Domination and Discrimination
By Elizabeth Swan on
I have been off the blogging radar for a little while because I have been busy buying a house. Or should I say trying to buy a house. Completion was given by my solicitor as the 1st of December and I had submitted all my bank statements to prove I have the funds. I wasn't worried at all through the whole process. I am listed as a Dominatrix on my tax return which I told my solicitor and also that there was cash earnings going into my bank account every week. And then today at 5.30pm I receive an email from my solicitor stating that because of our conversation she has to get approval from a money laundering officer before she can proceed. Would this have happened if I had said I was a hairdresser? Probably not. And yes it was a cash purchase but lets get this straight...the house was cheap at under 50,000 (it is up north) and it had taken me years to save up as I did not want a mortgage. I wanted a little home I could do up and call my own when the time comes to hang up my hold ups. But that appears to be too much to ask. And on the subject of cash...I would LOVE less cash to be going into my account and be paid by clients through pay-pal for example or another payment gateway. But I tried and got turned down numerous times because of 'the nature of my business.' So I am left with taking cash. Which means I get investigated for money laundering. Well we are either in a legitimate business or we are not. If you tax us we should be treated like other self employed workers. We should be able to take payments the way we want to and after tax is paid we should be allowed to spend it how we want to. Otherwise it leaves me thinking what is the point. Occasionally I have had a client ask me if I would be exclusive to them. And quite frankly this week its tempting.Elizabeth Swan