I'm paying in sterling, so what's wrong with my cash?

MSE_Tony

Hi all, this is a thread to discuss the MSE blog post:

I'm paying in sterling, so what's wrong with my cash?

Have you ever had your sterling banknotes turned away in the UK? I have, so has my wife and her family, and this has been going on for as long as I can remember.

I know I’m not alone.

mummybearx

I've never had my money turned away.

When I worked in a petrol station, we accepted any UK currency that was 'sterling', including English and Irish notes.

Money is money

torbrex

I have had Scottish notes questioned when in England but they have been accepted after the supervisor had been called.


ETA a link to the actual blog might have been helpful

kerrydrobertson

i've had scottish notes turned away while shopping in London before, was able to pay by card but annoying

MSE_Tony

Great feedback from a friend of mine:


'I've had this happen to me a number of times. It's very annoying! So now I try to use the money in taxi's or to buy a round of drinks etc. Anywhere you get the service before you pay or can at least sample the goods before parting with money. It's great fun!'

NickButcher

I got turned away from an ARC car wash after I offered a Scottish tenner. I was told by a bloke that could barely speak English that 'they' said not to take it.

I complained on their website and was sent a voucher for a free wash.

torbrex

Can you imagine the uproar there would be if Scottish and Irish businesses stopped accepting English notes.

matty_art

It seems like this is a good way of getting free vouchers....best stock up next time I go north!

MSE_Tony

More feedback:

'I had an Ulster Bank note refused in our local Post Office in Hertford, you would think a financial institution would have better trained staff. I remember being in the Cineplex in Stevenage when we started eating the ice creams while the guy went to get his boss.'

Takeaway_Addict

Is it really that big a deal if they get refused? No, you only make it a big deal if you choose to.

With so many fakes flooding the country its not surprising employees are overly cautious.

molerat

It took ages for an English Tesco to decide whether or not they would accept a Scottish £5 note, Mrs M had nipped in without her purse whilst I waited in the car. Another shopkeeper came running out of the shop after he had already accepted a Sottish £10. I have heard some English self scans will not accept them. When I caught a bus from Gatwick I gave him a Scottish note and he gave me the change in Scottish £1 notes. Never have any problems in Blackpool though.