Vendor won't take cash, isn't that illegal?

Question

I lost my ID badge at work so I went to property management to pay the $25 replacement fee, but they turned me away, they said they would only take check or money order. Isn't that illegal? I thought I remember something from HS economics that the US Dollar must be accepted by anyone doing business in the US. If so, where would I report them?

Answer 1

Why do you people try and speak from a place of authority but have no knowledge of the law?

The pertinent portion of law that applies to your question is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 31 U.S.C. 5103, entitled "Legal tender," which states: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues."

This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy