Revolut v cash for flexibility for WG's.

[s0whatsnew?]

I recently saw a girl  (see review for Bianca Muller)  who  pushed quite strongly for payment via Revolut rather than cash, saying she had used up her monthly cash deposit allowance on Revolut.   I was very surprised, automatically assuming that cash is always more flexible than anything else.   I became suspicious of a possible banking scam.

Back at mine I looked at the Revolut website.   The American version said there is a $5000 monthly limit on cash deposits for personal accounts.    Business accounts obviously didn't  have any such limits.  The UK version didn't say anything at all but probably would say something similar on joining up.

My puzzle here is that bank transfers to a Revolut personal a/c would surely carry the same tax implications as a cash deposit and are just as visible to HMRC as anything else.   So surely cash would be more flexible in being able to channel it through different accounts.  None of my business re this specific meet but wanting to remain alert for possible  scams in the future.  Anybody have any ideas here?

[SonofAJohn]

I recently saw a girl  (see review for Bianca Muller)  who  pushed quite strongly for payment via Revolut rather than cash, saying she had used up her monthly cash deposit allowance on Revolut.   I was very surprised, automatically assuming that cash is always more flexible than anything else.   I became suspicious of a possible banking scam.

Back at mine I looked at the Revolut website.   The American version said there is a $5000 monthly limit on cash deposits for personal accounts.    Business accounts obviously didn't  have any such limits.  The UK version didn't say anything at all but probably would say something similar on joining up.

My puzzle here is that bank transfers to a Revolut personal a/c would surely carry the same tax implications as a cash deposit and are just as visible to HMRC as anything else.   So surely cash would be more flexible in being able to channel it through different accounts.  None of my business re this specific meet but wanting to remain alert for possible  scams in the future.  Anybody have any ideas here?

If the bank account matches her name then it will not be a scam but she will know your real name from a bank transfer. Best to find her facebook and block her so she can't find your personal information after the transfer.
Revolut does not do cash deposits so it is likely that her UK bank account is Revolut and she just wants the money in there instead of carrying lots of cash on her.

For identity sakes, always use cash. Cash is king!

[versace]

I have made multiple bank transfers to girls who use Revolut. There is no scam involved.

If she insists of transfer instead of cash that might mean she is after your details like: first name, surname etc.

[jamiekinkxxx]

I personally much prefer transfer than carry wads of cash around esp now cashpoint #'s are dwindling and those that are about esp in central London can run out of cash at times (esp over the weekends)

[shooter]

Although I hardly ever use cash now in my non punting life, I would be worried about providing personal info via a bank transfer, although it would be much easier and less hassle. There is always a risk of a scam when sharing any personal details in this hobby.

Its about time banks allowed you to obfuscate the last 4 characters of your surname (like they do with card numbers) to enable us to punt with the ease . I might start a petition 

[801]

The last time I checked about three months ago no personal details were sent to the recipient on a transfer just whatever I put in the ref when using Revolut

Can anyone confirm if this is still true or has it now changed? Does your name appear at the other end or just the ref ?

[Vic69]

I don't bank with Revolute, but when I get a bank transfer the senders name is shown.  A way round it maybe would be to get a second card on the account in a different name, and use those details for the transfer.

[shooter]

I don't bank with Revolute, but when I get a bank transfer the senders name is shown.  A way round it maybe would be to get a second card on the account in a different name, and use those details for the transfer.

Its standard practice for the card payers name to be shown on a transfer, no way around it AFAIK

I dont think you can add a second card with revolut. Adding a second card to other accounts is possible, but I am fairly sure that you would have to go through ID checks for the second cardholder, so it kind of defeats the purpose
 

[versace]

The last time I checked about three months ago no personal details were sent to the recipient on a transfer just whatever I put in the ref when using Revolut

Can anyone confirm if this is still true or has it now changed? Does your name appear at the other end or just the ref ?

I made one less than a week ago, as she was sitting next to me, I saw a transfer notification with my first initial and my full surname being displayed. I hope this helps.

[801]

I made one less than a week ago, as she was sitting next to me, I saw a transfer notification with my first initial and my full surname being displayed. I hope this helps.

Thanks buddy
It's interesting as if I do a transfer to one of my own accounts no name shows up as I put a custom ref in

Did you change or put something different in the ref? I think if you don't then the revolut will put your name in as standard?

[versace]

I didn't change anything, I left it as it was. No custom ref.

[jeanphillipe]

HMRC cannot directly compel Revolut for information but if crimes is suspected they have relationships with other countries authorities so they can request it that way.

This new checking on people with benefits , I don't think it fits the criteria though.

[Vic69]

Its standard practice for the card payers name to be shown on a transfer, no way around it AFAIK

I dont think you can add a second card with revolut. Adding a second card to other accounts is possible, but I am fairly sure that you would have to go through ID checks for the second cardholder, so it kind of defeats the purpose
 

Thats a pain that you can't get a second card without checks on a revolut.  I sometimes book theatre tickets or dinner reservations for clients and use my second card for this to preserve my personal details.

[Steely Dan]

I don't think you can add a second card with revolut.

I have an under 18 card on my revolut.  Has a totally different name.  From the app when I press 'Accounts' and then '+ Add new', it gives me an option for joint account and to create another under 18 account.  I seem to recall the under 18 did not require ID, not sure the joint account.

[mcardle464]

I'd be very, very wary of doing bank transfers/paypal etc. which shows your proper name.  Maybe you'll be OK, or maybe it will all go badly wrong.

I notice Seeking is now insisting on identity verification.

[PilotMan]

Most banks are wary of accepting lots of cash deposits to personal accounts and have limits in place.

I have in the past deposited regular cash circa £5k to a personal Lloyd's account. They always asked where the cash came from, I used various things such as I sold a car, furniture, etc. Then all of a sudden they said they had a company wide policy of accepting a maximum of£500.

It's normal now for banks, they are very wary of money laundering and use of cash for terrorism and organised crime etc. So my guess is that she is struggling with being able to get her earnings in to her personal account / banking system.

I have deposited large amounts of cash to my business account without being questioned. The amount wouldn't have looked unusual or out of place compared to the amount of electronic transactions going through the account.

Maybe SP's should start opening business accounts. However, they would then be subject to a different type of scrutiny 

[Vic69]

Most banks are wary of accepting lots of cash deposits to personal accounts and have limits in place.

I have in the past deposited regular cash circa £5k to a personal Lloyd's account. They always asked where the cash came from, I used various things such as I sold a car, furniture, etc. Then all of a sudden they said they had a company wide policy of accepting a maximum of£500.

It's normal now for banks, they are very wary of money laundering and use of cash for terrorism and organised crime etc. So my guess is that she is struggling with being able to get her earnings in to her personal account / banking system.

I have deposited large amounts of cash to my business account without being questioned. The amount wouldn't have looked unusual or out of place compared to the amount of electronic transactions going through the account.

Maybe SP's should start opening business accounts. However, they would then be subject to a different type of scrutiny 

You are right, banks are imposing cash limits on accounts even on business accounts.  Many SW have had accounts closed due to the nature of our business, which is crazy HMRC are happy to take our money, but not banks it seems!

[801]

Yeah I've heard from many SP's that accounts have been frozen due to high activity and large sums being deposited and transferred etc

Also many don't really want cash and then keep having to go to the bank to deposit it

[RandomGuy99]

Yeah I've heard from many SP's that accounts have been frozen due to high activity and large sums being deposited and transferred etc

Also many don't really want cash and then keep having to go to the bank to deposit it

I guess the solution is to have multiple bank accounts at multiple banks and spread it around.  Once you've paid in the cash transfer it to another bank, so your balance isn't high for a current account. Have cash paying in accounts with some banks and then savings accounts in other banks. There's nothing to stop you having a large number of bank accounts across all the banks.

It's all part of the anti-laundrying rules.  They'll ask the source of the money. If they're not happy that it's not crime related then they'll refuse to take it. I remember watching a man in my bank paying around £20K in cash into a number of different accounts at the same bank. The staff were asking a lot of questions.

[jimbobted]

She probably wants to send the money back to Brazil, obviously that's easier if it's already in a bank and she doesn't have to get around cash deposit limits.

Making a transfer *will* reveal your name. Even if you put a payment reference in and that shows in the summary, if you go into the transaction detail your name will be there.

I've had girls give me their revtag to pay them, and it still revealed our names to each other. Another girl sent me a payment link (like a web store checkout to tap bank card details into) for a deposit, once I clicked the button to pay it said "You've just paid £100 to <real name>".
It's almost impossible to stay anonymous as the sender. Recipient can give you a bullshit name and althought it'll flag up as incorrect it will still let you pay.

Revolut are getting a bit silly though. Paying one girl by card it blocked my card as suspected fraud, got it sorted in the end. Transferring cash to one of my other accounts I had to go through a load of fraud warnings. The next time I had to go through the same warnings and then have a chat with support where they asked me all the same questions and gave me all the same warnings again.
No I'm not being coerced, just send my money dickhead!

[SonofAJohn]

She probably wants to send the money back to Brazil, obviously that's easier if it's already in a bank and she doesn't have to get around cash deposit limits.

Making a transfer *will* reveal your name. Even if you put a payment reference in and that shows in the summary, if you go into the transaction detail your name will be there.

I've had girls give me their revtag to pay them, and it still revealed our names to each other. Another girl sent me a payment link (like a web store checkout to tap bank card details into) for a deposit, once I clicked the button to pay it said "You've just paid £100 to <real name>".
It's almost impossible to stay anonymous as the sender. Recipient can give you a bullshit name and althought it'll flag up as incorrect it will still let you pay.

Revolut are getting a bit silly though. Paying one girl by card it blocked my card as suspected fraud, got it sorted in the end. Transferring cash to one of my other accounts I had to go through a load of fraud warnings. The next time I had to go through the same warnings and then have a chat with support where they asked me all the same questions and gave me all the same warnings again.
No I'm not being coerced, just send my money dickhead!

The bank is just doing their job, escorting is mainly a cash based business. Think people should stick to cash, would cause less issues on both sides.

[versace]

Yeah I've heard from many SP's that accounts have been frozen due to high activity and large sums being deposited and transferred etc

Also many don't really want cash and then keep having to go to the bank to deposit it

Most of the girls I know don't use the bank, they use the post office. More discreet, less questions asked.

[MissWolf]

Most of the girls I know don't use the bank, they use the post office. More discreet, less questions asked.

This issue goes as far as the post office also as the banks have put a cap on the amount of cash that can be paid in via the PO, the limit is 10k per annum for all the main banks as far as I know

[Doc Holliday]

This issue goes as far as the post office also as the banks have put a cap on the amount of cash that can be paid in via the PO, the limit is 10k per annum for all the main banks as far as I know

Indeed. We have had this discussion before. The actual amount that can be paid in via the Post Office is governed by your actual bank and there are variations. You need to check with your bank as this can vary both in the limit of a daily/monthly deposit and an annual limit. Here are two examples

External Link/Members Only
External Link/Members Only

However the limits will depend on whether it is a personal account or a business account and the latter in particular, can have more flexible variations 'by arrangement'. Not all personal accounts are the same with the same bank. I seem to recall fairly recently NatWest were in the news for imposing discretionary stricter limits on cash deposits at actual branches?

Finally some post offices themselves may impose a smaller daily limit for security reasons relating to that specific branch.

Then there is the issue of deposits triggering either the bank questioning the source or an investigation. This is also hugely variable and has been discussed before but a single deposit of £5k is often quoted as a threshold for this to happen, but once again there is much variation between both individual banks and specific accounts within that bank.

In terms of bank transfers, then this has also been discussed before at length and my understanding is that whilst the payees bank account may have more flexibility to hide their name if it is a business account, the payer personal account will always show the full name, though once again if payment was from a business account this could show the trading name.

[shooter]

I'd be very, very wary of doing bank transfers/paypal etc. which shows your proper name.  Maybe you'll be OK, or maybe it will all go badly wrong.

I notice Seeking is now insisting on identity verification.

I think this thread has established that there isnt anyway at the moment to stop your details being passed on when using bank transfer.

The only annoymised prepaid card I know of is the post office travel one below, which you can pick up in a branch.
But then I think you would need the WG to have some sort of payment terminal to accept the payment.

Cash remains king, for the time being, despite this causing increasing problems for WGs. 


(External Link/Members Only)

[PilotMan]

It's all explained here, the limits, the law, and how your cash can be seized under the proceeds of crime act.

The proposed cash limit is £1,000 per 24 hours, £10,000 per annum.

External Link/Members Only

[RandomGuy99]

So get 5 savings accounts at different banks and pay into one account per day.

A few of the SPs I see also run other businesses and just pay their SP takings in with their other takings.

They can then transfer it into separate savings accounts or invest in other ways.

[shooter]

It's all explained here, the limits, the law, and how your cash can be seized under the proceeds of crime act.

The proposed cash limit is £1,000 per 24 hours, £10,000 per annum.

External Link/Members Only

In which case, is it inevitable that WG's will want to be paid by transfer? And how will punters keep annoynmity when that happens? Bitcoin for fucks? 

 

[Steely Dan]

A few of the SPs I see also run other businesses and just pay their SP takings in with their other takings.

I assume you know - say if you ever saw Ozark - that this is money laundering?  And it is not needed by escorts.  What they do (fucking for money) is legal.  Silly to do something not legal for no good reason. If they get too much cash, they may be best to upgrade their account to be a business account, and call their business 'sports massage'.  Whatever - this is not our problem.

Back to the topic: You really can make a new account on Revolut and call it D Fagan (rather than S Dan).  As if she can track us from either name.  Ok the government or the FCA can track this back to you or me, but most escorts really can't. Nor do they want to.  There is always some risk in this hobby, but if you create a few extra cards, this is not a big one.  (It is the lies I tell to get out of the house that are likely to bite me in the arse some day) 

[RandomGuy99]

I assume you know - say if you ever saw Ozark - that this is money laundering?  And it is not needed by escorts.  What they do (fucking for money) is legal.  Silly to do something not legal for no good reason. If they get too much cash, they may be best to upgrade their account to be a business account, and call their business 'sports massage'.  Whatever - this is not our problem.

Back to the topic: You really can make a new account on Revolut and call it D Fagan (rather than S Dan).  As if she can track us from either name.  Ok the government or the FCA can track this back to you or me, but most escorts really can't. Nor do they want to.  There is always some risk in this hobby, but if you create a few extra cards, this is not a big one.  (It is the lies I tell to get out of the house that are likely to bite me in the arse some day)

I think we all know it's not illegal. Sadly, the banks have a different view of the situation, which why the SPs have had problems. If would only be money laundering if it came from crime and it's not. It's just earnings for their business. They can record bookings as whatever they like in their accounts.

[thimble29]

Of course all of this was less of an issue for escorts with personal accounts when they could pay in cash at the supermarket, for car repairs, furniture, meals out etc but less and less places want your cash full stop.

[stevesucks69]

Don't know where you shop but most shops still take cash, garage very happy to take any payment and most food places too

[Mkhelen]

NeoSurf vouchers codes texted to her can pay for her aw credits can be brought from a Newsagents and pay point

Paysafecard voucher codes texted to her can pay for Vivastreet and other adverts
Paysafecard voucher can be brought with cash from a pay point and put on the girls prepaid mastercard which is chip and pin

Amazon gift card voucher codes

[Mkhelen]

Bank transfer are very annoying when guys put the reference as Cum2 owo xx

Had 6 bank accounts frozen and closed in 15 years it fucking sucks

Currently doing a business bank account and card terminal in a business name to cover men who have zero cash

[Strawberry]

NeoSurf vouchers codes texted to her can pay for her aw credits can be brought from a Newsagents and pay point

Paysafecard voucher codes texted to her can pay for Vivastreet and other adverts
Paysafecard voucher can be brought with cash from a pay point and put on the girls prepaid mastercard which is chip and pin

Amazon gift card voucher codes

Yes but these do not pay normal bills, living, costs, fuel, buying a car, house, pension and there's only so much can be bought from Amazon.

[PilotMan]

Bank transfer are very annoying when guys put the reference as Cum2 owo xx

Had 6 bank accounts frozen and closed in 15 years it fucking sucks

Currently doing a business bank account and card terminal in a business name to cover men who have zero cash

Just be careful of dodgy punters who will try to do a claim back on credit / debit card payments that are made via a terminal. I know an SP who did outcalls to hotels and this was a convenient way to get payment, but she stopped doing it after a few claim backs happened. She had the same thing with PayPal transfers.

Bank transfers are less prone to it happening.

[martin1964]

Of course all of this was less of an issue for escorts with personal accounts when they could pay in cash at the supermarket, for car repairs, furniture, meals out etc but less and less places want your cash full stop.

Summer last year I was in my local main car dealership collecting my car for a service and there was a SP who I had seen a couple of years previously in there also doing the same. She didn't recognise me fortunately however she was trying to pay the bill in cash, they were not having it, they insisted she paid on card.

I do wonder for those SPs who try and avoid the tax (and there must be a good few who do) how they "dispose/spend" of the large sums of cash that they must accumulate as they won't be able to pay it in without leaving a trace. 5 years ago it was easy but in the post Covid era a lot of places now won't take cash. 

[RandomGuy99]

Summer last year I was in my local main car dealership collecting my car for a service and there was a SP who I had seen a couple of years previously in there also doing the same. She didn't recognise me fortunately however she was trying to pay the bill in cash, they were not having it, they insisted she paid on card.

I do wonder for those SPs who try and avoid the tax (and there must be a good few who do) how they "dispose/spend" of the large sums of cash that they must accumulate as they won't be able to pay it in without leaving a trace. 5 years ago it was easy but in the post Covid era a lot of places now won't take cash.

Just hire some trades people to do some work on your house. Most will bite your arm off if you offer to pay in cash.

[londonroad]

Just hire some trades people to do some work on your house. Most will bite your arm off if you offer to pay in cash.

Have you tried this recently? The impression I get is that less and less trades people will now accept large amounts of cash.

[PilotMan]

Have you tried this recently? The impression I get is that less and less trades people will now accept large amounts of cash.

Offering cash to trades people to get a discount used to work, in my recent experience it no longer seems to.

[webpunter]

As an aside EE SPs have the added complication of getting £ cash converted to € cash
Perhaps why revolut is attractive as currency conversion available 

Donkeys ago a semi reg toild me that she knew most of the money exchange outlets in north london within a 5 mile radius
& would keep a list of which she'd been to so she rotated them
So as not to attract attention & would dress down on her trips
Crappy exchange rates too

What she didnt want to do was to arrive back in EE land with just under the 10k limit in £
& have to change it there, an even worse exchange rate & she didn't want anyone knowing what she was doing
With €uros in cash easier for her to use at home for whatever it was

Good luck dealing with Revolut on the app if ever there is a problem, they are painful

[Bond]

Interesting discussion. I think that the biggest threat to the future of this hobby is the demise of cash. That is why I sometimes use cash (e.g. in the pub) when quite frankly it would be more convenient for me to use a card. Hopefully there are others who do the same.

I know that prostitution will always remain in some shape or form, but I think that we are already in a situation where choice is shrinking and quality is falling.

[SonofAJohn]

Interesting discussion. I think that the biggest threat to the future of this hobby is the demise of cash. That is why I sometimes use cash (e.g. in the pub) when quite frankly it would be more convenient for me to use a card. Hopefully there are others who do the same.

I know that prostitution will always remain in some shape or form, but I think that we are already in a situation where choice is shrinking and quality is falling.

Stay optimistic, there is a solution to all of this. The pimps/managers will find a way for prostitution to exist in a cashless society.

[MissWolf]

Stay optimistic, there is a solution to all of this. The pimps/managers will find a way for prostitution to exist in a cashless society.

And you think that's a good thing? 

Surely you would say I'm sure that there is a solution to this and that the independent working girls will find a way forward. I mean who would advocate a future where we have to rely on pimps to punt.

[SonofAJohn]

And you think that's a good thing? 

Surely you would say I'm sure that there is a solution to this and that the independent working girls will find a way forward. I mean who would advocate a future where we have to rely on pimps to punt.

I understand but unfortunately there will always be pimps/managers/middle men. It's part and parcel of the whole infrastructure. Some girls do prefer that set-up anyway.

[RandomGuy99]

And you think that's a good thing? 

Surely you would say I'm sure that there is a solution to this and that the independent working girls will find a way forward. I mean who would advocate a future where we have to rely on pimps to punt.

I'll give you a sack of potatoes, a dozen eggs and I'll cut the grass for 1 week in exchange for a shag. Deal?

[Bru1901]

Any wg can open a starling business or a tide business acc in minutes and as a sole trader

Its simple

Those with limits are personal accounts via direct or the post office

Any wg should in essence have a business account

[MissWolf]

I'll give you a sack of potatoes, a dozen eggs and I'll cut the grass for 1 week in exchange for a shag. Deal?

I don't have any grass you will have to renegotiate 

[PilotMan]

Any wg can open a starling business or a tide business acc in minutes and as a sole trader

Its simple

Those with limits are personal accounts via direct or the post office

Any wg should in essence have a business account

You might want to have a read through the eligibility criteria, it's not that simple. I doubt many S.P.'s will qualify.

"To open an account as a sole trader, you must meet certain eligibility checks, which include looking at credit data. We are unable to confirm your eligibility until you apply for a Sole Trader Account."

I haven’t read their full eligibility criteria, but I'm pretty sure you will need to be a UK resident to open a business account. That will stop a huge number of pressies.

You'll probably also need to provide proof that you are actually a business,  I.e. a suppliers invoice, letters from HMRC or Accountant etc.

I'm also fairly sure the account will fall under the Consumer Credt Act, which has greater restrictions than apply to a limited Company.

Simple it is not.

[Bru1901]

You might want to have a read through the eligibility criteria, it's not that simple. I doubt many S.P.'s will qualify.

"To open an account as a sole trader, you must meet certain eligibility checks, which include looking at credit data. We are unable to confirm your eligibility until you apply for a Sole Trader Account."

I haven’t read their full eligibility criteria, but I'm pretty sure you will need to be a UK resident to open a business account. That will stop a huge number of pressies.

You'll probably also need to provide proof that you are actually a business,  I.e. a suppliers invoice, letters from HMRC or Accountant etc.

I'm also fairly sure the account will fall under the Consumer Credt Act, which has greater restrictions than apply to a limited Company.

Simple it is not.

I doubt anyone has been declined for a tide card

Tide dont verify anything and wont ask for invoices. Lets say they do down the line - rent receipts or hotel receipts are perfectly valid. Why would there be any difficulty for a sp?

She could be a therapist or consultant etc you dont have to write sex worker

Secondly they wont offer credit - it will simply be similar to an account with no overdraft or credit facilities

Banks make the onus on the owner of the account to complete tax activities

Providing the sp isnt on an anti money laundering list she will get an account

Ive yet to hear of anyone been declined a tide account