Originally Posted by
Scots_Al
I suspect that last bit is key - from the banks' point of view, providing a free service that will cost them in cash handling to a non-customer is unlikely to be an attractive proposition.
in the USA you have certain obligations as a federally chartered bank, even for non-customers, it’s part of the cost of doing business.
besides according to our Uk friends this is not really a burden since there are so few of us foreigners holding old notes
Originally Posted by
plunet
Next up for debate, the UK is changing its stamps to new ones that include unique barcodes. Any existing definitive stamps (full stamp showing monarch head) not exchanged for new ones before 31 Jan 23 will supposedly become worthless. So this is "worse" than the banknote saga. Swaps of old for new stamps have to be done by post, you can't do them at a post office. Special issue and commerative stamps are not affected. So all you postcard fans better get writing and posting soon.
No offense but this is more stupidity. In the USA we have been issuing “forever” stamps for years, one stamp is always good for first class postage even if the rates rise. I’m sure the post office more than makes up the cost through spoilage and interest on the prepaid stamps.