Yes we had the same problem last year we had £50 of old notes for a friend. With no physical UK bank we went from bank to bank trying to change them. We were told to try the post office but they said no, eventually our daughter paid them into her bank for us and sent us the money.
We asked why and were told it was because of money laundering rules, well I am sure £50 would make a lot of difference with money laundering.
When I was last in the UK, I changed my old note at Santander, where I still have an account. They even changed my old one-pound coins for me.
If you turn up at the Bank of England (right beside Bank Tube) they have to change it. They have a special place there to do it, not sure about opening hours though.
Clearing banks and the Post Office used to do it and I’m not sure how they got away with not doing it any more.
On this site you can find which PO’s accept to change old for new. Just tap in the post code.
Thanks that’s useful it’s a pity the other post office branches don’t know about it.
Nigel, is that you…?!? 
The two reasons I continue to have the Nationwide Flexaccount that Ive had since they began in '87 is that their charges on FC transactions are minimal and, more importantly they provide a card reader for online access to one’s statements and to verify online transactions. We live at the bottom of a steep gorge and seldom get a cell phone signal, so SMS verification for online purchases via our CA Visa card are usually useless.
Ideally I’d prefer to sever one more UK tie and have another French current account that offers a card reader - can anyone advise me on this?
Do different societies have different apps? I had imagined everyone would be able to verify in-app now but I guess not! I am no fan of CA, AT ALL, but the one thing I will say is that, unlike Nationwide, the app is at least pretty modern and works well.
You’re on here often so must have internet access and wifi you can tether your phone to unless it is not a smart phone. Receiving sms calls etc shouldn’t be a problem.
Thanks, but I think you’re confusing a phone app with a physical card reader, into which you insert your card and key in a PIN, it’s older technology, but I think it’s much more secure. Also, this week I ‘lost’ my phone for three days, whereas as a retirée I’m unlkely to loose my laptop. Also because I’m really old(!) I didn’t worry too much, life went on as normal.
Incidentally, apropos generations and technology, I recently read a hilarious article in the NY Times about millennials in their first ‘real’ business job, not knowing how to deal with email nor how to print an e-doc.
We have excellent broadband and a Samsung smartphone, but unfortunately it is still a problem.
I know what you mean we have a good signal with the tower in view, but until recently the next village on had no mobile phone signal. We tried telling CA that it was no use sending an SMS verification code as we could not receive it but as usual CA would not listen.
However a new tower went up last year and it all now works well.
Possibly I am if what you’re using is very old, I don’t pretend to know about all the bizarre antiquated methods of the past 
No, I’m being silly. I thought I understood exactly what you were saying but maybe not. It’s all good though if what you do works for you.
This obviously answers my previous thought. I haven’t had an SMS from CA for at least 2 years as I get the code from the app. There are obviously multiple systems being used by different societies, more joined up thinking from french business 
The small, local, approach is very impressive to me in most things, but it really would be useful with some things if everyone did the same.
Hi All we think we have solved our problem by opening a revolut account.
It has to be a French account as our address is France but we were then able to open associated UK account with a sort code and account number.
The French account was through Lithuania but in the last two days we received a notice that they were changing to a French account with new IBAN run through revolut Paris.
Why do you neec to keep a UK account?
For pensions etc? I’ve kept two… in addition to my two French accounts but then I like to have a backup for absolutely everything 
Hope its declared in france for paying tax etc
Have no fear… us forumites know how to do things properly… 
Clearly you have no uk pensions or of pensionable age. For many it is essential to hold a uk bank account for these and other reasons.
I seem to recall that you/partner work on line with clients from various countries. Do they all pay you in euros? If so then life is simple but not so for us all.
When filing a french tax return then naturally you declare your income which may indeed be sourced from other than France.
The banking system is now very joined up and if you dont declare your bank accounts in France, or elsewhere you will be found out.
I hope you declare all your income!
Because where we live in the upper Lot Valley one can rarely receive a cell phone signal, so SMS verification of online purchases isn’t much use. My UK bank offers alternative methods of verification with a card reader, which is faster and always works.
Also my UK bank doesn’t charge for having a Visa card and in general they are far more efficient than Credit Agricole. I recently had to cancel all my cards because I’d lost my wallet and my replacement UK card, posted from the UK, arrived six days later whereas CA took three and a half weeks!
Lastly, I don’t pay bank charges on my current account.
Usually I’m very pro France, but I think the French banking system is abysmal for customer service.