missing change?

blackribbongirl

This seems a bit petty, but I was curious!

I was in a shop the other day, paid for something and the woman didnt have any coppers left,... so she said sorry and just handed me back my change 3p less or whatever.... just wondering what is the correct thing to do if this happens? Short change the customer, short change the till or open a different till for the customer?

As i said i'm really not bothered about the missing 3p!!!! But just got me thinking about what she should have done? (i must have too much spare time on my hands!)

Esqui

If I'm out of coppers, I'll just give the smallest change available. For example. someone bought a £14.99 item, paid with £15 cash. I had no 1p coins, so gave them 2p back. The way I see it, it's hardly the customer's fault that we haven't got our tills properly floated.

moneypenny2k

If I'd had the change I would have offered them the coppers so that they could give me a 5p or 10p just to make the point... I may be cynical but if they did that to 10 customers a day 6 days a week they'd make £93.60 per year that is untaxable, untraceable and not theirs.

I agree with the poster above though. It's not your fault their tills are not properly supplied with change.

mancitychick

Personally I would of expected them to do as ESqui's post above. The shop should be out of pocket, not you.

cattie

On the couple of occasions I've been into shops that have little brown coinage, the change has always been given in my favour if over 1p is due. I'd be annoyed if they tried to short change me by more.

It irks me even when some shops & stall holders try to short change you by 1p if something costs 99p, by saying they don't have any change. I don't think they would be happy with customers proffering 98p for each purchase, saying they don't have any more change.

trumpton

I agree. If they don't want to provide the correct change they shouldn't price things at 99p. If they can't, they should give the change in your favour.

OlliesDad

The legally correct thing to do if neither party would compromise would be to refuse the sale. Although for a few pennies it would be petty.

withabix

It annoys me when shops do this.

If they haven't got the right change, they should give the customer MORE back, not LESS. Burger King seems to be the main culprit round here.

I won't take more than 20p off them in coppers either, especially if it is a shop that has refused more than 20p in coppers off me in the past.

born_blonde

I'm sure there's an expert out there but I think it's the Shops responsibility to give you the correct change. If they run out of change it's up to them to get some more and if necessary refuse any new transactions until they can.

4743hudsonj

OlliesDad wrote: »

The legally correct thing to do if neither party would compromise would be to refuse the sale. Although for a few pennies it would be petty.

I dont agree

Offer- You go to the till offer to pay the Invitation to treat price for the goods
Acceptance - They agree and take money

They realise there is a shortage of change after the completion of the contract so the legally correct thing to do would be get more change or give them the lowest denomination possible.

meritaten

nope! once the shop has agreed the sale they have to give the correct change. unless they have a notice that exact amount has to be tendered (you may see this on buses). most stores will round up the change if pennies are involved. otherwise customer services will be called in and they usually allow the sale and round up to a pound. this is to prevent the till being 'short' as it can happen a few times a day if the till runs short of copper.
The customer should NEVER be shortchanged!