gbp??

[Mr Chipps]

Anyone know why companies have a growing propensity towards the term "GBP" (Great Britain Pounds) instead of the correct "�"?
Grrr, it makes I mad it do! Boycott them, I say - don't buy owt from 'em.

Rant over, soap box away.

[delboy3]

It helps to avoid confusion with other currencies such as the Turkish lira; also, not every keyboard has a � sign on it.

[kempie]

GBP is the code defined by ISO 4217, the established norm in banking and business all over the world for defining different currencies instead of translated currency names or ambiguous currency symbols.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_4217

[Mr Chipps]

Thanks to both, but I don't feel that the pound and the Turkish lira will get confused internationally very often, but more importantly, I feel that a little of our national identity has been eroded because of it.
It's not a big issue but it's certainly becoming more prevalent, even in the GB/US markets (I'm thinking of hotels here) and no-one will convince me that the � will ever be confused with the $.
I don't think the need for the use of GBP is as great as it's made out.

[fredpuli47]

Now tell us how you would fill in the space on a form for sending money abroad? If you send dollars you have to write USD not $ or 'dollars' because there are other 'dollars'. If pounds you have to put GBP because there are other 'pounds'. Americans have to enter USD but we haven't noticed them complaining about it.

And that's why companies do it, it avoids confusion and is universally understood.

[Mr Chipps]

Oo, someone got out of bed on the wrong side!
How do you know that Americans haven't complained? Oh yes, you haven't noticed. I don't care about the USD - and even if they haven't complained, it doesn't mean that I can't.
It's usage is simple really, if the transaction is made in the UK then we use �, in Australia it's A� I believe. If forms cannot accept a � sign then is it too much to ask that the forms are changed?
And who's talking about forms anyway? I'm knocking on about the ubiquitous use of GBP in cross-atlantic and in domestic tourism advertisements - just not necessary.

[Finance Guy]

I think GBP is the only proper way to refer to UK currency when dealing in money transactions - it is internationally recognised and I have been using it for overseas transfers for years. .

Your thoughts, mainly aimed around patriotism, are understood but I am afraid you will have to get used to GBP or be boycotting a hell of a lot of companies, including every financial institution in the world!