Why do I have to give B&Q my postcode just to get an overcharge refunded??

deanos

Seems some people are missing the point, the OP was overcharged so why should they give out a postcode

Esqui

OP knows where the shop is, it's only fair

Proc

Some people are way too paranoid. They go around acting like they're some undercover MI5 agent, and everything is on a "need to know" or "I can tell you but I'll have to kill you" basis.

Seriously, stop holding up other customers with your pathetic rants. It's a postcode, just like the ones in the phone books. I doubt very much that B&Q are going to send a group of terrorists to your house.

High street retailers have to demonstrate that they are doing everything within their power to eliminate money laundering. If you happen to give a made up postcode, at least they can demonstrate that they tried to obtain correct information.

DCFC79

PC world also do it as well, dont see the problem with it really

tandraig

Proc wrote: »

Some people are way too paranoid. They go around acting like they're some undercover MI5 agent, and everything is on a "need to know" or "I can tell you but I'll have to kill you" basis.

Seriously, stop holding up other customers with your pathetic rants. It's a postcode, just like the ones in the phone books. I doubt very much that B&Q are going to send a group of terrorists to your house.

High street retailers have to demonstrate that they are doing everything within their power to eliminate money laundering. If you happen to give a made up postcode, at least they can demonstrate that they tried to obtain correct information.

no - they wont send terrorists, just junk mail! there is a thriving industry out there which hold huge databases of who is buying what from whom in which areas.... I could go on. firms can make money by selling customer information to them. for this reason i refuse to give my postcode - and have noticed a growing trend for shops to ask for it even for cash transactions. and they dont NEED it for credit or debit card transactions either.
so, if you buy a sofa, and give the nice salesman your postcode, dont be surprised if you get sacks of junk mail from other furniture companies, diy stores, carpet retailers, electrical suppliers etc.
Its nothing to do with fraud - how can it be? if you were using stolen credit cards - would you give your REAL postcode and house number?
and staff fraud? hmmmm difficult to do without a reciept i think. and in these days of chip and pin - why do they need your signature? to compare to what?

frannyann

I did once ask why they needed my address for a refund, can't remember which store, and was told they only took it to 'flag up' people making repeated returns. Not sure how that would work cos if you were on a fiddle you'd just give false details, however its made me paranoid that I will be 'flagged up' one day

cheltenham_dude

tandraig wrote: »

in these days of chip and pin - why do they need your signature? to compare to what?

When I worked at customer services for a supermarket, signature was to confirm that you had received the refund / exchange, believe it or not some people will raise a complaint that requires a product to be sent to be sent to head office or the manufacturers for testing, be given a refund (or partial refund or vouchers) and then try to claim a second refund when they get the response to the complaint, saying that they haven't received a refund or any compensation at the initial stage.

Esqui

tandraig wrote: »

no - they wont send terrorists, just junk mail! there is a thriving industry out there which hold huge databases of who is buying what from whom in which areas.... I could go on. firms can make money by selling customer information to them. for this reason i refuse to give my postcode - and have noticed a growing trend for shops to ask for it even for cash transactions. and they dont NEED it for credit or debit card transactions either.
so, if you buy a sofa, and give the nice salesman your postcode, dont be surprised if you get sacks of junk mail from other furniture companies, diy stores, carpet retailers, electrical suppliers etc.

Just ask to be excluded from their marketing list?

hollydays

Extremely confused.

Yesterday returned a curtain pole that was unsuitable,wanted money crediting back to my card.Not B & Q.

I was eavesdropping the customer in front because I heard the assistant telling him she needed additional i/d. It transpired the back of His credit card was not signed, he gave her more i/d.

Now,this is the weird bit.The back of my card isn't signed either ,its worn off,and I tried to sign the back,while still in the queue but the pen wouldn't write on it.

When it got to my turn, she got me to give my postcode and house number(gave a neighbours again!!) and got me to sign two pieces of paper.Then she compared the back of my (unsigned ) card to the signature on the paper,and said "thanks"...!!!!!!!!!!

ecraig

To clarify things here: the EPOS system asks for a postal code when refunds are processed to give B&Q/Kingfisher an insight to which customer areas refund their items and prevent fraud.

Seeing as no postal code is taken when the original payment is taken (unless a customer order is raised), B&Q do not have a full picture of initial spending habits. The postal-code grab is purely to build statistics, helping in the future development of policies.

Customers will only go onto a mailing list if they:
Have a B&Q account card and opt-in for mailing.
Have had a B&Q loan.
Have raised a customer order in store or online and opt-in.

I understand the OP didn't want to go through the hassle of having a refund processed for the overpayment, but in the event it is a different customer asking for a general refund, one should remember:

Customers aren't entitled to refunds unless the item is faulty, so asking for postcode data for statistical purposes is because the customer is choosing to make use of the offered refund policy. Whether they provide their postal code or one from another location is their choice.