Old 20Euro Notes?

[rosyposy]

Wanted to give our granddaughter 500 euros for her first holiday abroad (to Greece) but told her to check they were still legal tender before she went. Of course she left it until the last minute, (they go tomorrow!!) and the Post Office says that they won’t be accepted, I can’t remember when we got them but must be about 10years unfortunately, and can’t find anything definite on the internet, some say yes and some say no, so hope someone on AB can advise please, rosy

[TonyV]

Bank should accept them paid into an account, but will take a few days to get cleared funds.

[KARL]

It is a matter of perhaps two months or so since I used an old €20 note in a shop and I have not come across anything that says they are no longer universally accepted. You see them less and less but the one I had I had received in change some days earlier, I think they must simply be withdrawn as soon as the hit a bank. Don't worry is my suggestion. My understanding is that you are thinking of your granddaughter being embarrassed (no need to) rather than them whether they are accepted in the UK (anybody's guess, depending on whom you are faced with and the level of ignorance). The new ones were introduced only fairly recently and at the time crooks tricked old people into believing they were no longer valid and bought them from people who believed them for a fraction (€5 given for €20, if I remember correctly).

[KARL]

Afterthought, in the unlikely event of a problem she should just walk into a bank and ask for a swap into new.

[rosyposy]

I’m afraid I don’t seem to have made myself clear, I want to know if she will be able to use them in Greece from tomorrow, Sorry if I’m reading the replies wrongly
but I’m getting the impression that the answers are suggesting a bank in the uk rather than abroad? Thank you for replying tho, rosy

[TonyV]

Your daughter could check with bank in airport or check with your bank.

[jno]

old ones are still legal tender and should be accepted anywhere

///The date when the first series of euro banknotes ceases to be legal tender will be announced well in advance. However, the banknotes of the first series will always retain their value: they can be exchanged for an unlimited period of time at the Eurosystem NCBs.///

https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/banknotes/europa/html/index.en.html

[rosyposy]

Thank you all for the information, good idea to try the airport bank tony, put her mind at rest one way or the other straight away :) or :( won’t it? Her mum went into the currency exchange to ask today and they didn’t have a clue either ......couldn’t believe it, thanks again, rosy

[KARL]

My answer, as I thought was clear but perhaps was not entirely so, is for using the notes anywhere, especially within the Eurozone and not necessarily in the UK - they are perfectly legitimate and accepted everywhere within the Eurozone including in Greece. On the other hand, if your granddaughter is uncomfortable she can have them replaced by any denomination Euros at a bank anywhere in the Eurozone, Greece included without any cost/loss.

[KARL]

....but I think it was abundantly clear that I would not rely on help/sense from UK banks, etc.

[rosyposy]

Thank you Karl for that, your answer was clear enough, it’s me that’s a bit of a dimwit ;o) cheers rosy

[KARL]

Wish her a good holiday from me :)

[rosyposy]

Will do :o)

[shoota]

I'll give you 5E for them...

:-)

[theshedman]

There shouldn't be any problem using them in any of the Euro zone countries. As others have said the old notes and new are both valid. I used some of the old series not long ago and had no problem with them.

[rosyposy]

That’s good to know shedman,thank you.Just too late with your very generous offer shoota, she already has them, rofl

[rosyposy]

Thought I’d give an update to you helpful people who replied, all the places she has used her notes have accepted them without question, but her boyfriend, who has all new notes is being questioned nearly every time he uses them.....got to laugh haven’t you?.......:o). rosy

[retrocop]

Been passing them off in Rhodes about two days ago. No worries. Although the Greeks will always moan they ain't their beloved Drachma. One taxi driver moaned it wasn't the same coming home on a Friday pay day with a weeks wages of 700 Euros. Come home with 80,000 Drachma and now we are talking a man's wage. Lol :-)