But we do have one issuer of notes - the Bank of England. I think you'll find many places in England and Wales where Scottish, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey notes are not accepted, and I can't believe that this couple are 'shocked', it must have happened to them before. One problem for businesses is that unless you are familiar with all the above notes (and there are more than one issuer of both Scottish and Northern Irish notes) is that you may very easily be given forgeries. Would YOU recognise a genuine Clydesdale bank £20 for instance?