Oddball currency questions
Mar 8, 19, 2:33 pm
#1
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Oddball currency questions
Hi all -
My wife, son, and I are planning on making our almost-annual trip to Oxfordshire to visit her family in May. We are fortunate enough to have found a marvelous landlady through AirBnB who's allowed us to book directly through her on subsequent trips. We pay her in cash on arrival, and the last time we did this, I paid her with a stack of 20-pound notes I'd obtained from an ATM at a nearby Tesco. This time, we are staying twice as long, which means I'd be turning over a stack of 20-pound notes that's twice as large, and I'd really prefer to pay her in larger bills. If I obtained cash from an ATM on arrival and walked into a bank branch, would I be able to exchange a stack of 20-pound notes for a smaller stack of, say, 100-pound notes?
Also, since I'm asking about currency, we have some of the old 1-pound coins that were taken out of circulation shortly after our last visit (September 2017). Is it too late to exchange those for the new coins? If not, where would we go to exchange them?
Thanks!
My wife, son, and I are planning on making our almost-annual trip to Oxfordshire to visit her family in May. We are fortunate enough to have found a marvelous landlady through AirBnB who's allowed us to book directly through her on subsequent trips. We pay her in cash on arrival, and the last time we did this, I paid her with a stack of 20-pound notes I'd obtained from an ATM at a nearby Tesco. This time, we are staying twice as long, which means I'd be turning over a stack of 20-pound notes that's twice as large, and I'd really prefer to pay her in larger bills. If I obtained cash from an ATM on arrival and walked into a bank branch, would I be able to exchange a stack of 20-pound notes for a smaller stack of, say, 100-pound notes?
Also, since I'm asking about currency, we have some of the old 1-pound coins that were taken out of circulation shortly after our last visit (September 2017). Is it too late to exchange those for the new coins? If not, where would we go to exchange them?
Thanks!
Mar 8, 19, 3:03 pm
#2
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You can't exchange twenties for hundred-pound notes ... because the largest banknote is £50. 
You should be able to get some at a bank. You can exchange your old, round one-pound coins for new dodecagonal ones at the same bank.
You should be able to get some at a bank. You can exchange your old, round one-pound coins for new dodecagonal ones at the same bank.
Mar 8, 19, 3:24 pm
#3
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I really wouldn't worry too much about the number of notes or changing them up to 50's
£50 whilst not rare are not really in common usage over here and generally generate mild confusion in shops etc if you proffer one to the assistant.
I really can't remember the last time I saw a £50 note in the flesh.
£50 whilst not rare are not really in common usage over here and generally generate mild confusion in shops etc if you proffer one to the assistant.
I really can't remember the last time I saw a £50 note in the flesh.
Mar 8, 19, 3:26 pm
#4
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Originally Posted by ajGoes
You can't exchange twenties for hundred-pound notes ... because the largest banknote is £50. You should be able to get some at a bank. You can exchange your old, round one-pound coins for new dodecagonal ones at the same bank.
You should be able to get some at a bank. You can exchange your old, round one-pound coins for new dodecagonal ones at the same bank.Thank you for your response, it was very helpful.
Mar 8, 19, 3:31 pm
#5
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Originally Posted by UKtravelbear
I really wouldn't worry too much about the number of notes or changing them up to 50's
£50 whilst not rare are not really in common usage over here and generally generate mild confusion in shops etc if you proffer one to the assistant.
I really can't remember the last time I saw a £50 note in the flesh.
£50 whilst not rare are not really in common usage over here and generally generate mild confusion in shops etc if you proffer one to the assistant.
I really can't remember the last time I saw a £50 note in the flesh.
I suppose I could also ask if she accepts payment by other means. Giving cash to my sister-in-law and having her write a check to our landlady would be more trouble than it would be worth.
Mar 8, 19, 3:39 pm
#7
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Originally Posted by TribalistMeathead
Ah, thanks; I could've sworn I've had a 100-pound note in my possession at one point in my life, but that would be impossible according to Wikipedia.
Mar 8, 19, 3:46 pm
#9
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Someone beat me to the point about Scottish £100 notes!
Nonetheless, I concur with others - no-one really wants £50 notes let alone £100 notes - they are practically unusable in most transactions.
If you have a long-standing relationship with this woman, have you considered electronic payment? If not by IBAN transfer, by PayPal for example.
EDIT - And in typing I’ve been beaten to the PayPal point too!
Nonetheless, I concur with others - no-one really wants £50 notes let alone £100 notes - they are practically unusable in most transactions.
If you have a long-standing relationship with this woman, have you considered electronic payment? If not by IBAN transfer, by PayPal for example.
EDIT - And in typing I’ve been beaten to the PayPal point too!
Last edited by Scots_Al; Mar 8, 19 at 4:04 pm
Mar 8, 19, 3:54 pm
#10
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There is nothing whatsoever "low class" about 20's any more than 50's. In any event, 42 of a banknote is hardly many in the sense that they are hard to place in an envelope and hand over.
I presume that the cash transaction is because she does not report the income and thus, other methods of payment are less convenient for her.
I presume that the cash transaction is because she does not report the income and thus, other methods of payment are less convenient for her.
Mar 8, 19, 3:54 pm
#11
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Also thinking about this most bank ATMs will only dispense £200 per day per card (well that's the limit for my bank) so you'd likely be making a few trips so electronic transfer would get around that
Mar 8, 19, 4:03 pm
#12
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Originally Posted by UKtravelbear
Also thinking about this most bank ATMs will only dispense £200 per day per card (well that's the limit for my bank) so you'd likely be making a few trips so electronic transfer would get around that
Mar 8, 19, 4:20 pm
#13
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Hi,
When I have changed money back at the travelex bureau de change at LHR ( I order online with a buyback guarantee at the purchase rate) I often get English £50 notes but I put them straighr into the bank.
Regards
TBS
When I have changed money back at the travelex bureau de change at LHR ( I order online with a buyback guarantee at the purchase rate) I often get English £50 notes but I put them straighr into the bank.
Regards
TBS
Mar 8, 19, 4:26 pm
#14
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Originally Posted by ajGoes
You can exchange your old, round one-pound coins for new dodecagonal ones at the same bank.
Mar 8, 19, 7:36 pm
#15
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Originally Posted by Giggleswick
Are you sure this is correct? I had read in many places that UK banks would only accept round pounds for deposit by their customers and that, even then, banks could impose their own limits. I suppose OP could trade them with his sister-in-law for current money and have her deposit them at her bank, if she's willing.
