Question about acceptability of U.S. hundred dollar bills
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2007
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Question about acceptability of U.S. hundred dollar bills
I am Canadian and will be traveling in the U.S. several times in the next few months. I have heard and read about problems with counterfeiting of U.S. hundreds. Mostly I use credit cards but want to bring some cash along and want to avoid too much bulky money in my wallet. Are there problems having hundred dollar bills accepted, should I bring smaller bills or are 100's OK most places.
#2
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Generally you shouldn't have a problem spending $100's but you may have some difficulties in taxis, convenience stores, tolls, petrol stations, etc. Don't use $100's for smallish transactions since stores will hate giving that much change. Also, be ready for some grimaces of annoyance from those who willa ccept the bills. Most places will use a special pen to check that they are indeed real $100's.
I'd take some $20s as well
I'd take some $20s as well
#3
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Agreed, though with inflation $100 U.S. ain't what it used to be! Traditions die hard - several attempts at a U.S. $1 coin have encountered huge consumer resistance*, but if someone had suggested a 10 or 25 bill way back when they had about the same purchasing power as a dollar does today, they would have been laughed out of the mint.
Some of the rarity of the $100 bill probably has to do with credit/debit cards, which are the normal medium for buying anything that would have used a $20 or $50 bill "back in the day" and would suggest using a $100 bill today if anyone was going to pay cash for them. Whatever the reason, store clerks don't get too many.
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*You Canadians, along with most other countries I've been to, have this one right.
Some of the rarity of the $100 bill probably has to do with credit/debit cards, which are the normal medium for buying anything that would have used a $20 or $50 bill "back in the day" and would suggest using a $100 bill today if anyone was going to pay cash for them. Whatever the reason, store clerks don't get too many.
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*You Canadians, along with most other countries I've been to, have this one right.
#4
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I'd take some $20s as well
- Michael
#5
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True, although technically this is illegal since the US$ is "legal tender for all debts public and private" but it's hardly worth the fight
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You can also ask the front desk of the hotel where you are staying to change a $100 into smaller bills for you.
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#12
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they might take your antique 5 dollar bill, but they won't take $100 notes though.
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#15
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See this story: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/...off0138027.htm
Best Buy Ripoff Has customer arrested for using $2 bills Calls Secret Service Lutherville Maryland
"PUT YOURSELF in Mike's place. On the morning of Feb. 20, he buys a new radio-CD player for his 17-year-old son Christopher's car. He pays the $114 installation charge with 57 crisp new $2 bills, which, when last observed, were still considered legitimate currency in the United States proper. The $2 bills are Bolesta's idea of payment, and his little comic protest, too.
For this, Mike, Baltimore County resident, innocent citizen, owner of Capital City Student Tours, finds himself under arrest.
Finds himself, in front of a store full of customers at the Best Buy on York Road in Lutherville, locked into handcuffs and leg irons.
Finds himself transported to the Baltimore County lockup in Cockeysville, where he's handcuffed to a pole for three hours while the U.S. Secret Service is called into the case."