Damaged and contaminated banknotes

HomeBanknotesDamaged and contaminated banknotes If you have an accidentally torn, damaged or mutilated genuine Bank of England note, we may be able to exchange it for you. In this section Choosing banknote characters Counterfeit banknotes Current banknotes Exchanging old banknotes Note Circulation Scheme Scottish and Northern Ireland banknotes Using images of banknotes Withdrawn banknotes Wholesale cash distribution in the future What counts as a damaged banknote?A damaged banknote is a genuine Bank of England banknote that has been accidentally torn or damaged. Claiming for a damaged banknoteAs a general rule, we will only reimburse you with the face value of a damaged banknote if you still have at least half of the banknote.To apply for a reimbursement, fill out our damaged banknote application form and send it to us with all of the remains of the banknote. Please refer to the form for our requirements of proof of identity and address. We usually assess most claims within one month (...