Can Retailer Keep Fake Cash?

ThumbRemote

Forwandert wrote: »

Why should sports direct accept a piece of paper you hand them that is worth nothing in return for goods. You've actually been quite lucky, the last 3/4 times anyone at the store I'm in has presented fake notes (£20 or over as thats the note i dont see any reason for them to have or been given elsewhere in change) the police have been called and they have been arrested.

Really? This sequence of events really ocurred?
1. Customer hands in fake £20 note
2. Police are called
3. Police turn up and arrest customer

I presume that either the police were hiding in the back room ready to pounce, or they have lightening quick response times by you, or the customer just stood around waiting for some time.

In addition, they actually arrested the customer. Even without the evidence they were involved in producing the fake notes themselves. Without questioning them first.

I conclude that you either live in North Korea, or you are embellishing the truth somewhat.

George_Michael

ThumbRemote wrote: »

In addition, they actually arrested the customer. Even without the evidence they were involved in producing the fake notes themselves. Without questioning them first.

They wouldn't need evidence of the person in question being involved in the actual counterfeiting process.
All they would need is evidence or reasonable suspicion that the person involved was aware that the notes were fake.

JethroUK

I didn't realise stores could just keep fake notes (or any customers property at all)

Since everyone seems convinced that they can - I am going to claim any notes given to me as fake and just keep em and tell the owner to get lost

Thanks Guys - I see you've thought this through - Not! :rotfl:

shaun_from_Africa

JethroUK wrote: »

I didn't realise stores could just keep fake notes (or any customers property at all)

Since everyone seems convinced that they can -

Any person, (whether working in a store or not) may be committing an offence if they return a counterfeit note back to the person who attempted to pay with it.

Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981

(2)It is an offence for a person to deliver to another, without lawful authority or excuse, any thing which is, and which he knows or believes to be, a counterfeit of a currency note or of a protected coin

mttylad

If this occurred to me I would say something along the lines of....

"It's fake? where? can I have a look?" and then when holding it to look would not let them have the money back - they can call the police if they like but I would try my damnedest to keep it myself so I can return to where I got it (if I knew).

xxJudexx

I have worked in shops for 8 years and I only found out yesterday that we should keep fake notes! It just came up in conversation with my manager, I had no idea! I work in the cash office and luckily have never come across a fake.

Matty007

The Bank of England has offered shops a 'code of conduct' about retaining fake notes, but this is nothing more than a guideline and I guess has no real weight in law.

The shop would not have any legal obligation to retain fake notes but I am not sure you as the customer would have much of legal redress for them not returning it to you either.

Demand a receipt and details of the note and then your complaint could still be taken up with your bank just as if you had the physical specimen.

Forwandert

ThumbRemote wrote: »

Really? This sequence of events really ocurred?
1. Customer hands in fake £20 note
2. Police are called
3. Police turn up and arrest customer

I presume that either the police were hiding in the back room ready to pounce, or they have lightening quick response times by you, or the customer just stood around waiting for some time.

In addition, they actually arrested the customer. Even without the evidence they were involved in producing the fake notes themselves. Without questioning them first.

I conclude that you either live in North Korea, or you are embellishing the truth somewhat.

No..

Customer hands note over, cashier rings me to explain there is a fake note being presented and to come and deal with the customer also confirming to me it's definitely fake.

I contact the retail park security who in turn contact the local pcso's that patrol the retail park.

Security usually get to the store before everybody else and just keep them talking same as I will have done for the last couple of minutes. The police usually are not far behind when the pcso's contact them. The customer has committed an offence presenting the note as cash. What they arrest them for after that point is not really my concern but they have all left in the back of a police van.

Either way get off your high horse calling me a liar when you don't know what your talking about, just presuming everything.

JethroUK

Well I'll just keep any money given to me for whatever reason and declare it fake and tell them to get lost

and here's me thinking I needed a business plan to make £££££££'s

snow_ball

According to The Forgery & Counterfeiting Act 1981 it is an offence to knowingly pass counterfeit currency. Suspect this would be difficult to prove?