Should I pay a driveway specialist in cash?

Paying a driveway specialist in cash removes your consumer protection. No bank record means no chargeback, no Section 75 cover, no easy proof if a dispute arises. Cash also voids most trade-body warranties — they require a paper trail. Some driveway specialists offer a 5–10% "cash discount" but the saving is usually less than what you lose in protection. A safer approach: pay by bank transfer or card directly to the trade's business account. Safer still: use a TradeMatch escrow-held payment, which is bank-traced, gives you milestone sign-off, and freezes the funds if anything goes wrong. Unless you genuinely trust the trade and the job is small, cash is the wrong path.