Is it right to refuse the money ...??

[MustangLady]

I work in a cafe and on few occasions have been given payment which is not what I refer to as English money, yet the customer insists or is unsure themselves, whether I should accept it. Recently someone gave me a coin (looked like a 10pence) but on one side was a logo I definitely not familiar with, yet on other was Queen's head Elizabeth II with name of country showing GIBRALTAR. I do not know this currency but the customer was sure it was legal tender as it had the Queen's head on it. On few occasions in past I have been offered Scottish money (which I refused as on Bank of England website it states it is NOT Legal tender in England, official, but can be accepted by a trader at their own choice, as although I cannot give this currency out to a customer it can be exchanged at Bank in England). I've looked with regards to other types of currency and cannot find anything to do with Gibraltar currency, Jersey, Northern Ireland & other British Colony currencies. Any ideas ? Are they legal tender here or not or again is it the choice of trader whether they want to accept or not? So far I have refused but am I right in doing so. Thanks.

[SIRandyraven]

Remember many years ago driving from France into Belgium.
I went into rotten Ronnie's (McDonalds) for a coffee and bun,
At the front of the queue I suddenly remembered I only had French Francs and said to the girl will you accept Francs. She said back in perfect English "We take French Francs , Guilders , Belgian Francs , Sterling and Dollar.
I paid in pounds.
Then a few months later I refused a Scottish note in my change in London ....lol

[MustangLady]

Sorry for delay in replying, thank you everyone for your answers. I took the matter up with Bank of England (emailed them and they emailed reply back). I quote here the email I received back from them to clear the matter up ;

Thank you for your mail. Scottish, Northern Irish, Channel Island and Gibraltar banknotes and coins are not legal tender in the UK.
The term legal tender, however, does not in itself govern the acceptability of banknotes in transactions. In the UK, whether or not notes have legal tender status, their acceptability as a means of payment is essentially a matter for agreement between the parties involved. Legal tender has a very narrow technical meaning in relation to the settlement of debt. If a debtor pays in legal tender the exact amount he owes under the terms of a contract, he has good defence in law if he is subsequently sued for non-payment of the debt. In ordinary everyday transactions, the term ‘legal tender’ has very little practical application. People are also often willing to accept payment by cheque, standing order, debit or credit card for example – in fact, by any instrument that they are confident will deliver value – but these, too, are not actually legal tender items. Anyone in the UK can refuse acceptance of a banknote or coin in payment for goods or services, without necessarily giving a reason for so doing.

unquote:
Thanks again everyone for your replies.