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AIBU?

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Original poster

CF tipped guide in obsolete notes

152 replies

FloraPostIt · 14/01/2022 08:31

I recently went on a group tour. I was a single traveller with a group of other single travellers from various countries and an amazing local guide. It was two weeks. The guide's income has been massively hit by COVID and he has a young family so tips at the end of the tour are a massive deal for him.

On the last night one of the group had collected tips from everyone - about £50 in local currency each - and gave a little speech. We all applauded and thanked him.

Shortly after going to bed I got a WhatsApp message from the guide with a photo of some UK notes asking if they were valid. I was the only UK traveller.

I knew exactly who had put them in. On the first day a woman from the US had tried to exchange about £100 in £10 notes but couldn't as they were the old paper ones. She asked me to buy them off her and bring them back to the UK. I said I'd need to think about it - I'd only just met her, wasn't 100% I could change them and live nowhere near a bank anyway. I heard no more. But she knew they were worthless in that country.

By the time I got the message from the guide, she had already left for the airport as she was the first to go.

I met the guide next morning and he was upset and begging me to help. I agreed to bring the notes back, try to change them and transfer the money. I explained it would likely be a few weeks. It has been less than a week and I'm getting pleading messages urging me not to forget and I'm feeling terrible. I will most likely go into the city tomorrow to try and deal, which is a huge faff.

I spoke to the woman who took the collection and she was fuming and had no idea. She is much more assertive than me and sent CF a message who replied with a link saying the notes were valid as they could be taken to a bank in the UK. Assertive woman pointed out that Guide had never been to Europe in his life.

I kind of want to message CF and make this her problem, not mine, as I'm feeling guilty and stewing. However I'm rubbish at confrontation and am worried this would make md feel worse. I'm afraid I'm a very un-Munsnetty drip. WIBU to message CF? Any advice?

I also feel that if she was going to palm off her useless notes she could at least have put all £100 in but she only put in half.

OP posts:
MasterBeth · 14/01/2022 10:34

@Lockheart

Perhaps I'm being overly suspicious, but are you absolutely sure this isn't a scam? Poor tour guide gets given useless notes by mean tourist, asks nice tourist for help, nice tourist sends money after being pressured to do it asap, doesn't realise til later that old notes are not only old but also fake.

Be careful OP.

Be careful! (Clutches pearls...)

Jesus, that's a pretty elaborate scam to get fifty quid of fake (old!) notes in circulation!

It's fifty quid.

Transfer the money. Exchange the notes at your leisure.

Feel pleased that you are kind and helpful and have done a good deed.

Bettyfromlondon · 14/01/2022 10:41

PigeonLittle - the virtual tour site I use is:
www.heygo.com/home

Lockheart · 14/01/2022 10:44

@MasterBeth yes, scams are elaborate and clever, that's why people fall for them. And yes, it is "just" £50 - this time and for OP. How many other times are they doing "just £50" to people? You're very naive if you think this can't be a scam because it's elaborate and "just" £50.

I don't know if OP is being scammed but I do think she should wait until she safely has the money before she transfers anything.

ikeepseeingit · 14/01/2022 10:45

Hey OP just be aware of the charges! If you have a Monzo account or revolut then you can use those, or PayPal as well I think. But you should definitely put the money into your account and send it over asap. No one will think an amount that small would be money laundering.

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 14/01/2022 10:47

Only in MN world is it assumed that the OP should just stump up the 50 quid, which she might not get back, and this would have no impact on finances, and she should 'suck it up, buttercup' Hmm

MasterBeth · 14/01/2022 10:50

[quote Lockheart]@MasterBeth yes, scams are elaborate and clever, that's why people fall for them. And yes, it is "just" £50 - this time and for OP. How many other times are they doing "just £50" to people? You're very naive if you think this can't be a scam because it's elaborate and "just" £50.

I don't know if OP is being scammed but I do think she should wait until she safely has the money before she transfers anything.[/quote]
The OP toured abroad for two weeks with the US woman, at the end of which a grand total of £50 is - potentially - in dispute.

You're very naive if you think Western scammers put a fortnight's grift in for a potential £50 reward, and if you send me your bank details I'll tell you more.

MasterBeth · 14/01/2022 10:51

@SpongeBobJudgeyPants

Only in MN world is it assumed that the OP should just stump up the 50 quid, which she might not get back, and this would have no impact on finances, and she should 'suck it up, buttercup' Hmm
She has literally just returned from a two week long haul holiday. She's not on the breadline.
jebthesheep · 14/01/2022 10:51

Hi,
As an alternative, if you can afford it and they are in good condition- Send the guide the money and hang on to the notes - they can end up more valuable than face value to collectors if you are prepared to wait a while (think 5 years +) so it could sort of be a punt / savings device for you. You can also dream of getting a small wind at the cost of the CF (sorry might be a bit too Pollyanna there )

Lockheart · 14/01/2022 10:51

@MasterBeth you're the one advocating the OP should send money she doesn't yet have in her possession overseas, I'm not sure I'm the naive one.

jebthesheep · 14/01/2022 10:52

Windfall *. 😆

2022sucksalready · 14/01/2022 10:54

We had a Canadian relative visit just before covid with a ton of out of date fivers. I just took them to my local bank branch, asked nicely, and they changed them for me no problem. My relative had no idea they were obsolete notes, he had them from his last visit (a good number of years before). I think you have massively overthought this.

Flyinggeese1234 · 14/01/2022 10:55

Hi OP so sorry not RTFT but I recently changed some old (paper) notes (£50, and £20) at the Post Office. Absolutely no problem and straightforward.

The CF is appalling.

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 14/01/2022 10:59

She may not be on the breadline, but presumably has a budget, so... I stand by my position of not shelling it out, not her problem, she's already gone above and beyond.

ThinWomansBrain · 14/01/2022 10:59

If you'd have used an ATM while you were there if you'd thought about it, and can afford to be out of pocket for a few days, I'd make the transfer straight away. At least then if you can't fathom his bank details you can ask advice when you go to the bank.
Also, look at what the bank fees will be - at work the standard fee we get charged on currency payments is £15 - if you can't afford to swallow those, that's a big chunk of the expected £50.

the post office has a service with a £1.90 flat fee
www.postoffice.co.uk/international-money-transfer

Get it sorted and move on - don't let the memories of this incident colour your memories of the holiday.

errnerrcallnernnernnern · 14/01/2022 10:59

I'm glad she's stuck with some dud notes at least.

lottiegarbanzo · 14/01/2022 11:05

Just sort it out and know you did a good thing.

The American woman was being nasty, not cheeky, giving the guide something worthless to him. It would have been better and more honest of her to give nothing.

She may also have hoped that the problem would be passed on to you. That was very cheeky indeed. She could have been above board by asking you again if you could exchange the notes, so to double your contribution and take the old notes home. She chose to be dishonest and evasive instead.

Nothing you can do about that now though.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 14/01/2022 11:10

She is an absolute CF and very cheeky to try to palm off obsolete notes on the poor guide.

However I think you do just need to go and get them to the bank so that it can be sorted. Not your fault, but you did agree to do it. I feel sorry for the guide but he shouldn’t be sending you chasing messages.

Also I would message the CF and let her know you’re not happy!

thepastisanothercountry · 14/01/2022 11:13

If you take them to your local post office, they will normally be able to take them for you. Tjeu won't change it but will put it into your bank account for you if you have card with you.

Once you've done that can you transfer it online?

What a faff though

MasterBeth · 14/01/2022 11:15

[quote Lockheart]@MasterBeth you're the one advocating the OP should send money she doesn't yet have in her possession overseas, I'm not sure I'm the naive one.[/quote]
Yes. Fifty quid. To an "amazing" but poor man in, I presume, a developing country with, in your scenario, a cunning American accomplice spending two weeks with their mark to wheedle the cash from them.

Butchyrestingface · 14/01/2022 11:18

@MasterBeth yes, scams are elaborate and clever, that's why people fall for them. And yes, it is "just" £50 - this time and for OP. How many other times are they doing "just £50" to people? You're very naive if you think this can't be a scam because it's elaborate and "just" £50.

Have to admit I did wonder if this was a scam but the amount involved is derisory.

chelle0 · 14/01/2022 11:20

I work in a bank and absolutely we can suspect money laundering for less than £100! The post office will take old notes too.

BetsyBrush · 14/01/2022 11:25

@FloraPostIt you have done a kind thing so follow it through but beware of any future begging from this guide .

QOD · 14/01/2022 11:31

OP AM i unreasonable?
everyone YES

Poor OP ok thanks i will sort it, poor guide

everyone - YABU YABU YABU

lol

bless you op

JuergenSchwarzwald · 14/01/2022 11:35

@Lovelydovey

I would report her to the tour company too - she should be banned from future trips for that behaviour.
Banned for not tipping? I think that's a bit much. She's a miserly CF but that doesn't mean she should be banned, she hasn't broken any rules.
NewYearCalavicci · 14/01/2022 11:41

@errnerrcallnernnernnern

I'm glad she's stuck with some dud notes at least.
Care to explain this ? Confused