[url=http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/Man-fined-paying-pennies-yahoofinanceuk-2692731971.html]Source[/url]
[quote]When Jason West turned up in person to pay a bill he disputed, he ended up being landed with a fine. Why? Because he tried to pay it with 2,500 pennies.
West said he paid the charge - to Basin Clinic, Utah, USA - months ago, but failed to get the current bill revoked. He then calmly asked the teller: "Do you take cash?"
When told they did, West replied: "Lucky for me I happen to have it on me." He then poured 2,500 pennies on the counter. "I'm willing to wait if you want to count them so you can make sure you get every penny," he added.
But while he told local paper The Vernal Express that all this was done in a calm manner, and that all that resulted from it was giggles from other customers waiting, the clinic disagreed and called the police.
West ended up being cited for "disorderly conduct" and now faces a $140 fine — or 14,000 pennies.
"The pennies were strewn about the counter and the floor," said the police. The clinic maintains it would have taken the money, but does "not tolerate pennies or any other objects being thrown at our employees", according to a statement. It also posted pictures of the fallout on its website.
[B]West says he didn't throw anything, they spilled: "That's just the nature of pennies," he told the Vernal Express. "They're round."[/B]
In the US any amount in coins counts as legal tender — but there is no law that forces shops and other retailers to accept them. That means businesses can ask for payment in any denomination they want.
But where would you stand if you decided to pay up in pence in the UK?
Well, it's come up. Back in 2006 Michael Rees of Tonteg, South Wales, was told he could no longer keep paying his £650 debt in instalments of 4,000 penny pieces (as he had been for months).
Meanwhile in 2009, Gary Southall tried to settle a £1,300 fine with a shopping trolley full of 1p pieces — he was also refused.
According to the Coinage Act of 1971, 1ps and 2ps are only legal tender up to the value of 20p. But that doesn't mean you can't pay more than that in pennies if the person or business you're paying agrees.
Legal tender has a very narrow meaning in the UK. Put simply, you can't be successfully sued for non-payment of a debt if you give the correct amount of money in legal tender. That's it.
Everything else is up to the two parties involved in the transaction.
And fans of wacky ways to protest can take heart from one thing: £1 and £2 coins are legal tender up to any amount you like. Even if they're frozen in ice or put in a bathtub full of honey.[/quote]
Okay...that's retarded. How is that disorderly conduct?
I swear to God, whoever the officer is who arrested this poor man is probably crying himself to sleep because of how idiotic this is.
Wow, what a stupid idiot calling the police when someone pays in a valid form of currency. I think that the clinic should have been reported.
–snip–
I thought they were legal tender up to £5? Either why it's silly he has to now pay a fine for "Disorderly Conduct"
Penny throwing madman tries to hold up the clinic line for hours, more at 11.
whats with all these stupid stories coming in lately
[quote=The Article]That means businesses can ask for payment in any denomination they want.[/quote]
That's interesting, actually.
this isn't news he's a dick and made a mess he deserved it
If they have camera footage, they should check it to show that he simply put them on the counter, and they did the rest on their own
inb4 "pay fine in pennies" joke
[QUOTE=thispieiscold;30328863]inb4 "pay fine in pennies" joke[/QUOTE]
Too late, it was in the article
They WILL accept pennies if you roll them first. I would totally agree that the person should fuck off if he is enough of a douche to dump a pile of uncounted pennies on the table and say "LOL HERE IT IS".
[QUOTE=thispieiscold;30328863]inb4 "pay fine in pennies" joke[/QUOTE]
pay fine in pennies
Pay the $140.00 Fine in Pennies. :v:
R8 l8 m8. :suicide:
This world is going mad. These people should be forced to check in at the sanitarium if they're gonna keep on being so insane. IT'S MONEY YOU PLONKERS, just bloody accept it!
I like the last suggestions.
[QUOTE=ironman17;30328974]This world is going mad. These people should be forced to check in at the sanitarium if they're gonna keep on being so insane. IT'S MONEY YOU PLONKERS, just bloody accept it![/QUOTE]
yeah when you dump shit OUT of its container and let them scatter onto the counter and consequently fall everywhere you are not paying anything you are just making a mess
STOP RIGHT THERE CRIMINAL SCUM!
Pay the court your $140.00 fine or serve your sentence.
*pay with pennies*
THEN PAY WITH YOUR BLOOD! :byodood:
he should pay the fine in pennies
well pouring them on to the table was a bit of a dick move and it probably caused a lot of time being wasted on picking up pennies...
would have been smarter to just give them the bag instead.
[QUOTE=callumshell;30329411]he should pay the fine in pennies[/QUOTE]
He should pay the fine in penis.
[QUOTE=ironman17;30328974]This world is going mad. These people should be forced to check in at the sanitarium if they're gonna keep on being so insane. IT'S MONEY YOU PLONKERS, just bloody accept it![/QUOTE]
Plonkers V:v:V
I like how we're not accepting legal tender anymore. IT'S PENNIES NOT MONEY!!! Pennies are money, but are worth significantly less than most other coins/bills. Hell, if he paid in quarters he'd be fine. Reminds me about one time I paid for a $15 toy gun in quarters.
If someone used the excuse "well they're round" to me being paid in pennies that are now spread across the room I'd be charged for assault.
[QUOTE=AlienCreature;30329567]He should pay the fine in penis.[/QUOTE]
He's gonna need a lot of dicks.
My automerge :smith:
[QUOTE=Barrowsx;30329605]I like how we're not accepting legal tender anymore. IT'S PENNIES NOT MONEY!!! Pennies are money, but are worth significantly less than most other coins/bills. Hell, if he paid in quarters he'd be fine. Reminds me about one time I paid for a $15 toy gun in quarters.[/QUOTE]
Actually, I remember a couple years back when I was trying to buy a bus ticket, the driver actually claimed that 5cent pieces weren't legal tender, and threatened to call the cops
You can't pay with pennies unless they are wrapped in those $1 paper coin sheaths.
[editline]8th June 2011[/editline]
sorry to break it to the person who disagreed with me. No one is going to accept pennies they can't feasibly count or store in their register.
Pennies are designed to make exact change, not pay bills. Fuck this person.
They didn't have to accept the pennies and in this case they were right to refuse him. It amazes me that people think that a guy should be allowed to pay off a bill by dumping a shitload of pennies onto a counter, leaving it to the store to clean up and count.
Seriously, fuck that guy.
They could have just told him to clean it up and go use a coinstar machine.
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