Fake Money in my deposit !!Update pg5!!

EvilDes

Thanks once again.

A little update for you all. Yesterday, the police briefly visited my dad to collect the photocopy of the receipt of fake notes issued to the estate agents by the bank (this was sent to us by the estate agents with the accompanying letter demanding the £500). Whilst there he made us aware that the fake notes were in fact Scottish notes (hence why the notes had been sent to Scotland by the bank who received them).

Now the interesting thing is, that whilst the money was being checked by the woman prior to us signing the contract, we did not spot any Scottish notes there. My girlfriend was watching her count out the money, and is certain there were no Scottish notes. Plus, would a bank hand out that many Scottish notes? I know they are "legal tender", but is it commonplace for a bank to hand that many out to a customer who is withdrawing a large amount of cash?

Any advice welcomed!

Cheers,

Des

BobProperty

EvilDes wrote: »

..... whilst the money was being checked by the woman prior to us signing the contract, we did not spot any Scottish notes there. My girlfriend was watching her count out the money, and is certain there were no Scottish notes. Plus, would a bank hand out that many Scottish notes? ....

Are the police aware of this, i.e. your girlfriend being confident that there were no Scottish notes. We also could do with any bank insiders comments on handing out Scottish notes (presumably you are in England). I would think they would not normally do so and would move them internally back to Scotland.

(IIRC Scottish notes aren't actually "legal tender" they are "promissory notes" but are accepted by banks and most people as tender)

Addiscomber

Whilst it is not uncommon for notes from Scottish banks to find their way over the border, as far as I know they are not legal tender, even in Scotland. I doubt an English bank would have given them out. It sounds as though someone in the estate agents had some they wanted to get rid of! Maybe that explains why he didn't contact the police.

EvilDes

It does indeed seem more and more suspicious on the estate agents.

Yes, I am in England. I did read on the BofE website about them not technically being "legal tender". We will indeed be asking the bank whether or not they have Scottish notes which are handed out to customers, but thought I would ask on here as Im sure somebody mentioned that they worked for a bank, and could provide some insight.

The police are currently not aware that we are confident there was no Scottish notes in our deposit, as they haven't actually been to see us yet. But rest assured it will be put in our statements.

The more information that comes to light, the more the finger points toward someone, somewhere, after we handed the money over, having something to do with this whole situation. I personally won't be happy until the police find out who it was.

But things are indeed going in the right direction.

Cheers,

Des

Tiger_greeneyes

That's a bit of a twist, Des! It's definitely not commonplace but it could happen. Have you spoken to your bank? They would definitely remember if they'd given you that many Scottish notes - I only ever had one or two handed to me when I was working in the bank. Conversely, I lived in Scotland for a few years - and only ever had one or two English notes handed to me in my change when shopping - I was never given any when I was in the bank.

olly300

If you gave the landlady a bundle of Scottish notes in England she would have said something.

If you are in Southern England if you have ONE Scottish note and try to pay for an item with it, it is either refused or remarked upon.

When I lived in the North West while spending ONE Scottish note was not remarked upon, trying to spend more than 5 caused a conversation on where you got the notes from. (Obviously a Scottish accent helped.)

LisaT186

I worked for a bank until October last year and if we received Scottish notes we took them out of our tills and sent them to head office. I presume they then sent them to Scottish Branches. The only time they were given out in a withdrawal was if the customer said they were going to Scotland and then to save securicor costs we would offer the scottish notes we had.

I can honestly say I don't think I have ever given any Scottish notes out in a standard withdrawal.

Benny24

Make sure the police know you did not hand over scottish notes to the lady who took your deposit, ASAP. From speaking with my friend who works in a bank, when scottish notes are handed over to a bank in England they will send them back to Scotland for use in their 'homeland'.

Fingers crossed you will nail this bunch of cheaters.

peterbaker

I live in the South and no way ever has a bank given me Scottish notes over the counter in England. No one in their right mind unless they were a Scot would consider taking them (when was the last time a Sassenach on these forums even held one?). You'd just have no idea what you were looking at!

I haven't checked if they are legal tender in England. My guess would have been that they are, but that they surely come with an inbuilt health warning.
If they are not legal tender then the bank would not have released them.

Your father-in-law would surely have spotted it either way.

I think the police should be told immediately of this twist.

keepsaving!

I agree! Although extra support on this point probably isn't needed! Scottish notes are very rare down south, I only ever saw them when my Scottish Granny gave them to us, and she specifically asked for them from the bank!