...to complain about "Scottish money" fiasco?

[NotFromConcentrate]

I probably am BU, but i was mortified.


At the weekend, my DH and I took the children to Legoland Discovery Centre in Manchester, and stayed over the night before. We took a trip to the Trafford Centre, and the children chose McDonald's for dinner. When I paid, I handed over a Bank of Scotland £20 note. The cashier asked if I had any "English money" and, when I told her I didn't, she said she didn't think she could accept Scottish money.

The place was packed, but I asked her to check that with her manager. She then had a shouted conversation with him from one end of the counter to the other, discussing whether my cash was sterling and did it have a metal strip. I was absolutely mortified, and furious.

AIBU to complain on principle?

(I work throughout the UK and have never experienced this before)

[sarahtigh]

actually no notes of any kind are legal tender only coins surprisingly true all notes are legal currency which is not quite the same thing

i'm english and live in scotland I keep some bank of england notes for when i go south scottish notes are fine generally within cumbria bnorthumberland etc but further south particularly at markets etc scottish notes do get funny looks not had any problems with them at M&S etc but would not use them in small shops mind you they dont like £50 notes either

bank of england notes are just that english, not bank of britain does not bother me really though

never had any anti-english stuff but i think that mostly happens on late nights with drunks and regarding football

[lesley33]

As I understand it newspapers in Scotland began to call themselves the Scottish Sun, etc because of feelings amongst some scots that some of these papers were too English centric and so they weren't buying them. There were letters in newspapers at the time complaining about this for example.

At the same time newspapers that were only scottish papers were increasing their circulation.

Newspapers are a business and respond to needs and feelings of customers. So although you can't dictate things such as what newspapers and businesses call themselves, you can influence it.

[2rebecca]

The trouble with the wapping based newspapers is that the Scottish parliament and scottish politics are largely ignored. I like the guardian but alternate it with the Herald because the guardian rarely covers Scottish politics, if it's discussing health it's discussing English health policies and the educational supplement comes out during the English termtime and largely discusses English education policies.
The politics of Scotland is sufficiently different to need our own paper. The problem with the Herald is it can go the other way and ignore English politics, especially with English local elections.

[PreviouslyonLost]

MrSpoc I see your point, but I think we are talking about Companies'/Businesses' that choose their titles. I have seen the same day copy of the Sun/Daily Mail and the Scottish/English versions DO differ according to their readership...in ways you may not even imagine.

However, we're NOT all one nation anymore! There are English, Scottish, Welsh, and N. Irish in the original melting pot...the Welsh have their Assembly, the Scots their Government, The Northern Irish their Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive...There's no Great in Britain any longer.

As an aside, I didn't/haven't visited the Millenium Dome/O2 Arena...neither is it likely that I shall attend any sporting event connected to the 2012 Olympics...am I moaning about that? Not much...but I'm Scottish first, British second, not as a slur or a Nationalist rant, simply because I was born in Scotland

[PreviouslyonLost]

lesley33 and 2rebecca see it as it is...a financial decision on behalf of newspaper companies that wish to expand and hold onto their readership...et al

[MrSpoc]

which is great previouslyonLost i am all for Patriotism but if you stand tall and count yourself as English instead of British you would be labelled as a racist.

So how can you call yourself Scottish and be seen as a Patriot but call yourself English and its wrong.

[PreviouslyonLost]

MrSpoc I feel we are actually on the same level about this issue.(Disclaimer...I do have gorgeous English relatives, through marriage of course )

You are right 'if you stand tall and count yourself as English instead of British you would be labelled as a racist'...there was another thread where the flying of a Saltire/Lion Rampant was seen as being (almost) acceptable, but a St George's Cross was viewed as being a bit 'ENGERLUND' ...I am proud to be (Teuchter) 'Scottish', and do see Scottish banknotes being refused as a bit when the alternative banknotes are unreservedly accepted 'oop ere'!

The times they are a'changing...whatever your nationality (I DO have a splash of 2nd World War Eastern European in my genes) I hope that people are proud of their backgrounds wherever they come from.

[venusandmars]

I understand why small shops sometimes question scottish money, they may not see it often, and there are so many different banks that still produce their own. What I DO get mad about is getting off a plane at Heathrow and not being able to use scottish notes in the machines to buy an underground ticket. When they accept Euros!

And we have machines up here that can read the different notes electronicalloy, so it can't be impossible to get the same technology in Heathrow.

[LadyBeagleEyes]

I don't understand why the Scots, N. Irish and Welsh are happy to say they are Scottish, Welsh and Irish before British, yet so many English people get called racist if they admit to it.
I also think England should have their own devolved pariaiment and keep all the tories.

[NormanTebbit]

"I think its Ok if your Scottish to call your self a Nationalist but try doing that if your English and you will be called a racist."

I'm English and a Scottish Nationalist - what does that make me?

English people get called racist if they admint to ...being English? Are you sure??

[NormanTebbit]

"I have seen the same day copy of the Sun/Daily Mail and the Scottish/English versions DO differ according to their readership...in ways you may not even imagine."

Of course they do. Newspapers change their pages to suit different regions - Scotland has a different education and legal system, a different government and to cover this adequately the newspapers need to tailor coverage to suit their readership.

It's not some conspiracy, you know.

[MrSpoc]

I am very sure Norman. If you havent come across this then you are lucky. Have you not noticed when filling in goverment forms you have a tick box for Bristish, Scottish, Wlesh etc but not English.

If you refer to your self as English you wil be considered a racist. I thought this was common knowledge.

[NormanTebbit]

I refer to myself as English all the time. Have not yet been called a racist.

I don't see what's racist about saying you are English. And I sure the Scots the Welsh and the Irish couldn't give a monkey's.

I have experienced racism in Scotland but not as much as you might think and mainly from educated middle class people who should know better.

[PreviouslyonLost]

NormanTebbit I never said it was a conspiracy...more relating to 'giving the people more of what they want'...the same newspaper with wholly different perspectives on certain issues? If you read both versions you could see the nonsensical opposing 'nationalism' spouted by either. Now that's what I call disingenuous, and all for 10p, or whatever the Scottish Sun costs these days

[NormanTebbit]

well yes, the tabloid press is very good at contradictory and frankly hypocritical indignation I do have a soft spot for The Sun even though I know that is very bad of me.

[NormanTebbit]

And all for 10p

[netherlee]

YANBU in the slightest. The cashier was in this case. Only such dimwits would not understand.

Not sure what youd achieve by complaining though but you are right to feel stupid.

[MrSpoc]

The cashier was probably young, un-educated and never travelled outside of Trafford before (Why would they when Trafford has everything you could possibly want including Man U).

Why do you expect her to of seen or even knew what a Scottish note looked like and even if they could take them.

[PreviouslyonLost]

ToNobodyInParticular I DO not blame the OP, or the cashier, or the Tabloid Press...it's just another day in Scotland Paradise. If I may paraphrase the OP...why in all that is good and MN in the world would one neighbouring country, albeit with different Education, Legal, etc systems, NOT accept the banknotes of their friendly'ish, fellow all into the one pot tax-paying neighbours? If the situation was reversed...would there be outrage then? Opines 'We don't see many of them there strange Bank of England notes in these Northern frozen parts, get thee to a Bureau De Change and swap them for Clydesdale, Royal, or Bank of...Scotland real money'

[pixielicious]

[PreviouslyonLost]

pixielicious FAB, that made me laugh, cheers

[NotFromConcentrate]

Previously That's pretty much it in a nutshell. I didn't feel racially abused (although, as has been acknowledged, there are other who have
from both sides of the border) bit I did feel bemused and embarassed, and therefore angry.

I know the banks could refuse it but really, can you see the BofE writing to
Ronald McDonald to advise him they won't be accepting the Funny Money from their takings?!

[dementedma]

definition of a balanced Scot - "one with a chip on both shoulders"
I live in Scotland, I can say that!!

[pixielicious]

Haha, no problem Previously ! I have sooo many more where that came from! I'm not going to highjack the thread, but I'll leave you with my personal fave, which althought not directly related to the thread content is still Scottish-themed!

Sorry guys, I just really really love Michael!

[FabbyChic]

This happens all the time when my bf comes over from NI. Places refuse to take his Irish notes.