OK, there are a few things that meed to be addressed on this thread:
1. Banks have every right to refuse to sell you a single roll of coins, let alone a box or multiple boxes. They can also charge fees. Even if you aren't technically a business, if you're buying as much or more rolled coin than many businesses, they can either force you to open a business account and pay the fees or refuse you. The banks pay for those boxes and can pretty much do as they wish with them. Think about it...if you owned a business would you give away things that you had to pay for? Does that make sound business sense? If you can find a bank that is willing to sell boxes, great. But thinking that a bank
has to sell a single roll to you with is without a fee is whats laughable. Even if you have an account, they can close that account for any reason whatsoever and send you packing.
2. If you try to use an uncooperative bank as a massive dump bank to "teach them a lesson", you very well may run into the same problems. Again, they can refuse the coins, charge you a fee, and/or close your account.
3. Mercury, I believe that if your case of attempting to make a loan payment with rolled coin had went to court, you would have likely lost. I think what happened was that the regional supervisor you spoke with correctly surmised that it would be
much less of a hassle to just accept the halves than fight it. Even if they beat you in court, and I think they most likely would have, it would have cost them more in legal fees, time, and trouble than having to deal with your half dollars costs them. Had your payment amount been $100,000+ instead of $1000 or if you were attempting to pay with bags of unrolled cents, I believe your situation might have had a different outcome. The law concerning this is a bit vague. It would likely come down to a judge's ruling, and its very possible that 2 different judges would rule differently. But, I just don't believe that I can go purchase a $250,000 house, show up to my mortgage holders office a few days later with 25 million cents, and if they do not accept it as payment, then the house is mine free and clear. I'd lay 20-1 odds I couldn't win that battle in court. I remember reading an article somewhere online in the past several months about a guy attempting to pay some sort of disputed utility bill with a bunch of cents. They refused to accept them and it was upheld. While coins are indeed "legal tender for all debts public and private", individuals and businesses are free to specify which form(s) of legal tender they will or will not accept. For example, most convenience stores in my area will not accept any notes larger than $20. This article touches on the subject, and you can see how vague the law is worded and how a judge's ruling could go either way.
snopes.com: Debt Payment in Pennies
CRHing is a
finesse game IMO. With more and more banks cutting costs, instituting fees, etc., its more of a finesse game than ever. Pretty much what we CRHers do is to go from bank to bank looking for handouts. We're essentially panhandlers. We try to get them to give us something for free that they had to pay for in most instances. Which type of panhandler would you be more likely to give to? The type that very kindly says something like, "Pardon me, but could you spare a little change to help me out? I'd really appreciate it." or the one who rudely says, "You have so much money, you must share some with me. I'm
entitled to it." Just something to think about.
