To be fair is that just not how these exchange shops make their money? On a more positive note I used to live in Azerbaijan and they actually paid a little bit more for scottish notes over english!
If the gentleman went to any bank they would just swap the money over to be fair. I am going down to London on Friday for the weekend and I will just wait until I get there and get money from a cash machine because of the grief that always happens when you try to use a Scottish note, better together huh.
Tris you no longer get travellers cheques, what you do get is wee plastic cards pre loaded, there is a catch with them though, you cannot find out what your balance is. We had difficulty in Switzerland this year, we took one for there as we were only there two days, unfortunately Hubby had forgotten what he had put on it and also they charged 2.50CF for every transaction. Tend to use the card on the ATM for Euro's we would probably still have been as well doing that as we had to wait until the end of the month to get the money refunded with deductions for changing it back. As for Scots Pounds, unfortunately as much as we might wail we should have never accepted that our pounds were not legal tender and that is what the difficulty is, outside of Scotland they have a perfect right not to accept them. We always change money before heading south, not that we tread much on England's blessed land, they do not get much from us.
OK Thanks Helena. I always just use cash dispersers or credit cards now that these things are international, but I do remember getting travellers' cheques and having to get them changed in banks in weird places...always with a charge.
I accept that Scottish notes are technically not legal tender, but everyone knows that they are as safe as BoE notes, becasue for every one issued, money is lodged with the English bank.
I just find it insulting that they treat it like a lesser currency.
Out of banking hours, go to a supermarket. Buy the cheapest item you can find (like a small piece of fruit) and pay via the self service checkout machines. Most are set up to work nationwide, and so they accept Scottish notes. If that fails, you can always put the item back and go elsewhere.
Yes. Our notes are issued by limited companies, but to ensure that they are always honoured, the equivalent amount of what they print has to be lodged in the BoE to cover them if they go broke.
Sorry to burst a few bubbles, but legally Scottish notes can be refused by retailers. I lived in England for years, and until recently travelled a lot around England and Wales. Trust me, I've had more than enough confrontations with people.
Worst culprits can be found in Ipswich of all places. Cornwall, Devon and Dorset are the best.
I take it this was an Exchange place, as they will charge. Try the reverse English into Scottish and you'll probably get the same answer,
One thing to watch though, a sandwich shop (wee private one) refused a Scottish note when on holiday - their excuse? "The bank charges us £10 to exchange a note." Total bollocks.
Safest thing if you are going to England, get cash out of a Barclays machine. They always stock in English notes, even in Glasgow.
And if you think we have problems with Scottish notes, try an Ulster Bank one!
My bubble will remain unburst. Every Scots note bears the word "sterling" on it, this makes it legal tender throughout the UK. There is no legal basis for refusal, it is but being petty, in some instances, but more likely ignorance of the facts.
Interestingly English banknotes are not legal tender in Scotland...
"Are Scottish & Northern Ireland banknotes "legal tender"? In short ‘No’ these banknotes are not "legal tender"; furthermore, Bank of England banknotes are only legal tender in England and Wales. Legal tender has, however, a very narrow technical meaning in relation to the settlement of debt. If a debtor pays in legal tender the exact amount he/she owes under the terms of a contract (and in accordance with its terms), or pays this amount into court, he/she has good defence in law if he/she is sued for non-payment of the debt.
In ordinary everyday transactions, the term "legal tender" in its purest sense need not govern a banknote's acceptability in transactions. The acceptability of a Scottish or Northern Ireland banknote as a means of payment is essentially a matter for agreement between the parties involved. If both parties are in agreement, Scottish and Northern Ireland banknotes can be used in England and Wales. Holders of genuine Scottish and Northern Ireland banknotes are provided with a level of protection similar to that provided to holders of Bank of England banknotes. This is because the issuing banks must back their banknote issue using a combination of Bank of England banknotes, UK coin and funds in an interest bearing bank account at the Bank of England."
Now those wee brass thingies, those things which aren't notes, now they masquerade as pounds and have all sorts of stuff on them, they can be English, Welsh, Scots, not sure about NI. Maybe we should just get tons of them and pay for things with them, sure they take more lugging that notes but you can still pay for things with them and no refusals. Time we turned on our colonial masters, two can play that game, I heard from my Husband yesterday that someone had refused to accept English Pounds.
I used to work in an army camp where my job involved handling money. Every so often the Commandant (a Brigadier, and a Scot) had to go down to London and would come to me asking for Scottish £1 notes. His idea of 'fun' in the City was to go into a shop, pick up a bar of chocolate, and have it unwrapped ready to eat when he went to the till to pay for it!
To be fair is that just not how these exchange shops make their money?
ReplyDeleteOn a more positive note I used to live in Azerbaijan and they actually paid a little bit more for scottish notes over english!
It's blatant profiteering though.
DeleteSome times you see people people refusing our notes.
Was good to see someone refusing an English note here recently.
To be honest I can't remember the last time I saw an English note.
Tris
ReplyDeleteIf the gentleman went to any bank they would just swap the money over to be fair. I am going down to London on Friday for the weekend and I will just wait until I get there and get money from a cash machine because of the grief that always happens when you try to use a Scottish note, better together huh.
Bruce
Absolutely. They have the exact same value as English notes.
DeleteYou're probably right. A friend went to London a few weeks ago and changed his money here before he went. it saves the bother.
I use cash dispersers in France. It's easier than trying to change money.
Do people still use travellers' cheques?
By the way. I liked your piece ion the EU. Found myself to be in agreement with all of it. I expected to care... but I really don't.
I love the British presumption that the EU will come running and begging Britain to stay, prepared to give them anything they ask for.
The suggestion that, if they come out of the EU the City of London will relocate to Germany makes me laugh.
Tris you no longer get travellers cheques, what you do get is wee plastic cards pre loaded, there is a catch with them though, you cannot find out what your balance is. We had difficulty in Switzerland this year, we took one for there as we were only there two days, unfortunately Hubby had forgotten what he had put on it and also they charged 2.50CF for every transaction. Tend to use the card on the ATM for Euro's we would probably still have been as well doing that as we had to wait until the end of the month to get the money refunded with deductions for changing it back.
DeleteAs for Scots Pounds, unfortunately as much as we might wail we should have never accepted that our pounds were not legal tender and that is what the difficulty is, outside of Scotland they have a perfect right not to accept them. We always change money before heading south, not that we tread much on England's blessed land, they do not get much from us.
OK Thanks Helena. I always just use cash dispersers or credit cards now that these things are international, but I do remember getting travellers' cheques and having to get them changed in banks in weird places...always with a charge.
DeleteI accept that Scottish notes are technically not legal tender, but everyone knows that they are as safe as BoE notes, becasue for every one issued, money is lodged with the English bank.
I just find it insulting that they treat it like a lesser currency.
Tris, that's unless you get them from wee Jimmy in Bellshil.........
Deletezog
Oh, you know wee Jimmy too?
DeleteOut of banking hours, go to a supermarket. Buy the cheapest item you can find (like a small piece of fruit) and pay via the self service checkout machines. Most are set up to work nationwide, and so they accept Scottish notes. If that fails, you can always put the item back and go elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant !
DeleteAs we haven't got a Central Bank the Scottish pound is covered by the Bank of England, no difference in value.
ReplyDeleteYes. Our notes are issued by limited companies, but to ensure that they are always honoured, the equivalent amount of what they print has to be lodged in the BoE to cover them if they go broke.
DeleteSorry to burst a few bubbles, but legally Scottish notes can be refused by retailers. I lived in England for years, and until recently travelled a lot around England and Wales. Trust me, I've had more than enough confrontations with people.
ReplyDeleteWorst culprits can be found in Ipswich of all places. Cornwall, Devon and Dorset are the best.
I take it this was an Exchange place, as they will charge. Try the reverse English into Scottish and you'll probably get the same answer,
One thing to watch though, a sandwich shop (wee private one) refused a Scottish note when on holiday - their excuse? "The bank charges us £10 to exchange a note." Total bollocks.
Safest thing if you are going to England, get cash out of a Barclays machine. They always stock in English notes, even in Glasgow.
And if you think we have problems with Scottish notes, try an Ulster Bank one!
zog
I know. I had an Ulster Bank note, or a Northern Bank not (can;t remember which.
DeleteI accepted it quite easily from the local Co-op, and when a few days after I tried to spend it there they refused it.
This was an unwise move on their part as I was rather cross... and didn't hesitate to show it.
Needless to say they ended up accepting it and losing a customer.
My bubble will remain unburst. Every Scots note bears the word "sterling" on it, this makes it legal tender throughout the UK. There is no legal basis for refusal, it is but being petty, in some instances, but more likely ignorance of the facts.
DeleteInterestingly English banknotes are not legal tender in Scotland...
ReplyDelete"Are Scottish & Northern Ireland banknotes "legal tender"?
In short ‘No’ these banknotes are not "legal tender"; furthermore, Bank of England banknotes are only legal tender in England and Wales. Legal tender has, however, a very narrow technical meaning in relation to the settlement of debt. If a debtor pays in legal tender the exact amount he/she owes under the terms of a contract (and in accordance with its terms), or pays this amount into court, he/she has good defence in law if he/she is sued for non-payment of the debt.
In ordinary everyday transactions, the term "legal tender" in its purest sense need not govern a banknote's acceptability in transactions. The acceptability of a Scottish or Northern Ireland banknote as a means of payment is essentially a matter for agreement between the parties involved. If both parties are in agreement, Scottish and Northern Ireland banknotes can be used in England and Wales. Holders of genuine Scottish and Northern Ireland banknotes are provided with a level of protection similar to that provided to holders of Bank of England banknotes. This is because the issuing banks must back their banknote issue using a combination of Bank of England banknotes, UK coin and funds in an interest bearing bank account at the Bank of England."
Interesting Scotsfox... Thanks for that update.
Delete:)
I certainly didn't know their notes were not legal tender here.
Now those wee brass thingies, those things which aren't notes, now they masquerade as pounds and have all sorts of stuff on them, they can be English, Welsh, Scots, not sure about NI. Maybe we should just get tons of them and pay for things with them, sure they take more lugging that notes but you can still pay for things with them and no refusals.
DeleteTime we turned on our colonial masters, two can play that game, I heard from my Husband yesterday that someone had refused to accept English Pounds.
I used to work in an army camp where my job involved handling money. Every so often the Commandant (a Brigadier, and a Scot) had to go down to London and would come to me asking for Scottish £1 notes. His idea of 'fun' in the City was to go into a shop, pick up a bar of chocolate, and have it unwrapped ready to eat when he went to the till to pay for it!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a brilliant guy.
DeleteI bet he was a big guy too... if they got a bit shouty!