Why do Shops in England not accept Bank Notes from Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank, Northern Bank and First Trust

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lukee

As others have said if you're in England you generally do not come into contact with enough of these notes to recognise them and know that they are not fakes therefore its safest to refuse them. The best thing to do is to pay them into a bank and then draw out english notes (or pay by credit card)

reardwen

When I lived in Cumbria, I had no difficulty using Scottish bank notes; but down here in Wiltshire most of the shop assistants I come across have never seen them and are too scared to accept them in case they get into trouble.

I can see why they would be even more wary of Northern Ireland bank notes, which are even rarer; but very frustrating if that's what you've got in your wallet! You should be OK in larger retailers (though they may still call the supervisor); but if you're in a little town of small shops, I'd suggest changing it at the bank or post office to save you further hassle.

It would all be solved if schools added UK currency recognition to their famous new citizenship lessons.

gvih2g2

English shop workers don't see these notes often enough to know if they're real or fakes. No shop has to take any note (not even an English one), so they're within their rights.

Angel

They are within there rights, they don't always take a English Â£50 note

k9counsellor

I know! It used to drive me crazy. Having said that! Some shops will once their manager agrees they are indeed Sterling (Not that it doesn't say so on notes) If others will not. Whenever i go to Scotland i make a point of asking the bank for English currency because it is accepted in Scotland and should i go to England while there ... I know i'll have no problem. Worse thing happened when we had to fill up the tank and garage wouldn't accept our Ulster bank bank notes. A man there saved the day by telling us he had no problem with our currency so changed our Â£50 Ulster Bank for a Â£50 Clydesdale Bank! Had he not been there ...

JOHANNA C

tesco accepts them

rogerlifescence

This is one of the things that drives me mad if it says on the note Bank of Ireland then they argue that it is not legal tender when I then produce an Ulster bank note and they say the same thing I draw their attention to the logo on the note and ask them what is this symbol? its Nat- West Banks logo they say I then ask why they wont take this note and they have no reply they are just being awkward take Euro notes with you next time or get the bank to change the notes when you get there. This my rant over for the day.

snetterton

They do!

Jamie McC

or bank of scotland, or royal bank of scotland !!!!!!!!!!!

Tom P

It says that the bank who issues the notes "promises to pay".

Why is the UK being treated like a foreign country?

scarybirduk

I've never had a problem with shops accepting NI or Scottish money. Maybe that's just because I live near Gatwick airport and they see them more often?

Just a thought...

DJ Ulster

Basically due to ignorance on behalf of the English

stuart d

You get the same problem with Scottish notes, It's blissful ignorance??

wonderingstar

depends on the store....
I worked in a kosha store & they wouldnt accept them as they said they were losing about 10p in the Â£1

if thats true or not i dont know

Omgitshim1

Under Scots law no bank notes are legal currency. All bank notes are effectively promissory notes from a Bank. (the Bank of England being a state subsidised bank)

Bank notes are therefore just like a bankers draft, except they cost less to obtain.

To not accept a bankers draft, or a promissory note, is legal. I agree however, that it suggests that the promise from one bank is not as good as the promise from another bank.

Ultimately, the Bank that is fully state subsidised and not a private bank, is the Bank whose promise is the most credible.

However, consider state banks who have printed money and lost credibility in times of war in the past. Money itself effectively becomes worthless, and we return to a barter economy as the trust evaporates from financial systems.

Trust is what makes and breaks the system. Interference in an independent Bank of England by politicians, turn this statement into a mockery. Effectively with the tongue the politicians say the Bank of England is independent, but if the Bank does not do what the politicians say they will be replaced by those who will do what the politicians say.

Is the Bank of England Independent of Parliament?

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