Help; using a UK credit card in Jersey

redman said:

We are shortly going to Jersey (first time) and I am unsure about using credit cards. I know a Jersey pound = a British pound and that British pounds are accepted currency. I also know my UK credit cards are acceptable. 
However if I use my credit card not sure whether I will be charged Jersey or British pounds. The former I suspect? Then will I lose on exchange transaction charge? More crucially I will I be charged the usual fee, maybe 2.5% as a non-UK trsaction? Thanks 

Simple…..why not use cash?

redman said:

We are shortly going to Jersey (first time) and I am unsure about using credit cards. I know a Jersey pound = a British pound and that British pounds are accepted currency. I also know my UK credit cards are acceptable. 
However if I use my credit card not sure whether I will be charged Jersey or British pounds. The former I suspect? Then will I lose on exchange transaction charge? More crucially I will I be charged the usual fee, maybe 2.5% as a non-UK trsaction? Thanks 

Just like the Isle of Wight you won’t get charged 

Before you head off on your holiday to Jersey, rest assured that the currency is the same as the UK. This means you don’t have to worry about changing any money over. Jersey also has its own currency (Jersey Pound), which you may be given as change. This isn’t deemed legal tender in the UK, but if you visit your bank they should give you the equivalent in Sterling.

You can also withdraw cash from an ATM, but most machines will dispense the local currency. Just like the UK, debit and credit cards are widely accepted too, and can be used freely without any charges.
 

You won't have transaction fees to pay on card purchases in Jersey.

Legal tender is an over-used and often misunderstood term.

It has a VERY narrow meaning in the UK and varies depending upon what part of the UK you are in.  Legal tender is what is required to pay off court fines, debts, etc.

As long as something is generally accepted, that's good.  To demonstrate the weirdness, Royal Mint coins and BoE notes are legal tender in England and Wales but in Scotland and Northern Ireland only Royal Mint coins are legal tender. Scottish and Northern Irish banknotes* are not legal tender anywhere, even in Scotland and NI.

Jersey notes are only legal tender in Jersey (as are BoE notes there). They are probably swappable at a bank in England and you might find some kind soul in a shop that would take them.  The truth is that currency is whatever anybody is prepared to accept in payment for goods or services.  That could be bank notes, Charlton Athletic match tickets or milk bottle tops.


*Scottish and Irish banks must hold an amount equivalent to the notes they issue in English pounds somewhere authorised for the purpose - usually the Bank of England.  That way, if they go bust the BoE will be able to reimburse the holders of these notes.  (So issuing Scottish and NI notes is a fairly pointless and profit-sapping affectation.) 

Edited to add the BoE produces special notes for this function, they are called giants and titans. Giants have a face value of £1mn; titans £100mn.  

Wheresmeticket? said:

I thought Jersey was in the UK?

Is this another brexit benefit?

Jersey is not in the U.K.

Wheresmeticket? said:

I thought Jersey was in the UK?

Is this another brexit benefit?

yes, along with the abolition of slavery and the first moon landings. 

I'm just glad the OP isn't going to the Falkland Islands.

Wheresmeticket? said:

I thought Jersey was in the UK?

Is this another brexit benefit?

The Channel Islands are not and never have been part of the EU.

Therefore BREXIT is irrelevant in this context.

LenGlover said:

Wheresmeticket? said:

I thought Jersey was in the UK?

Is this another brexit benefit?

The Channel Islands are not and never have been part of the EU.

Therefore BREXIT is irrelevant in this context.

Yes and no. They were part of the EU Customs Union and within the single market but otherwise were treated as a "third country".  After we were taken out of the EU by people who are now mostly dead, the CI's position is governed by the Trade and Cooperation Treaty.

LenGlover said:

Wheresmeticket? said:

I thought Jersey was in the UK?

Is this another brexit benefit?

The Channel Islands are not and never have been part of the EU.

Therefore BREXIT is irrelevant in this context.

Not working out how you thought, Len?

Pack some travellers cheques to be safe.

redman said:

Off_it said:

This thread reminds me of when my mate asked me what the Customs checks were like if he went to the Isle of Wight.

I'm still laughing now thinking about it.

no it's not. It's a sensible question. Whereas the Isle of Wight is part of the UK, Jersey is not and never has been. You need to passport to travel there. 

Thanks for the sensible answers, notablt @shirty5 and @cafcfan

What are you saying "no it's not" to? I said it reminds me of when my mate asked about the Isle of Wight, because it does remind me of that!

Unless you are one of my schizo personalities then I can't see how you would know what it does or doesn't remind me of. Very strange comment.

LenGlover said:

Off_it said:

LenGlover said:

Wheresmeticket? said:

I thought Jersey was in the UK?

Is this another brexit benefit?

The Channel Islands are not and never have been part of the EU.

Therefore BREXIT is irrelevant in this context.

Not working out how you thought, Len? .

MY view is that it has not been implemented as well as it could have been for many reasons more suited to the House of Commons section of the forum.