Weird methods of payment (2024)

It is alleged that in Australia that a man attempted to pay a bill with a drawing of a spider (you can read all about it here: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=665847 )

Does anyone have any similar stories to share about customers trying to use odd forms of currency?

joeyar said:

a man attempted to pay a bill with a drawing of a spider

I think all he was buying was time.

Well, there's the classic one from high school World History class: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rai_stones" .

I heard a story that might be an urban legend, I haven't verified it: you know the "Publisher's Clearinghouse" type junk mail you get, that tells you you've won a big prize and often includes a fake bank check with the word "VOID" or something printed across it? Supposedly at one point in time they hadn't started putting "VOID" on the check fascimiles and some guy simply went to the bank and cashed the million-dollar check and the courts made the company pay him.

⚛​

One of my most favourite stories...
Emperor Norton

Norton did receive some small tokens of formal recognition for his self-claimed position: the 1870 U.S. census records a Joshua Norton residing at 624 Commercial Street and lists his occupation as "Emporer" (sic).[4][30] Norton would also issue his own money on occasion in order to pay for certain debts, and this became an accepted local currency in San Francisco. Typically these notes came in denominations ranging anywhere from fifty cents to ten dollars; the few notes still extant are collector's items. The city of San Francisco also honored Norton. When his uniform began to look shabby, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, with a great deal of ceremony, bought him a suitably regal replacement. In return, Norton sent them a gracious note of thanks and issued a "patent of nobility in perpetuity" for each supervisor.[31]

That's great. I came across a mention of Emperor Norton once but I only skimmed through it, I didn't know the part about him issuing currency.

⚛​

Office_Shredder said:

Look at the dates... he had 7 days to make the payment, and it took 7 days to have that conversation. Coincidence? Possibly

Aha! Now I see! :rofl:

Moonbear said:

Was there a cop walking past at the time? :uhh:

Lol... not that I'm aware of.
I didn't try any myself because I had already been drinking but it has one of the most wonderful smells when its burning!

One time I was at a bar, ordered a drink, and I went to pay and I was like... damn, I have no money. Looked at the guy next to me, the bartender looks at him and goes... "I need 5 dollars." And the guy PAID IT!

I couldn't believe it. He was mad though.