's you swipe debit/ credit cards to receive your payments. The charge is 2.75% per swipe.

It's actually my boss who owns the practice who has resisted taking cards. I've been pushing for it since I got here 13 years ago. It is becoming more of a problem because a growing number of patients have HSA plans with debit cards associated with them. They don't want to pay cash. They want to use the money already set aside in their accounts.