Hey Everyone,
I have a damaged 1,000 note. It’s got a small bit missing from the top. Enough that I’ve had it denied at the konbini but not like, ripped in half or whatever.
Has anyone ever exchanged a damaged note before? Google says something about forms and the bank of japan, but that seems like a lot of work for a 1,000. Its also mentioned sometimes you can exchange it at other banks. I have Japan Post bank. Does anyone know if I’d be able to exchange it there? I don’t think my Japanese is good enough to fill out forms for a damaged bill.
22 comments
Keep trying to use it until someone takes it
I had a 5k yenny note almost ripped through, took it to the closest bank, (SMBC I think), and the bank teller just had her manager inspect it and changed it over. Took longer to wait in line. Any bank will be fine.
Most shop staff won’t inspect a 1,000 yen bill in detail. Try another combini and make sure the missing part is at the bottom. Or buy something with a bunch of 1,000 bills so you can easily hide the damaged one. Personally, I wouldn’t waste my time going to a bank and waiting around for an hour then filling in a bunch of forms.
I had a note missing a piece of a corner. I used it to charge my pasmo card without issues.
have you tried recharging your IC card with it?
Go to a bank
Use the automatic machines at like 7 or a vending machine. Should b good to go.
Ah I have a small top part of a 1000 Yen note, do you want it…..
Yes, the correct thing to do is to take it to the bank and they will know how to replace it. Don’t try to use it. Damaged bills should be taken out of circulation.
Use it at the train station, if it spits back out just bring it to the service window. I did this when my ¥10,000 yen was nearly ripped in half and they replaced it with no issue. The staff will just assume the machine damaged it.
I had a 5000 that was ripped like 30% of the way down the center crease, and the 711 machine rejected it. The attendant grabbed it, went in the back, and gave me a crisp new one within 5 seconds.
I’m surprised they won’t exchange it for you at the konbini. Was it the bill machine or a person?
The BOJ has an exchange service, but they don’t mention (or I couldn’t find) the rules about the acceptable conditions of the worn out money.
https://www.boj.or.jp/en/about/services/bn/hikikae.htm
I’d say try your local bank first and see how it goes.
You could go to a convenience store and use the ATM to withdraw some cash, then lie and tell the cashier you got a weird bill from the machine and they’ll exchange it for you
Try depositing it through ATM just to see if someone will take it. If not, you can always go to the Bank of Japan to exchange
There was a post about this some time ago, but can’t find it. If the bill is at least 2/3rd intact, you can exchange it at the bank.
What I’ve done with mine is to use it to charge my Suica card. It’s not cash but if you’re going to use trains anyway…
In the past, I had a 10,000 yen bill that got ripped due to my wallet’s zipper. Despite the damage, I attempted to use it to charge my PASMO card with 2,000 yen, and surprisingly, the machine accepted it.
You can do it at Japan Post Bank but it’s a hassle. They’ll make you deposit it (fill out form) and withdraw it (fill out another form). Take your bank book and/or card with you.
They might charge you for withdrawal but I don’t know. If you use an ATM they definitely will but in person I don’t know. Last time I did it was before all the new fees were instated.
Go to a bar
I put damaged notes into vending machines or suica charge stations, they are usually accepted without any issues somehow.
Hhmm… back in my country you would just go to the bank, and if more than 50% is there, they just give you a new one.
If you do have an account, it’s easier to deposit with a teller. You would need your bank book for that.
Exchanging it would be my second option.
I would not try to use the ATM because damaged bills can make the ATM stop and it might take some time. Someone needs to open the machine, look for the bill, retrieve it and all that jazz. It’s not worth trying in my opinion, you might end up waiting more than if you filled the form and went to the teller.