Name: Anonymous 2012-04-29 7:49
Hello chaps and chapesses,
I did not have the best start to the day today. At my local newsagent I popped in to buy a paper; I didn't have change (already an irritation as I was running late), so had to hand over a £20 note, apologizing as I did for the lack of change.
The woman behind the counter held up the note (I'm thinking, please don't tell me this is a fake, I'm in a hurry) and calls over her colleague, who says that yes, it is indeed not a proper £20. He then proceeds to rip the note twice, as if to prove that the fabric is not authentic. I look on in astonishment, disbelief and outrage, pointing out that while the note may very well be a forgery, I got it from a cash machine, it represents my money and this is very much not on (matters not helped by their very poor English). They say, this has happened several times this week and insist that a cash machine would not issue such a note; furthermore, that they are asked NOT to return such notes to customers. Eventually, the man returns the note – in three pieces – and within a few seconds I have stormed out, albeit not before he has asked me to give him the note again (in my words "what?? so you can rip it up some more??").
I visit this shop almost daily.
Do I
a) suck up the fact that this is illegal money and do nothing further?
b) take the mutilated note to the bank, whether my own or a branch of the one whose ATM issued it, explaining the situation and asking for a replacement?
c) stick the note back together and attempt to use it subsequently in some context where I will not be challenged?
I did not have the best start to the day today. At my local newsagent I popped in to buy a paper; I didn't have change (already an irritation as I was running late), so had to hand over a £20 note, apologizing as I did for the lack of change.
The woman behind the counter held up the note (I'm thinking, please don't tell me this is a fake, I'm in a hurry) and calls over her colleague, who says that yes, it is indeed not a proper £20. He then proceeds to rip the note twice, as if to prove that the fabric is not authentic. I look on in astonishment, disbelief and outrage, pointing out that while the note may very well be a forgery, I got it from a cash machine, it represents my money and this is very much not on (matters not helped by their very poor English). They say, this has happened several times this week and insist that a cash machine would not issue such a note; furthermore, that they are asked NOT to return such notes to customers. Eventually, the man returns the note – in three pieces – and within a few seconds I have stormed out, albeit not before he has asked me to give him the note again (in my words "what?? so you can rip it up some more??").
I visit this shop almost daily.
Do I
a) suck up the fact that this is illegal money and do nothing further?
b) take the mutilated note to the bank, whether my own or a branch of the one whose ATM issued it, explaining the situation and asking for a replacement?
c) stick the note back together and attempt to use it subsequently in some context where I will not be challenged?