Is It Legal Where?

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UK retail payments and legal tender examples

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Identify the type of payment firstUK retail payments and legal tender examples
  1. 01
    A new retail purchase

    The shop can set the payment methods it accepts. Source 1

  2. 02
    An existing debt

    Check the agreed payment terms and whether the offer covers the full debt. Source 1

  3. 03
    Cash tender

    Check which currency is legal tender in that UK jurisdiction and any coin limit. Source 2

The rules for a new sale and an existing debt answer different questions.

Source 1 Source 2

UK retail payments and legal tender examples

Bank of England and Royal Mint guidance checked 11 November 2026. The debt examples assume no contract specifies another payment method.

8 records
Source
Shop chooses card-only paymentUnited KingdomThe Bank of England says a shop can choose which methods to acceptSource 1
Bank of England notes offered for a debtEngland and WalesCurrent notes are legal tenderSource 1
Bank of England notes offered for a debtScotland and Northern IrelandBanknotes are outside the legal tender definitionSource 1
Royal Mint GBP 1 or GBP 2 coinsUnited KingdomLegal tender for any amountSource 2
Royal Mint 20p or 50p coinsUnited KingdomLegal tender up to GBP 10Source 2
Royal Mint 5p or 10p coinsUnited KingdomLegal tender up to GBP 5Source 2
Royal Mint 1p or 2p coinsUnited KingdomLegal tender up to 20pSource 2
Debit card, cheque or contactlessUnited KingdomMay be accepted as payment by agreement and are outside the legal tender definitionSource 1

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