Cash-in-hand is nothing unusual

02 August 2012

Nice one, David Gauke, telling people not to pay the plumber or tradesmen cash-in-hand (News, July 26).

What is the alternative for pensioners and the unemployed who don't have cheque books?

As a pensioner, I always ask self-employed tradesmen to forget about VAT and I don't need a bill. A pound in my pocket is better than contributing it to David Gauke, who through tax-free allowances, had household goods valued at thousands of pounds delivered to his home.

He also had more than £10,000 in stamp duty and fees in the purchase of a second home paid by the taxpayer through his tax-free allowance. Yes, nice one indeed.

Gauke says he never asks for discount. Why should he, when we - the taxpayers - are paying the bill?

PANORAMA

Belfast

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