Unfortunately, in some places you may only use change up to a certain amount. For example, I worked at a gas station that only took $5 of change for a single transaction, and that was generally a flexible kindness. If it were all pennies, we could still deny it. It's usually because counting change takes longer and therefore holds up the other customers. Not because the cashier is lazy or just being a dick.

I would have just left my money on the counter and drive away. Can't call on the cops for theft because I did leave the change their.

In the UK coins over a certain amount is not legal tender. 1p's and 2p's are up to and including 20pence combined. 5p's and 10ps up to £5 combined. 20p's and 50p's are up to £10 each. Then pound coins have no limit. I can't say for certain what the limits are in America but I would be very surprised if they didn't exist. Your local bank would swap them out for higher demoninations if you take them in.

i dont think they can refuse. Quarters wouldnt take that long to count.

This is one of those situations where you should have stood there and refused to leave the line until the cashier did what is part of his/her job (after all, you did not have a way to get to work). If you were planning to buy like $50 worth of gas or wanted to pay it with 5 or 10 cents, I can understand why the cashier would give you a hard time, but you clearly did not do that. I hope in the end that the cashier gave in in the end, or some good samaritan was willing to take your change for a bill instead.

I would have used the LPG already in the car to drive to work. You would think they would want your money rather than having to chase up the $10 after you leave (despite whatever maximum of coins the law states are legal tender in your area).

Seriously? Paying for gas with change? Cmon man

Sounds like a shitty employee to me. At the gas station I worked at we were required to take whatever change people gave us. I had to count out a crown royal bag full of change only for the guy to pump $5 into his truck and make me give him cash back

They have to take it ... it's illegal if they don't

I'm pretty sure it's illegal in many states (and strongly discouraged in most businesses) for cashiers to accept more than $2 worth in change.