Is it illegal for convenience stores to accept "No Bills Larger than $50"?

Question

Do they really have the right to refuse legal tender such as $100 bill? Granted, they might have enough to change it, but is it legal?

Answer 1

It must be legal because they all do it.  I think it is to keep large bills out of the till so robbers aren't so apt to steal, not that it stops them;however, if you buy gas and all you have is a $100, I bet they won't refuse it.  The $100 is a favorite for counterfeiters, too.

Answer 2

Most of those folks don't keep a lot of cash on hand so accepting a hundred dollar bill might cause them to be unable to break even a twenty for the next customer.  Many of them put their larger bills into a drop safe for which they do not have the ability to open.  It's just another deterrent to crime.  But you might be lucky if they take fifties.  Many of those folks won't take anything larger than a twenty, especially after dark.  From a legal standpoint they can and do make their own rules which, for another example, means they don't have to take pennies if they don't want to even though they are also legal tender.

Answer 3

no its not

Answer 4

no it is not illegal for them to do this.

Answer 5

Not illegal.  Too many counterfeit 50's and 100's out there.  Give a thief acess to a color copier and a dollar bill, and it's amazing what the criminals can do.

People are counterfeiting 20's now, too!

Answer 6

Its legal.

Lots of stores will not accept anything larger than a 20. If the store does accept 50s or 100s, a lot of times they will record the serial #s from it, the time/date, and info from your ID in case it is later proven to be counterfeit.

If you own your own store and post it that you reserve the right to refuse service. You can determine what you accept for payment and who its from. the saying this is a free country is not actually true. only air is free.

ex.

Customer only has a 50 but you do not choose to accept it. it is posted right to refuse.....you can ask them to leave since they are on private property. if they fail to do so, you can call the police for "trespassing". you may have to do a citizen's arrest and sign the citation when they get there, but they will force the customer to leave the property.

its legal and legit.