Postage Stamps as legal tender

TheVan

Ok so I was up north at the weekend and I was told that postage stamps are technically legal tender in the UK. Is this true?

And on a more relevant point, is it legal tender in the Republic? I seem to remember paying for send-away toys with stamps when I was younger?

Please don't just say that they are not unless you can back it up!!

Binomate

I've heard that anything with the Queens head on it that is made by the British government is legal tender in the UK. I don't have a clue about the Republic of Ireland. See if a google search brings anything up.

besty

TheVan wrote:

Ok so I was up north at the weekend and I was told that postage stamps are technically legal tender in the UK. Is this true?

And on a more relevant point, is it legal tender in the Republic? I seem to remember paying for send-away toys with stamps when I was younger?

Please don't just say that they are not unless you can back it up!!

If the legal expertise of David Brent is anything to go by, stamps are legal tender. Honestly though, I think they are legal tender and it was me that told you over the weekend!

TheVan

Besty what would i do without you? A little surprised you remember! I corroborated David Brent Esquire's legal opinion with another UK resident first....his qualifications seemed dodgy to me!

besty

TheVan wrote:

Besty what would i do without you? A little surprised you remember! I corroborated David Brent Esquire's legal opinion with another UK resident first....his qualifications seemed dodgy to me!

I hope you're not saying Brent is not qualified to provide legal advice!
FACT: Brent can do anything.

Font22

The two of you are such losers!!

besty

Font22 wrote:

The two of you are such losers!!

*Flirting with the idea of a ban*

TheVan

Font22 we are not losers....we are just so far ahead of you you fail to understand how amazing we are.....

oh and yes that was a banning offence....insulting a Mod Besty!

Font22

I dare you Besty!!
Just remember if you do I wont look, smile, talk or acknowledge you ever again! AND dont even think of suggesting that that is why you would consider banning me.......sniff sniff!

TheVan

Font22 wrote:

I dare you Besty!!
Just remember if you do I wont look, smile, talk or acknowledge you ever again! AND dont even think of suggesting that that is why you would consider banning me.......sniff sniff!

Does this post deserve reporting to the SS (spell soldiers)?

besty

I concur.
Belligerent22, take it easy. I never ban for personal gain. I merely perform my duty as a moderator.

Font22

That will be a first.........you performing!!!!

Binomate

Eh, lol!

besty

Touché

Font22

knew you would like that one!

TheVan

Is "one" what they call it these days?

dermot_sheehan

TheVan wrote:

Ok so I was up north at the weekend and I was told that postage stamps are technically legal tender in the UK. Is this true?

And on a more relevant point, is it legal tender in the Republic? I seem to remember paying for send-away toys with stamps when I was younger?

Please don't just say that they are not unless you can back it up!!

Currency Act 1925 and Decimal Currency Act 1970 made irish pounds legal tender, this was amended by the Economic and Monetary Union Act 1998 which made the euro legal tender (unlimited for notes, up to 50 coins).

In the UK, only £1 and £2 coins are legal tender in england and wales, scotland and northern ireland. Bank of England notes are legal tender in england itself, post office stamps are not legal tender. Note that notes issued by the commerical banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland are not legal tender. Legal tender only means that certain things must be accepted in satisfaction of a debt, there is nothing stopping to parties agreeing to use anything else.

hullaballoo

Font22 banned.*

*jk

Thirdfox

lol...

anyway back on the issue - do people have to accept cash as it is legal tender?

What about the signs that say we only take cheques or credit card... surely if cash is legal tender then they must accept it as payment? Or is there another law that governs this?

Victor

Thirdfox wrote:

What about the signs that say we only take cheques or credit card... surely if cash is legal tender then they must accept it as payment? Or is there another law that governs this?

They are specifying a furhter condition of contract. Would you insist a house seller accept €350,000 in €5 notes, when he said he wouldn't.

Kappar

Doesn't legal legal tender have to accepted in satisfaction of a debt?

besty

Kappar wrote:

Doesn't legal legal tender have to accepted in satisfaction of a debt?

AFAIK this is correct. Legal tender is something that cannot be refused to settle a debt if it's the same currency.

Thirdfox

Victor wrote:

They are specifying a furhter condition of contract. Would you insist a house seller accept €350,000 in €5 notes, when he said he wouldn't.

I'm not sure... it would be cool to give him a briefcase full of money

Victor

Kappar wrote:

Doesn't legal legal tender have to accepted in satisfaction of a debt?

Where does it say "legal tender" your Euro notes. As best I know hte concept was largely abolished before the Euro (the last series of Irish pound didn't have "legal tender" either).

mountainyman

The concept of legal tender has not been abolished.
These people are specifying the terms under which they will do business with you.

Victor

mountainyman wrote:

The concept of legal tender has not been abolished.
These people are specifying the terms under which they will do business with you.

Hence I said "largely abolished", for example there is no longer a requirement that cart workers must be paid in cash.

TalkISCheap

But in fairness, how practical would it be to print anything like "legal tender" on every euro note, in every language of the union?? Quite possibly, it's assumed...