Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

I’m in London and nowhere will accept NI sterling.

46 replies

EleanorLavish · 27/08/2019 13:12

It’s so annoying!
DH just went to the post office to change it to English sterling and they refused it, said it was ‘policy’.
TBF I said rob DH to either put it in the bank or change it when we were in NI and he said it would be fine.
Is it the same with Scottish Sterling?

OP posts:

Youngatheart00 · 27/08/2019 13:14

That’s unusual re post office. Have you tried a bank?

inwood · 27/08/2019 13:16

My mum is from NI - we have had this for years, I went to uni in Scotland - same thing. Who do you bank with, they should change for you. It's an utter, explainable, pain in the arse.

SgtFredColon · 27/08/2019 13:16

Knew they didn’t accept it but thought a bank would change it?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Savings & investments

whocanbebothered · 27/08/2019 13:16

It's the same thing with Scottish money, yes. "I think you'll find that's legal tender!" haha. The thing is, shopkeepers have the right to refuse any notes they don't like the look of So, if they are less familiar with Scottish or NI notes, and therefore less able to identify fake ones, they can reject them. And they do. More or less always. If you cant get the PO to take them, neither will they and as far as they're concerned, that's a "You Problem".

I have to say, I am pretty shocked you thought it even possible they would be taken in London. I never even attempt it as it just ends up awkward for all involved and its not worth the bother. A lesson learned for next time OP.

GreenTulips · 27/08/2019 13:17

Try the post office instead of a bank

motorcyclenumptiness · 27/08/2019 13:17

Can you pay it into your bank a/c (rather than change it) at the PO?

0blio · 27/08/2019 13:18

I spend any Scottish notes I bring back in supermarkets, cashiers don't usually bat an eyelid.
I wouldn't attempt to use them in the local market or small corner shop though as they refuse them.

SgtFredColon · 27/08/2019 13:19

She already went to the post office.

Also it’s not actually legal tender - there’s a long boring explanation on wiki about why. It’s legal currency or something else.

PinkyU · 27/08/2019 13:20

said in my thickest Scottish accent It’s legal tender!!!!!!

Afaik they can not refuse it.

We had a recent experience of trying to pay with a Scottish note in the Lake District but found that we had coins to pay instead. The cashier handed the note back and said that at least we wouldn’t have to exchange it before we go back. She literally thought that we had to use a bureau de change when crossing the border!

RebootYourEngine · 27/08/2019 13:22

I hate this.

My exh took money out of an ATM in England in a corner shop. Bought something in the shop and they refused to accept that money as it was a Scottish note

I would try and change it at a bank.

Original poster

EleanorLavish · 27/08/2019 13:22

My DH is from London we are back and forth all the time!
That’s why I told him to change it before.
He said it would be fine.
If I pass a bank I’ll go in, but we are sightseeing etc so total PITA.
We take English ones, it should be explained so people know to take it. It’s bloody annoying.

OP posts:

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 27/08/2019 13:26

Also it’s not actually legal tender - there’s a long boring explanation on wiki about why. It’s legal currency or something else.

As far as I remember legal tender only refers to settling if debts. And bank noted from Scottish and northern Irish banks are promissory notes which means they aren't technically legal tender???

On the rare occasion I get given a scottish note I just use it in Tesco's. The self service accepts them and the cashiers don't seem overly fussed by them either.

SgtFredColon · 27/08/2019 13:33

Yeah that’s it. And no one has to accept them if they don’t want to (or legal tender for that matter in shops).

It’s annoying but I don’t carry as much cash anymore so isn’t too bad these days. I wouldn’t have wads of NI notes when I’m in London anyway.

PotatoShape · 27/08/2019 13:39

When I worked in a shop, I was told to refuse Scottish notes. I'm not risking my job for the sake of a tourists insistence that their money is legal tender!

Glitterbug101 · 27/08/2019 13:47

PotatoShape Their insistence is correct, your knowledge is lacking.

Circe32 · 27/08/2019 13:54

We always seem to return to England with Scottish notes, but have found that the supermarket self-serve tills will accept them - just save them for your shopping!

PotatoShape · 27/08/2019 13:56

My knowledge could be of epic proportions on the matter, but when I'm told not to take the money or it's up to me to make up the shortfall, then guess what.....I'm not taking it.

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 27/08/2019 13:56

Their insistence is correct, your knowledge is lacking.

Nope... your knowledge is lacking, shops are not obliged to accept anything. Legal tender is refers to repayment of debts.

www.bankofengland.co.uk/knowledgebank/what-is-legal-tender

pikapikachu · 27/08/2019 13:56

I'm in England and was given a Scottish tenner today. Spent it in Morrison's self service machine without a problem

Willow2017 · 27/08/2019 13:58

Afaik they can not refuse it

Well as Scottish notes aren't even legal tender in Scotland never mind England yes they can refuse.😂😂

Fraggling · 27/08/2019 13:59

They are fine but most people in England don't see them very often so don't know how to tell if they are genuine.

No one has to accept any notes. Lots of places won't accept 50s even english for same reason.

Fraggling · 27/08/2019 13:59

We accepted it in Ladbrokes back in the day, fancy a wager?

Willow2017 · 27/08/2019 14:01

Their insistence is correct, your knowledge is lacking.
Nope it's yours.

ContinuityError · 27/08/2019 14:06

There's a difference between legal tender and legal currency. Scottish banknotes aren't legal tender, even in Scotland.

Any shop can refuse to accept money in any format if they so choose.

actuallyquitesmall · 27/08/2019 14:16

Our local petrol station has a sign up saying they won't take them due to too many forgeries.

A bank should do it though.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread