What if you have damaged bank notes?

If you have unusable tickets due to their condition (damaged, stained, torn, partially burned...), do you know that you can exchange them for new tickets or get them refunded? The procedure is free of charge and there is no limit on the amount.

Once the damaged banknotes have been assessed, genuine banknotes with a remaining surface area greater than 50% of the original surface area of the banknote will be refunded:

• by immediate exchange for new banknotes if the banknotes can be counted at the counter;
• or by deferred refund by bank transfer if the tickets have to be sent to a center of expertise.

How do I exchange your tickets?

You have several possibilities.

• If the note is still intact on more than half of its surface and the damage remains slight, you can deposit it in a recycling machine (ATMs with the dual function Deposit and Withdrawal) of the network of the bank holding your account or one of its partners. You will then be credited immediately.
• If the ticket is very damaged and its deposit in an ATM could damage it even more, you can contact the Banque de France (39 rue Croix-des-Petits-Champs, 75001 Paris). The exchange request is made obligatorily at the counter in the presence of the applicant. It is forbidden to send tickets by post.

Required documents to be provided to receive an exchange or refund

The depositor, or the beneficiary if different from the depositor, shall submit the following documents:

• a valid piece of identification (for legal persons, the original or copy of any official deed or extract from the register that is less than 3 months old. The natural person who comes to carry out the transaction on behalf of the legal person must appear on this document and present an identity document);
• the bank identity statement (RIB) with the IBAN of the beneficiary;
• proof of the origin of the funds: the Banque de France reserves the right to request it. The following documents may be submitted: last income tax notice, bank account statements, certified mail confirming a cash withdrawal or any other official proof.

For more details, you can consult Frequently Asked Questions from the Banque de France and more particularly the point “What to do in case of damaged banknote (damaged, torn, partially burned)?”. You can also contact the Banque de France at 3414 (toll-free number).