€500 notes

[mrsconradfisher]

Does anyone know how I can change 2 €500 notes in the U.K.?
We’ve got 2 boys and they have each been given a €500 note from a very wealthy elderly family friend. It’s incredibly generous but I actually have no idea what to do with them. Tried our bank who looked at me like I was crazy and the travel money place said they don’t take them.
Having googled it seemed to suggest that a bank in Europe would take them but we have no holidays planned.

What bank are you with? I would have thought a bank would take it.

We had this recently. A few currency exchange places in London will take them, but for a high commission/fee. We ended up posting them to a Dutch friend to change! Even going to Europe isn't straightforward - it seems to be only major branches of banks in big cities that will take them.

They were discontinued, but still remain legal tender. If a bank has a foreign currency exchange service, try that. Otherwise I'd try a currency exchange shop if you know of one. They will charge commission and the rate will vary.

We are with HSBC. I tried a tiny branch in the town where we live but might try again in a local city.

Thanks everyone, good to know I’m not going crazy and they tricky to change.

You can risk the post and send them to a friend in Ireland or the continent who can depost them and transfer you the money, but there is usually a bank transfer fee I think.

Unfortunately anyone we could send them to are either in Northern Ireland or the Middle East so don’t think that’s going to work.
It’s honestly like they are like Monopoly money. The person who gave them to the boys literally had a wallet full of them as well!!

You can pay money in to a bank at a post office. I'd try asking there.

Dodgy money lol 😂😂😂

Not aiming this at your relative OP, but one reason they were discontinued is that it was easier to pack laundered cash in denominations of E500 😊

I wonder if eventually they’ll be worth more than their face value to collectors if they’ve been discontinued. But don’t suppose your kids will be willing to wait 20yrs!

I promise it’s not! He’s not even a blood relative, just a very old family friend. He’s nearly 90 bless him and lives in Europe most of the year on a tiny island but has a penthouse near Regents Park in London. Honestly it’s a completely different world, he comes over, takes us to lunch and throws cash at the boys. He’s got his own (very legal!!) company as well so nothing dodgy I promise!!

Interesting! I clearly live in a very different world as I’ve never even seen €500 notes before. In fact I’ve barely seen a £50!

They might have to if I can’t work out what to do with them!! Luckily they aren’t the least bit materialistic. DS1 is at Uni and was going to use it for rent so it would be useful to be able to change it at some point.

In Spain they used to call them Bin Ladens cos noone has ever actually seen one.