When I visited my bank recently to pay in some cheques, I took the opportunity to take in a pound coin which had unfortunately had an argument with my lawnmower (ouch)- thought I might as well get it changed for a good one while I was there. However, to my great surprise, the bank teller would have none of it - she said that if she took it off my hands, the bank would lose out. Puzzled, I pointed out that banks (surely?) routinely sift out damaged notes and coins from circulation and return them to the Mint for recycling?? "Ah, but only full coin bags..." (?!? what, so when I've demolished another 19 pound coins with the flymo that will be OK then?)
At this point I had the option of throwing a wobbly and threatening to move my business elsewhere, etc etc; or saying to myself, it's only a quid and leaving, which is what I did.
As a matter of principle, though, can someone tell me if I'm in the right here?!!
(FYI the coin did have a small chunk missing, courtesy of the mower; I'd estimate about 5% of the whole. The teller weighed the coin first
- a slightly pointless exercise - before giving me the bad news, so I wonder if there's a 'rule' that a coin must weigh the prescribed amount to be deemed valid?)
David