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Fake bank notes

(11 Posts)
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keepingquiet Fri 20-Sept-24 15:07:52

Just had a £5 note refused in my local supermarket, saying it was fake. I did have enough coins to make my payment but asked what I should do with it.
I was told to take it to a bank and they would replace it, but there are no bank branches near me so I took it to the Post Office which provides banking services.
She ran it under a light machine and had it checked by a colleague who said it wasn't fake, but she didn't replace it.
She just said she was sick of customers coming in from this supermarket and another shop to check if their notes were fake, which they weren't, according to her.
I went back to the supermarket and they said they didn't have a light reader but they still wouldn't accept it.
I even phoned the local police who said if I was told it wasn't a fake I should just use it.
I find all this rather confusing and wonder if anyone has had similar problems?
What would you do? It is an offence to use or possess fake money, apparently.

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Calendargirl Fri 20-Sept-24 15:14:24

If it’s fake, no bank will swap it for you.

If they say it’s not fake, just spend it, but not at that supermarket if they won’t take it.

You can look up online how to tell if a note is real or not.

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AreWeThereYet Fri 20-Sept-24 15:33:21

If the bank is happy it's not fake the easiest thing to do is to give it back to them by paying it into your account and taking other notes out to replace it.

I don't think most supermarkets and small shops get their systems calibrated or cleaned, so it's likely they are giving false readings just because they are old.

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Sago Fri 20-Sept-24 15:36:08

Big stores just don’t want cash.

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Lisaangel10 Fri 20-Sept-24 19:41:15

Exactly the same thing happened to my daughter. CoOp store said £5 note was a fake. She took it to a PO who said it was not a fake. She spent it in the PO shop.
I think some shops testing gear is faulty.

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keepingquiet Fri 20-Sept-24 20:28:51

AreWeThereYet- this is what my son said I should have done but it didn't occur to me and I wasn't going to go back.

I am just going to spend it but in a different shop. I suppose it is what most people do.

Sago- I think you're right- the supermarkets don't want cash.
It isn't right is it?

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AreWeThereYet Fri 20-Sept-24 21:02:53

Retail and Commerce have always been about making money, but at one time they had to be nice to customers because each branch or store relied on local customers.

Those times are long gone. If a branch is not making money now they just close it down and reopen elsewhere. Regardless of what they say about caring for their customers individuals no longer count - it's all about the masses.

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25Avalon Fri 20-Sept-24 22:02:35

Why didn’t the supermarket have a proper fake note reading pen? They are quite cheap to buy.

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Mogsmaw Fri 20-Sept-24 22:56:25

25Avalon

Why didn’t the supermarket have a proper fake note reading pen? They are quite cheap to buy.

Pens worked on “paper” bank notes, not on polymer

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Allira Fri 20-Sept-24 23:06:58

Buy your stamps at the Post Office with that £5 note.

If possible, go to a different supermarket in future.

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keepingquiet Sat 21-Sept-24 07:53:34

25Avalon- I have no idea but it was busy and the woman who came behid me was saying she had two fake fivers and put them in her cupboard! It was all a bit crazy.

Allira- I don't use it as much as I used to. There have been other incidents where I've noticed things and pointed them out to staff, maybe they know I'm on to them!

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