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The sandwich chain Subway has been branded “anti-Scottish” after stores were given the green light to knock-back banknotes from north of the border.
The company, which has around 50 stores in Scotland , said it had no policy on the issue after a Scot living in the north of England expressed anger at his local Subway issuing a notice saying it will no longer accept Scottish notes.
Despite claiming it’s not Subway company policy, franchise outlets are allowed to refuse Scottish banknotes at their discretion.
Don Richardson from Aberdeen , who has lived south of the border for 26 years, was shocked to find the branch of Subway in Cheshire would no longer accept the cash.
The latest refusal comes after an MP lodged a bid at Westminster in April to make it legally binding for Scottish banknotes to be accepted across the UK.
The notice, placed recently in the store, said: “Due to the rise of fake bank notes in circulation, we are no longer able to accept any £50 notes, any type of Scottish or Irish notes.
“This is company policy, please do not be offended.”
Richardson said he had joked with the staff member behind the till that the company must surely accept Scottish notes in Scotland.
However he claims the policy feels like an “anti-Scotland stance”.
He said: “When it’s a national network like this, which has sales in Scotland and plenty of stores in Scotland, it feels like an anti-Scotland stance.
“In 26 years of living in England, I have only had Scottish money rejected twice and both of those were in small shops.”
Scottish banknotes are legal currency in the UK but not “legal tender” and no retailer has to accept any form of payment.
No banknotes are legal tender in Scotland and the Royal Mint explains the phrase is a narrow technical term referring to the settlement of debts, and in ordinary transactions, both parties can agree to accept “any form of payment”.
Experts claim many businesses in England and Wales are “unfamiliar with Scottish notes” and unsure how to spot fakes, with some opting for blanket bans in response.
A spokeswoman for Subway said: “Every Subway store is owned and operated independently and, as such, acceptance of Scottish bank notes is down to the relevant franchise owner.
“We do not have a policy on this that franchise owners are required to follow.
“We have asked the franchise owner to amend the notice to ensure that it is clear that this is not a Subway policy.”
Scottish Liberal Democrats ‘ deputy leader Alistair Carmichael has lodged a Bill in the House of Commons to have Scottish banknotes accepted throughout the UK and to oblige businesses to accept them as payment.
He said: “It is truly bizarre that in 2019 we still witness UK businesses openly and systematically denying customers the use of Scottish notes.
“Subway is a large chain of shops.
“The fact that they feel able to operate a policy like this shows why the law has to change.”
