Paper currency refused

Not sure what to tell you but I have a strong feeling that you wont do well when they get to the point of wanting us to have that chip thingy implanted! :)

Are you actually IN Canada when trying to use Canadian money ?
If so, stop by a bank and ask them.

If you are in the US, I think you shouldn't be too surprised since a Canadian $20 is currently only worth about $15.40 USD.

Take it to a bank

GordonThree wrote:
Two different places refused to accept my $20 CAD notes, 1991 issue, so they're paper and not plastic.

Couldn't find anything official on government websites about paper losing legal tender status.

What gives and what can I do?

Find a big 5 chartered bank (BMO, RBC, BNS, TDCT, or CIBC), explain the problem to a teller, and ask them if they'll exchange the paper notes for plastic ones.
First time I've ever heard of anything like this, but it doesn't surprise me.
Good luck.

Try taking them to a Canadian bank and exchange them.

I guess it should have been obvious to me, take them to a bank. Thanks for the quick replies!

BTW Thunder Bay ON is beautiful, fall colors, big fluffy snowflakes, waterfalls everywhere.

I am actually not surprised, ourr currency has been upgraded several times since then to make it more secure. Heck, the clerk was probably not old enough to recognize it.:B

romore wrote:
I am actually not surprised, ourr currency has been upgraded several times since then to make it more secure. Heck, the clerk was probably not old enough to recognize it.:B

Lol...nailed it!

Probably looked completely fake to the vendor

If I remember my experience in monetary matters correctly, currencies can no longer be valid 6 months from issuance of new notes.

It is called legal tender and anyone who refused it in exchange for value is an illegal act under some limitations, example, 1 cent coins are legal tender only in 100 pcs.

Yosemite Sam1 wrote:
It is called legal tender and anyone who refused it in exchange for value is an illegal act under some limitations, example, 1 cent coins are legal tender only in 100 pcs.

Maybe in Canada but not in the US. link There is no federal law that requires it to be accepted.

Many small businesses find it cheaper to lose a sale than suffer a theft of cash.