Claim: If a person offers legal tender to clear a debt and it is refused, the debt is then cleared. So if you go into a petrol station and fill up with £100 and offer to pay with legal tender and they refuse it, they are clearing the debt and you now owe nothing.
Fact-check: Debt isn't 'cleared' if an offer of payment in cash is refused - Full Fact
Verdict: this isn't the case. it's lawful for businesses to decline certain forms of payment, including legal tender. you are not clearing the debt if they refuse it. it's true that a debtor cannot be sued for non-payment if they pay 'into court' in legal tender, but this doesn't apply to normal transactions.
Organisation: Full Fact
Author: Charlotte Green
Date published: 2024-03-25T00:00:00