Damaged and Mutilated Banknotes
If you have a damaged or mutilated banknote read the following information before completing the application form available by following the link at the bottom of this page.
Application Form
All claimants must complete a Mutilated Notes Claim form (see below) and send this together with all note remains by post to the Bank of England in Leeds (the address is shown on the form and below). Please note that applications in person are not acceptable. However, in those cases where the damage or contamination is of such a nature that sending by post is impracticable or could contravene rules regarding the sending of items by post, applicants should contact the Bank of England in Leeds.
Assessment of Claims
Many factors are taken into account when deciding whether a payment can be made. No single factor is given priority, but we do take into account things such as the size of the fragments and the presence or absence of some of the main features on the note such as the serial number, the Chief Cashier’s signature and the promissory clause (‘I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of……’). The declared cause of the damage is also taken into consideration before making a final decision.
Payment
All successful applications are reimbursed with a crossed cheque sent by post. In cases where applicants do not have a bank account, there is a section on the application form where an alternative account holder can be named.
General Information
The Bank of England’s Mutilated Note service exists to reimburse members of the public with the face value of any damaged, mutilated or contaminated Bank of England notes, providing there are sufficient fragments or remains. As a general rule there should be evidence of at least half a note. The Bank currently receives around 35,000 individual applications per year, totaling around £40 million. Despite the high volumes the majority of claims are assessed within a few days.
The list of ways in which notes become damaged is almost endless – from those accidentally put through a washing machine to those chewed by the family pet. Notes hidden for safe keeping can often be overlooked. Those concealed in places such as ovens or microwaves run the risk of burning whilst notes hidden under floorboards or in gardens become damp and eventually decay.
Claims and enquiries about damaged and mutilated Bank of England notes should be addressed to:-
The Manager, Dept MN,
Bank of England,
King Street,
Leeds
LS1 1HT
Tel no. 0113 244 1711
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