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Can A Shop Refuse Legal Tender?
Have been given £80 in 4 old £20 notes.
I know that they are still legal tender until 30 September.
My local corner shop was a bit reluctant to accept one, although eventually did when I pointed out that they were still acceptable.
Just wondered if a business can refuse legal tender
(Also had an incident years ago involving Scottish notes, just want to clarify the law RE: money)
Thanks.
I know that they are still legal tender until 30 September.
My local corner shop was a bit reluctant to accept one, although eventually did when I pointed out that they were still acceptable.
Just wondered if a business can refuse legal tender
(Also had an incident years ago involving Scottish notes, just want to clarify the law RE: money)
Thanks.
Answers
As other have indicated, a trader is entitled to refuse any type of payment (unless, in some bizarre way, he manages to discriminate against them on the grounds of their race, gender, religion, etc, by doing so). The term 'legal tender' only comes into play when, for example, someone is trying to sue another for non-payment of debt. If the debtor has offered...
18:56 Sat 03rd Jul 2021
Copy-and-paste a la Buenchico:
Martin Lewis has issued a warning to shoppers who rely on paying by cash.
According to the Money Saving Expert, shops are legally allowed to refuse cash payment for items as long as they are not discriminating against the customer.
The issue was mentioned on the ITV's 'The Martin Lewis Money Show', where the discussion of legal tender was brought up.
Lewis responded to this saying: "No, they are not breaking any rules."
"You are allowed to take card only as long as it's not discriminatory for race or disability or something."
He went on to explain the actual definition of legal tender.
"Legal tender has a strict definition.
"It means if you have a court awarded debt against you if someone tries to settle and they're paying in the legal tender you cannot refuse it.
"And that's all it means."
Martin said notes and cash are a legal currency for spending purposes but in some parts of the country, the only legal tender is actually coins.
On the idea of getting rid of cash altogether Martin said: "I know many people are saying 'why don't we just switch to a cashless society?'
"I don't want that, because there are many vulnerable people who need cash," he said.
This comes after many ATMs and bank branches have been closing down however there was some good news despite this.
"The Government has said that once we leave the EU in January it will change the rules so if you want to get cash out form a supermarket you don't have to buy anything," Martin said.
Martin Lewis has issued a warning to shoppers who rely on paying by cash.
According to the Money Saving Expert, shops are legally allowed to refuse cash payment for items as long as they are not discriminating against the customer.
The issue was mentioned on the ITV's 'The Martin Lewis Money Show', where the discussion of legal tender was brought up.
Lewis responded to this saying: "No, they are not breaking any rules."
"You are allowed to take card only as long as it's not discriminatory for race or disability or something."
He went on to explain the actual definition of legal tender.
"Legal tender has a strict definition.
"It means if you have a court awarded debt against you if someone tries to settle and they're paying in the legal tender you cannot refuse it.
"And that's all it means."
Martin said notes and cash are a legal currency for spending purposes but in some parts of the country, the only legal tender is actually coins.
On the idea of getting rid of cash altogether Martin said: "I know many people are saying 'why don't we just switch to a cashless society?'
"I don't want that, because there are many vulnerable people who need cash," he said.
This comes after many ATMs and bank branches have been closing down however there was some good news despite this.
"The Government has said that once we leave the EU in January it will change the rules so if you want to get cash out form a supermarket you don't have to buy anything," Martin said.
As other have indicated, a trader is entitled to refuse any type of payment (unless, in some bizarre way, he manages to discriminate against them on the grounds of their race, gender, religion, etc, by doing so).
The term 'legal tender' only comes into play when, for example, someone is trying to sue another for non-payment of debt. If the debtor has offered 'legal tender' as a form of payment (e.g. banknotes rather than bags of jelly babies), he/she can't be sued if the other person has then declined to accept it.
in England and Wales, 'legal tender' means Bank of England banknotes and Royal Mint coins. (However you can't use 1p coins as legal tender to pay your Council Tax bill, as 1p and 2p coins are only legal tender for debts of up to 20p).
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, somewhat oddly, NO banknotes are 'legal tender'. Only Royal Mint coins are.
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The term 'legal tender' only comes into play when, for example, someone is trying to sue another for non-payment of debt. If the debtor has offered 'legal tender' as a form of payment (e.g. banknotes rather than bags of jelly babies), he/she can't be sued if the other person has then declined to accept it.
in England and Wales, 'legal tender' means Bank of England banknotes and Royal Mint coins. (However you can't use 1p coins as legal tender to pay your Council Tax bill, as 1p and 2p coins are only legal tender for debts of up to 20p).
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, somewhat oddly, NO banknotes are 'legal tender'. Only Royal Mint coins are.
https:/
Yeah, I thought they could refuse scottish notes ( and do )
I was in a pub ( words chosen carefully) and the publican said: "I am sorry we do not accept Scottish notes for payment." and I said - er I just got this in change from you five minutes ago
( quick drinker see)
Legal tender was just to pay a court debt - but was a big deal in the fifties - along with wheel barrows of ha'pennies etc....cheque written on a cow, --- cheque for £10 - olease only take £5
I was in a pub ( words chosen carefully) and the publican said: "I am sorry we do not accept Scottish notes for payment." and I said - er I just got this in change from you five minutes ago
( quick drinker see)
Legal tender was just to pay a court debt - but was a big deal in the fifties - along with wheel barrows of ha'pennies etc....cheque written on a cow, --- cheque for £10 - olease only take £5
A shop owner can choose what payment they accept. if you want to pay for a pack of sweets with a £50 note its perfecly legal to turn you down, likewise for all other banknotes, its a matter of discretion.
If your local shop only accepted Pokemon cards that would be within their right to do so, but....they would lose a lot of customers.
Legal tender has a very narrow technical meaning, it means that if you offer to fully pay off a debt to someone in legal tender they cannot sue you for failing to repay.
Just as a side note.
English banknotes aren't legal tender in Scotland and Scottish notes aren't legal tender in Scotland or England or anywhere.
Debit cards, cheques aren't legal tender antwhere.
If your local shop only accepted Pokemon cards that would be within their right to do so, but....they would lose a lot of customers.
Legal tender has a very narrow technical meaning, it means that if you offer to fully pay off a debt to someone in legal tender they cannot sue you for failing to repay.
Just as a side note.
English banknotes aren't legal tender in Scotland and Scottish notes aren't legal tender in Scotland or England or anywhere.
Debit cards, cheques aren't legal tender antwhere.
"Both parties to a transaction are free to agree to accept any form of payment whether legal tender or otherwise according to their wishes. In order to comply with the very strict rules governing an actual legal tender transaction it is necessary, for example, to offer the exact amount due because no change can be demanded."
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