And finally…’Scotland? Where’s that?’

A major high street retailer has been compelled to remind its workers in England that they have to accept Scottish bank notes after a customer from Dundee was refused service in Milton Keynes by one member of staff who said she didn’t even know where Scotland was.

Customer William Mackay was asked “where’s Scotland” after trying attempting to hand over a Scottish note for his purchases.

He was also told by the shop assistant that she had “never seen” foreign bank notes before.



Mr Mackay, who regularly travels to England, became so incensed at the repeated refusals of companies south of the border to accept Scottish bank notes that he wrote to his local MSP Shona Robison about the issue.

He also said he intends to write to Prime Minister David Cameron about it.

But TK Maxx has now said it will remind all staff about accepting Scottish currency.

A statement issued by the company said: “Our standard practice is to accept Scottish bank notes as legal tender in our UK stores.

We regret that this practice may not have been followed in this instance. We are working with our stores to refresh awareness regarding this practice.”

Mr Mackay said TK Maxx’s decision was “excellent news” but the problem remains widespread in England.

He said: “I am in Milton Keynes and still having the same problem.

“I just had to get off a bus because their machine could not accept a £20 note,” he said.

In her l etter to TK Maxx, Shona Robison said: “Not only was this a huge inconvenience it was also an embarrassing experience for my constituent.

“I would like to request that your business reviews its current policies to ensure it includes the validity of Scottish notes, and that you incorporate the understanding that Scottish notes are legal tender in the UK, into your staff training.”

Yesterday the MSP said: “Although I am unaware if my constituent has received an apology as yet for the embarrassment caused by the actions of the staff member at the store, I welcome the company’s admission that the i ncident was caused by a staff member acting outwith company guidelines.”

Although the Bank of England states Scottish and Northern Ireland banknotes are not legal tender in England, it is up to the parties involved whether it is an acceptable means of payment – as all banks south of the border are legally obliged to accept them.

Bizarrely, Bank of England notes are not considered legal tender in Scotland, despite the fact most shops will accept them and some ATMs in Scotland also dispense them.

The term is purely technical, and the matter of whether it is an acceptable means of payment is essentially left up to an agreement between the parties involved.

As a result, Scottish banknotes can be accepted in many places south of the border but anyone who rejects them is legally within their rights to do so.

The notes must, however, be accepted by all banks.

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