A recent online controversy has erupted over a convenience store’s refusal to accept old banknotes, aggravating customers and sparking heated debate among netizens who pointed out that such notes remain legally valid unless damaged. The main reason for the refusal was due to the banknotes being heavily taped.

 

Today, a social media post was shared by a member of the พวกเราคือผู้บริโภค Facebook group. The post contained images of used banknotes plastered with clear tape and the message.

“How old is this banknote? The convenience store staff wouldn’t accept it, saying that nobody else would take it. They said the acceptance of money is at the discretion of the employees.

 

Thus, I had to find another banknote to pay. The banknote isn’t torn, it just has tape on it. Maybe someone taped it fearing it may tear. I got it as a change from another place”, reported KhaoSod.

 

by Nattapong Westwood 

Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-10-16

 

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They do like their crisp notes here, esp exchange booths. Should be immaterial however as it’s still legal tender and of no value itself, merely a cheque. Dunno the system here but stores should be handing in these duff notes to banks for ‘recycling’. 

1 hour ago, daveAustin said:

They do like their crisp notes here, esp exchange booths. Should be immaterial however as it’s still legal tender and of no value itself, merely a cheque. Dunno the system here but stores should be handing in these duff notes to banks for ‘recycling’. 

I have always refused to accept banknotes in poor condition. It's common sense really and the fault of the person trying to use them. They should have refused to accept them in the first place and avoided the problem of trying to pass them off to someone else. Thai banknotes are usually in very good condition and anything I accept should be too.

2 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Dunno the system here but stores should be handing in these duff notes to banks for ‘recycling’. 

The customer could do the same.

Exchanged at the bank TIT

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

3 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Dunno the system here but stores should be handing in these duff notes to banks for ‘recycling’. 

The customer could do the same.

Exactly. Much ado about nothing. To quote the American expression, 'Take it to the bank'.

I once had a $100 bill refused at an exchange booth because it had someone's initial written on it about 2mm in size. Pathetic. Went somewhere else and suddenly there wasn't a problem after all.

9 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

I once had a $100 bill refused at an exchange booth because it had someone's initial written on it about 2mm in size. Pathetic. Went somewhere else and suddenly there wasn't a problem after all.

Probably the same guy works at immigration or some other government office, rejecting various forms of paperwork based on his own mood and how malicious he is feeling!

4 hours ago, webfact said:

refusal to accept old banknotes

Some are rare and collectible ...

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The main reason for the refusal was due to the banknotes being heavily taped.

Banks will exchange them against new ones for free .

Whilst we are banging on about legal tender, what about 25/50 satang coins?  They have the King's head on them but I have had them refused on buses and in convenience stores.

2 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Whilst we are banging on about legal tender, what about 25/50 satang coins?  They have the King's head on them but I have had them refused on buses and in convenience stores.

Save them for tips!

Reminds me of the time I was told rather abruptly that that i can not use broken money . 

Take my broken money or get nothing .

It was accepted 

It doesn't take much to "spark a heated debate among netizens" these days, as they seem to have all the time in the world to stay focused on such important issues. 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

How old is this banknote?

I had an old pair of shorts that were stored outside that I forgot were there. 

A few years ago I came home wet from the rain, drunk. I took them off forgetting I had money in the pocket. 

I found the shorts the other day, found I had a couple of 100's and 1, 500 baht note soiled, mildew and very poor condition, part of the notes were perished. 

 

I took them to my local Kasikorn bank, the teller exchanged them for crispy new notes 

Edited October 16, 20232 yr by SAFETY FIRST

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

Whilst we are banging on about legal tender, what about 25/50 satang coins?  They have the King's head on them but I have had them refused on buses and in convenience stores.

Maybe next time make it loud and clear that he/she dares to refuse a highly placed person?

2 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Exactly. Much ado about nothing. To quote the American expression, 'Take it to the bank'.

What a waste of time - don't accept them in the first place. I've told cashiers a number of time over the years to give me a clean note when they handed me a bad one. You only get bad ones as change from a shop, so simply opening your eyes avoids the problem.

2 hours ago, mikebell said:

Whilst we are banging on about legal tender, what about 25/50 satang coins?  They have the King's head on them but I have had them refused on buses and in convenience stores.

Only shops that don't price their items in fractions of baht (satang) will refuse to accept them. The 7Elevens love them and will take as many as you've got.

3 hours ago, mikebell said:

Whilst we are banging on about legal tender, what about 25/50 satang coins?  They have the King's head on them but I have had them refused on buses and in convenience stores.

I had the same experience when I lived in Thailand. What I did was to put them in a small pot and when I had collected 20 bahts worth, put them in a small poly bag and took them back to the Tesco-Lotus where I had originally received them. The Customer Service desk exchanged them for a 20 baht note and re-circulated them back in the tills.

20 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

I had the same experience when I lived in Thailand. What I did was to put them in a small pot and when I had collected 20 bahts worth, put them in a small poly bag and took them back to the Tesco-Lotus where I had originally received them. The Customer Service desk exchanged them for a 20 baht note and re-circulated them back in the tills.

Thais bang on about the monarchy yet these small coins are refused.  I was once rebuked for putting bank notes in my back pocket then sitting down on it!