Why do shops always give battered £5 notes as change?

Question

When ever I pay for something in pretty much any shop using a crisp £10 or £20 note, I always get the worst £5 note as change.

I mean these shop keepers must have loads of £5 notes, but it's like they have a pile of clean crisp ones and a pile of rubbish, torn, worn out ones just to use as change.

Anyone else experience this? or know why they do it?

Answer 1

coinsidence

Answer 2

They probably give change from money they have been already given by the general public so the money can be in any state.

Answer 3

lol. I work in a shop, and its so hard to come by £5 notes, i curse when i have to give them out, and people that are nasty and arrogant gives me a perfect excuse to save my fivers and dump about nine quid in pound coins on em. so to be fair, your privelaged =)

Answer 4

One reason is that it's well known that the banks don't print as many £5 notes as they could and probably should. I think it's because most ATM'S don't allow people to withdraw less than £10. So the bottom line is that, there is a lot of battered £5 notes going about, and £5 notes that are crisp are in scarce supply.

Answer 5

Yes I have this all the time.  I saw an article on telly about it recently and they were saying that it has something to do with the mint keeping old fivers in circulation and the banks not stocking up on new ones often enough so there are more nasty ones out there good ones.  I always ask for them to change the fiver for pound coins if I get given a crappy one...

Answer 6

shortage

Answer 7

I think the reason is that people treat £5 notes rather like coins: fold them up and keep them in their pocket. So they tend to get bashed around a bit more than higher denominations which are kept in a wallet. However it's quite nice when I put on a clean pair of jeans and find a "laundered" fiver inside. I think a number must go through the washing machine.

Answer 8

Actually there is a shortage of new, clean £5 notes, I don't know if there are plans to release a new one or not.

Answer 9

I spose' it's a sheer coincidence that you keep getting the "battered" money. As far as I know, when giving change you just take the notes or coins that are on the top.... so I guess its' just bad luck!

Answer 10

Its because customers hand in scruffy £5.00 notes. At the end of the day it is all spondulick and all spendable.

Hope this answers your question helps you in the some way.

Answer 11

It is because they have been "laundered" and they end up like that after the wash

Answer 12

I think the Bank of England are hoarding Fivers for some reason. They're probably planning to withdraw the paper note from circulation and introduce a £5 coin.

Answer 13

I know exactly what you mean unfortunately.

They are almost so bad you are scared another shop won't accept them. Lol

I think it's so they have a till full of nice notes.

Simple reason but there you go. :-)