Confusion as stores defy £1 coin deadline

THE switchover from the old to new £1 coin is in danger of bringing chaos to the high street.

The round £1, pictured – which is being replaced by a 12-sided coin – will cease to be legal tender on Sunday.

But while the old coin is already being rejected by some stores’ self- service checkouts, other retailers are preparing to defy the Royal Mint’s deadline for the coinage by continuing to take it.

Those who have any of the estimated 500million old coins still in circulation have been urged to spend, bank or donate them before Sunday.

But shoppers faced chaos at budget supermarket Lidl in Tooting, south London, where a sign informed customers: ‘Our selfservice checkouts will no longer accept old £1 coins. They will still be accepted on manned checkouts until October 15, 2017.’

One Lidl shopper said there were angry scenes when customers who had queued for the selfservice tills had to line up again at manned checkouts when they could not use their £1 coins. ‘It was chaotic – there were a few shoppers who got very irate,’ the shopper added. Lidl apologised last night, saying: ‘We have experienced a technical glitch on some of our self-service checkouts.’

But to add to the confusion, the Federation of Small Businesses, which represents 170,000 shops, yesterday advised shops to continue accepting the old coin, saying it would be fair for thousands of customers who have only had a few months to get rid of their outdated tender.

‘Shopkeepers will not want to let their loyal customers down by saying they cannot pay with a round pound if they do not have any change,’ a spokesman told the Daily Telegraph.

The federation suggested shops could continue to take the old coin during a transition period, but not hand them back to the public. The spokesman added: ‘This would provide a useful community service allowing customers a few weeks to get rid of the final few pound coins in circulation.’

Discount shop Poundland, which boasts more than 900 branches across Britain, also said they would let shoppers pay for their purchases with the old pound coin. Managing director Barry Williams said: ‘Providing an extra convenience for shoppers to lighten their pockets while doing the weekly shop rather than making a separate trip to the bank or post office will come as good news.’

Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s yesterday admitted that not all of their trolleys have been fitted to accept the new £1 coin.

Other businesses that take cash payments by machine, including London Underground and some NCP sites, have prematurely stopped accepting the old coin. Chief executive and deputy master of the Royal Mint Adam Lawrence said: ‘After October 15, the 12-sided £1 coin will be the only £1 coin being spent in the UK.

‘As the deadline is triggered, we are proud that the security features on the 12-sided £1 coin will help to safeguard our currency for years to come.’