Scottish Money

[MKT]

Me and my two boys have just returned after spending a lovely week visiting family and friends, as usual my boys are spoiled and come back with a penny or two to spend.
On Saturday we decided to go to Southampton to buy a few bits, my older son wanted to go to an Army shop to buy a few things for his camp with the cadets this was a small shop selling new and used army clothes. he purchased a few things and handed over the £20 pound note, the man accepted it and put it in his till.
My youngest son decided to buy an ice cream from well known Baskin Robbins. He chose two scoops with toppings, it came to £3.25. He handed over the £20 pound note, the girl said we do not accept them. I looked a bit puzzled and by this time the manager came over and said yes that's true we do not accept them. I asked why. He said it was something to do with seeing so many fakes in a week. I said my son had received it from Grandparents in Scotland, they were no crooks (I hope). He said he was sorry and asked did I have any other money, I lied and said no. He said well you can have it as a good will gesture, or when you get money you could come back and pay.
Do you think we went back and paid, no way, my son got a free ice cream so he was chuffed.
What puzzled me was if he was worried about it being a fake why did he still dip out by not accepting it and give away free ice cream. So every Saturday we will take turns to go up with the Scottish money.
My family and I have lived in the south of England for nearly 14 years and never had a problem before.
Someone said to me it's nothing to do with fakes but with the bank charging them for handling it. Does anyone know why a big retailer in England like Baskin Robbins don't accept Scottish notes?

[Govangirl]

I've lived down here for years and have this all the time. A well-known local chain of pubs refused my Scottish £10 note so I wrote to them reminding them it was a Scot who founded the Bank of England and if he hadn't, his pubs would be still trading in sheep and pigs. He sent me an apology and a voucher for a free meal for four in his restaurant. Like you, I don't accept it.

[Sheik Yir Erse]

MKT - I had a similar experience a couple of years back when buying petrol in Peterborough, got spun the same yarn about there 'being a number of fakes about'! I did however change my Scottish notes and handed them English notes, I however then refused to accept the English notes they were handing me as change, saying that I would only accept Scottish notes due to the number of English forgeries I had seen! I just stood there until the queue got bigger and bigger and bigger, refusing to take any English branded notes or coins. Eventually she bit the bullet and accepted my Scottish notes, and I accepted her English change.

A big queue at the tills and pumps seemed to focus the mind somewhat

[Govangirl]

That's a great idea - I'm going to try that next time!

[ionnsaigh]

Brilliant idea Sheik, perhaps the Celtic nations should get together and produce a Celtic currency. At the very least our collective strength would protect us from English humiliation.

[History]

As a nation England has in my opinion lost most of it's identity so I suppose they are hanging on to what's left.

I have seen Irish notes being refused as well even though it quite clearly states "sterling" on the note.

[Bobbie En Tejas]

MKT - I had a similar experience a couple of years back when buying petrol in Peterborough, got spun the same yarn about there 'being a number of fakes about'! I did however change my Scottish notes and handed them English notes, I however then refused to accept the English notes they were handing me as change, saying that I would only accept Scottish notes due to the number of English forgeries I had seen! I just stood there until the queue got bigger and bigger and bigger, refusing to take any English branded notes or coins. Eventually she bit the bullet and accepted my Scottish notes, and I accepted her English change.

A big queue at the tills and pumps seemed to focus the mind somewhat

[Jock Strap]

Very good Sheik.

[£3.73]

I saw a thing the other night on Discovery Channel " How It's Made"

It was about Australian currency, which apparently is made from plastic polymer stuff & has the very latest in anti-counterfitting technology.

I'm all for the union, but let's face it, the Southern Scottish tribes (The English) don't really give a tuppence about The Motherland.

If they won't accept our currency, then we should start questioning theirs'.

(although in Scotland, we are canny enough to accept a pound when a pound is offered)

Seriously though, something should be done about currency. It was funny about 12 years ago to scan and print your own one sided creations, drop them in the street & wait for someone to pick it up.

In this day and age though, I must say I was well impressed with what the Australians have invented. (waterproof too)

[bill]

Definition of legal tender

Here's something I discovered whilst looking into this subject.
Legal tender is payment that cannot be refused in settlement of a debt denominated in the same currency by virtue of law.

Bank of England notes are the only banknotes that are legal tender in England.

Scottish notes are not considered legal tender, however are not illegal under English law and traders/creditors may accept them if they choose.

[ionnsaigh]

Why should we be surprised - after all England is a foreign country. The Union has resulted - in one dominant English culture - under the guise of Britishness - eating up our own indigenous identity - resulting in a crossly unfair negative stereotype - a cultural caricature that bears little in the way of accuracy - It's about time we Scots stood up - and break the chains of Union. Freedom comes - Freedom goes - dare to struggle - dare to win.

[Govangirl]

Bank of England notes are the only banknotes that are legal tender in England.

That's right Bill but Marks and Spencers here will not take my Scottish notes - but they'll take Euros!!!!!

[maxmix]

I collect all the £1 notes I can in the till all year round

And when the English are up on holiday they get them in their change

A lot of people I tell this to say, I should give them out as fivers.... As they would not check etc....

But I would not do that (Obviously)

maxmix

[Govangirl]

A lot of people I tell this to say, I should give them out as fivers.... As they would not check etc....


maxmix

Oh believe me Maxmix, they would, they would. They'll bite them too!!!

[EMDEE]

It's truly amazing that this still goes on. Given the fact that politically and commercially the UK is one country, (for better or worse), you would think that this would have been sorted out years ago. Nobody can force traders to accept notes that are not legal tender, but the fact is that these notes do not cause any problems in Scotland, and should not do so if tendered in England. "Legal tender" and what is accepted as money are two different things. Scottish banknotes are not legal tender in Scotland either.