I've just had the most almighty row in Superdrug over 20p. Not because they over-charged me or anything, but because they refused to accept an Isle of Man 20 pence piece. I insisted it was legal tender as it's British, while they insisted they didn't take that particular coin. But this was after the girl on the cash desk called over the 14-year-old couldn't-give-a-damn manager who said 'it's an old one, we don't take them', without even looking at it.
Even when I pointed out that the design of the 20p has not changed since its inception in 1982 (or whatever) he refused to budge. And hammering home the point that it had the Queen on the back didn't much good either. I don't think he'd heard of the Isle of Man.
So I lost that one.
Moments later I managed to offload it in Pret while buying an apple. So no harm done.
But I want to know - what's the deal with non-English currency in England? It's hard enough trying to spend Jersey pound notes here, and whenever I come back from Jersey I try and change them at the airport as people 'don't get it'. And taxi drivers will just about take Scottish notes.
It's annoying to be flatly told your money is worthless.
8 comments:
Basically, Manx and Channel Islands currency (and Scottish currency, come to that) is not legal tender in the strict definition of the word: it isn't obligatory to accept it. It isn't illegal, however, so it's up to individual businesses whether or not to accept it. So Superdrug were actually within their rights not to take your 20p. It's annoying, but there you go.
Grrrr!
Thanks for clearing that one up, Kitten.
Manx and Channel Islands coins are accepted in vending machines, they're the fairest retailers in the market.
How come this assistant in Superdrug was examining your coins in so much detail in the first place?
And, wouldn't it be cheaper to buy your apples from a supermarket and take them in to work?
Just a thought...........
Well I do my apples at the weekend usually, but last weekend I neglected to do so, and have been buying them on a daily basis instead.
Ah, that's okay then.
Shopkeepers have refused my Scottish notes in England but I'm surprised that she wouldn't accept a Manx 20p. I'm even more surprised that she had the wherewithal even to notice.
I though we supposed to buy our apples from poor local farmers/retailers, not Pret or Tesco's. (erm..Not that I do of course)
Well yes, usually I get my apples from the market, and I don't really like Pret - all that silly chuminess on packaging etc, but I didn't make the shoppting this week so that's why. And it's just on the corner of the road I work in so terribly convenient. And you can't beat their orange and lemon muffins, and as for those ham and cheese hot things, well I could go on.
As I say, I don't really like Pret.
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