CALLS for Scots to boycott Costa Coffee outlets were going viral last night after it was revealed that a shop within the UK’s largest coffee business was refusing Scottish banknotes south of the Border.
The story started with a Twitter user @ScotsLindaT reporting that “my local store in Margate doesn’t accept Scottish money; the manager says it’s because they bank with the Post Office (and I swear she thought it was therefore English)”.
Image-conscious Costa was recently sold to Coca-Cola for £3.9 billion so tasked Charlee from the company’s official Twitter feed with setting the story straight: “Sorry to hear this, I’m afraid our teams are allowed to refuse Scottish notes; this is down to manager’s discretion. Apologies for this.”
Oops. Light the Saltire-blue touchpaper and retire, which Charlee did, as Lauren from Costa took over.
Ben Smith promptly asked: “On what basis are they allowed to refuse these notes?”
Lauren replied: “Hi, Scottish Banknotes are legal currency however, their acceptability as a means of payment is essentially a matter for agreement between the parties involved.
“This is the same with Irish notes and even English bank notes in the UK. It’s managers discretion.
Lauren.”
Skelpit bahookey time for Lauren as Costa Adam intervened: “This is incorrect from my colleague. There’s no policy in place that stops stores from accepting Scottish notes. Some stores have been targeted by fake notes so will be accepting on managers discretion.”
Nice try but too late, Adam. Cue outrage from Scots.
Marion Scott tweeted: “Simple solution. “Don’t give @CostaCoffee your money. They don’t deserve patronage from Scots if that’s their policy.”
Phil McMahon joined in: “Hi Costa Coffee! You have just Losta Customer (regular and Scottish) Bye.”
Lorraine Mollins added: “Ah well no more Costa Coffee for this family, this is down to my discretion.”
Ouch! But Stephen Gilmour took the biscuit: “Hi costa your coffee isn’t really that nice, mix between s***e and raisins would rather boil the kettle at home than pay your lot my well-earned Scottish bank note.”
Jim McElhill tweeted: “Outrageous policy. Managers being given the discretion to discriminate against Scottish banknotes and, in effect, Scottish people. I’ll spend my money elsewhere thanks.”
Last word to Costa from Willie Farrelly: “You deserve to be shunned by all Scots and fair-minded people.”
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