Paying debts

[DBusby]

When paying for a debt of under �10 does the debtor or the person in debt choose how the money is paid back. Is the person paying back allowed to pay back in coppers, or can the person owed the money insist on being paid in notes and pound coins?

[sft42]

There is no actual LAW on acceptance of coins though it's normally taken that 50 in any one transaction is the limit and if it is in small denomination then �5 is normally the upper limit accepted......as an interesting aside you are legally entitled to after having attempted to pay for goods with proper legal tender three times take the goods if the shopkeep refuses to accept on the third occasion (Told this by a copper in London when a shop assistant refused to accept my Northern Irish �10 note)

[FredPuli]

There certainly is law on the question. The following is the present position : �1 and �2 coin to any amount; 20p and 50p to �10; 10p and 5p to �5; 2p and 1p to 20p only. It is certainly not the law that payment in legal tender must be accepted by a vendor. Someone selling can insist on being paid in any currency even foreign or in goods or services or in the waiving of an existing debt or however the 'consideration' to use the legal term is demanded. Until payment is agreed there is no transfer of title in the goods anyway. The 'copper' cited must have been talking through his helmet; anyway he was wrong. However a creditor is not allowed by law to refuse the debtor's payment of the debt in legal tender, that is in coin or notes to the limits given here..