UK/GB???

[dondons]

what is the difference between the U.K. and Great Britain? Which one includes the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man and which one includes Northern Ireland.

[kags]

Great Britain is the big Island including Scotland , Wales and England. The United Kingdom is Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are crown dependencies which means they are not part of the UK, but are "crown possessions" having seperate jurisdictions. That is why their currency is not legal tender in the UK. The Isle of MAn and the Channel islands are also not official members of the Eurpoean Union, they are associate members. The British Isles is the term for Great Britian, Northern and Southern Island, The Isle of Man, The Channel Islands and all the other smaller islands.

[kags]

That should say The British Isles includes Great Britain, Northern and Southern Ireland etc etc of course!

[Caladon]

If it is not legal tender, Kags, then why do I find IOM 50 pence pieces and 20 pence pieces in my change? Even if its from a bank or post office?

[IndieSinger]

Most of the money that comes through our shop is scottish money, which would be very difficult to spend south of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (especially where I used to live, near Oxford - they'd look at it like Monopoly money and refuse it). Many people say that because it doesn't depict the Queen's head, Scottish money does not have to be accepted in England (apart from at banks). However I think this is a myth. Which is a female moth.

[kags]

Caladon - the coins from IOM and Channel Islands are the same shape, size and weight so they can easily be mistaken for UK coins - especially if they are included in a bag of money which is weighed as it is paid into the bank or Post Office. I am sure you could ask them to change it if you spot it straight away - otherwise you could put them in vending machines or car park ticket machines! Indiesinger - I think many English shops etc refuse Scottish notes because they are unfamiliar and they don't think they would be able to spot a forgery. Do they still have �1 notes in Scotland? I wish we still did in England.

[archbishop]

Interestingly enough Scottish money is not legal tender anywhere, not even in Scotland.It is a recognised form of exchange only.

[sft42]

The 'Bish is right in that only BoE notes are considered legal tender but I bet most people would be hard pressed to name all 8 banks that issue sterling notes for use in the UK......We do still have pound notes in Scotland but they are around in much smaller numbers than before.

I think most notes other than english are refused because of ignorance...they simply aren't aware that the are acceptable and don't want to be caught with them....As I am sure it will come as no suprise to anyone I refuse to accept english notes should I be given any in my change at any time....if they won't accept our money I quite simply won't accept theirs...naah naaah naahh nahh nahh.

[bernardo]

Archbishop is correct in saying that Scottish notes are not "legal tender" but I think some people may be misunderstanding the term. "Legal tender" means that it MUST be accepted as payment; something which is not legal tender (such as a banana, for example) MAY be used if both people agree.