--
Mike D

Neil Williams wrote
On Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:55:16 +0100, wrote:

If the notes are from Scotland and bear the word sterling then they
are
legal tender and I believe that retailers have to accept them.

They aren't, though for the purposes of retail it's irrelevant
whether
they are or not, as the concept of legal tender refers only to
payment
of a debt.

A retailer may choose to accept or not accept any method of payment
for any reason[1] he or she chooses, as no debt exists because the
goods aren't yours until paid for.

[1] Other than racism, sexism etc.

For an "ordinary" retail transaction, yes.

But if you are paying your monthly newspaper bill or the bill in an
ordinary restaurant or you are (thinks) at the drycleaners then there
is a debt so the legal tender rules apply.

http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/bankn...egaltender.htm

and indeed for the US
http://www.treasury.gov/education/fa...l-tender.shtml

The US, unlike the UK, apparently doesn't have a law preventing you
legally paying a debt in 1 cent or other tiny coins.

--
Mike D