 hg |
| The only reason anyone pays for anything is in payment of a debt. No, U.S. dollars being legal tender here means you must accept them if they are offered to you, though you could accept pesos or wampum in settlement of a debt if you wanted to. Well, not quite. In the case where payment is being made at the same time of services like buying a loaf of bread at a convenience store, the clerk can legally refuse to accept large bank notes even though they are legal tender. On the other hand, when service has been performed BEFORE the bill is given to the buyer, such as buying something on credit or eating dinner at a restaurant where the bill is served AFTER the meal, the seller has to accept legal tender regardless of the amount. Basically, if no debt existed until the time of payment, legal tender can be refused. If debt has previously occurred, you must accept legal tender. "Invitation to Treat" is a term bantered and covered by many court cases that a buyer cannot demand to make a purchase even with legal tender in hand, and so declaring a legal tender other than for debts would not be effective. However, 99-44/100% of the time, your statement is correct. Wampum, bags of horse manure whatever you want to accept as payment is perfectly legal. |