We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

MSE News: Got a £50 note? Check it's not about to be withdrawn

124»

Comments

  • jamesperrett
    jamesperrett Posts: 1,009 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I've not seen it mentioned yet, but the main reason why shopkeepers are so wary of £50 notes is that there were so many forgeries around a few years ago. I'm not sure whether this is still the case but I don't blame the shopkeepers for not wanting to take them given their recent history.
  • Bank of England promotions and posters state Post Offices are among organisations that will accept £50 notes (to £200 each time) until 31/10/2014. I visited 2 local P.Os., neither of which would do so!
    The second one, at my insistence, contacted their Head Office, which categorically stated they would NOT take any amount. I am writing to their query line, but if anyone from MSE reads this, you'd probably get a quicker reply...!!!
  • jonesMUFCforever
    jonesMUFCforever Posts: 28,898 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Bank of England promotions and posters state Post Offices are among organisations that will accept £50 notes (to £200 each time) until 31/10/2014. I visited 2 local P.Os., neither of which would do so!
    The second one, at my insistence, contacted their Head Office, which categorically stated they would NOT take any amount. I am writing to their query line, but if anyone from MSE reads this, you'd probably get a quicker reply...!!!
    Were they main Crown post offices or local ones perhaps in a shop?
    If it is the latter then the shopkeeper would be liable for any losses on dud notes so I can understand why they would refuse to exchange them.
  • paulc156
    paulc156 Posts: 5 Forumite
    edited 27 April 2014 at 2:05PM
    Brightonballer9 is correct. I [as I said in above post] also tried to change £200 of 50's in the P.O. Both times the counter staff were oblivious to my explanation that the BoE website stated they would indeed exchange them.
    Neither were they local sub offices [I wouldn't have tried there in any case] but at main Post Offices. Same thing happened in one Nat West bank and two Barclays banks. I've got round it now by finding someone else to put the money through their accounts and giving me back the cash but it's annoying when you get advice on where to change up your 50's without being a customer at said institutions, that is basically incorrect.
  • jonesMUFCforever
    jonesMUFCforever Posts: 28,898 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Why not take them to your own bank?
    Non customers are turned away because exchanging notes could help them launder money.
  • paulc156
    paulc156 Posts: 5 Forumite
    Oy vey. "Non customers are turned away because exchanging notes could help them launder money."

    That's not the point of my post or the article here. According to the article to which this thread is attached, it makes plain that customers AND non customers can exchange up to £200 in fiftys at any Post Office branch or any Nat West,Barclays,Ulster Bank and RBS branches. The point was the 'advice' given here in the article to which these responses are attached is flat useless/wrong/contradicted by the facts. Albeit was the same information the BoE are giving out on their website.
    Ironically my mother was able to change a few hundred by going into HSBC branches where she DID NOT have any account and they did agree to change the notes. HSBC were one of the few banks that had not indicated to anyone that they would take notes from non customers. You couldn't make this crap up.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 346.7K Banking & Borrowing
  • 251.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 451.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 238.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 614.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 174.8K Life & Family
  • 252.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.