is scottish currency legal in england and vice versa?

Question

recently had scottish 5 pound refused in shop in england being told it it is not legal currency/tender over the border

Answer 1

Strangely Scottish notes aren't even legal tender in Scotland
Read these two pages for a detailed explanation of why they aren't,

http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/about/faqs.htm

http://www.siliconglen.com/Scotland/1_7.html

Answer 2

The only legal tender in the United Kingdom is that issued by the Bank of England printed with the ruler of the UK (Queen Elizabeth). Scottish and Northern Irish notes are not legal tender anywhere in the UK and legally can be refused anywhere.

However, practices that date back centuries (which have resulted in current bilateral agreements and practices of sorts) allow the older national Scottish banks (e.g. Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale) to issue Scottish notes. Regardless of who has issued the note, other Scottish banks are required, by agreement and practice, to accept the note. For this reason, all merchants in Scotland will accept all Scottish and Bank of England issued notes (you may have problems if you try using Northen Irish notes in Scotland and vica versa).

The merchants and banks in England are within their rights to refuse Scottish notes. However, the major retailers and banks are likely to accept Scottish notes as they will be able to put the money back into circulation in Scotland.

Answer 3

There is never a problem spending English notes in Scotland. They may hate you for being English, but they already worked that out from your accent before you opened your wallet. Scottish notes are usually accepted in England but it depends on the individual shopkeeper or taxi driver. The further south you go the more of a problem it is likely to be, though I did once have a Scottish note accepted without question in London (admittedly very near Kings Cross). Supermarket self-checkout machines accept Scottish notes, in my experience, but I can imagine that some train ticket machines may not, like the previous answerer says. 'Coinage' is not a problem, some coins have special Scottish/ English / Welsh/ Northern Irish designs on but they are all spendable anywhere, and machines can't tell what design they have on.

Answer 4

Scottish banknotes are not legal tender anywhere, the only legal bank notes in the United Kingdom are those issued by the Bank of England and they are legal in England and Wales only.

The fact the Scottish banknotes are widely used and accepted in Scotland does not make them legal tender.

Answer 5

Scottish (and Northern Irish) notes are not legal tender in England, but shops often will take them anyway. English notes are legal throughout the UK.

Answer 6

You'll have trouble converting Scottish Pounds into U.S. or Canadian dollars. There is a currency book that is printed every quarter with miniature portraits of all countries currency. This book tells what to look for in counterfeiting and in real currency.

At least there still is a Pound.

Answer 7

Scottish notes are not legal tender in England. Although many places do accept them, they are not obliged to. Bank of England notes are legal tender throughout the UK.

Answer 8

yes it is legal, but all shops have the right to refuse a sale on whatever grounds they like. often in this situation, its because scottich notes are very very rarely seen in english shops therefore the cashiers cannot identify whether it is real or not or are uncomfortable with doing so, as obviously english money gets seen everyday and you have grown up knowing it so you can idetify whether its real or not generally by just a glance and a feel. if you accept a note and it is fake then you can get into trouble,. its just the safest option. it is legal but if i was you to solve any hassle i would just swap your scottich notes for english at the bank when you shop in english stores and vice versa. it only takes a few minutes and it solves any uncomfortableness for each side.

Answer 9

yes it is leagal tender apart from the scottish one pound note,s ..we don,t accept then in england

Answer 10

we accept them in Carlisle which is 11 miles from the border of scotland