Many places in England will not accept Scottish currency. Why not?

Question

My husband and I were driving through England last summer. Our home was in Scotland at the time. There were many places that wouldn't take any money that was from the Royal Bank of Scotland. Why not? It's the same money. Even the parking place at the airport wouldn't take the currency.

Answer 1

Scottish currency is valid across the uk and must be accepted as legal tender wherever you are. Although shops etc can refuse to serve you at their own discretion, they cannot do so on the grounds of currency. If they tell you they cant accept the money then they are plain wrong.

Answer 2

People in Scotland are used to English money but in England most people aren't used to Scottish money. There's not that much of it about and it doesn't help having different denomination notes such as £1 and £100 notes and also currency issued by 3 different banks.

In the past it was comparatively easy to forge Scottish notes and there was a period when many forged Scottish notes were in circulation and at this point a lot of retailers became very wary of them. At the end of the day, a retailer doesn't have to sell to a person if he doesn't want to and can chose which currency to get paid in.

I go to Scotland about 20 times a year and have never had a problem using English currency. But, like you, have had problems spending Scottish notes in England.

Banks will exchange them for you and if you fill up with petrol and tell the cashier you have no other method of payment they'll be left with no option but to accept.