Why do I have to give information for a refund?

NGlady

Hi

Something has always confused me when out shopping and wishing to refund an item. They do the refund, but then they ask for me to fill in a receipt with my name and address etc. I kind of understand that with a card refund, they may need a name and address if any problems with refunding, but they ask for it with cash aswell?

Does anybody know why most shops do this? And for a cash refund, why would I actually need proof of refund?

What happens with information when i've given it to them?

Am I really within my rights to refuse to fill in these slips of paper. I am just really concerned with data protection etc at the moment, and yesterday in the Arndale shopping centre, there was a receipt on one of the shops counters from a previous refund, name address all in view for any customer to "accidently" pick up with their goods.

Has anybody ever refused to do this before?

thanks all

nikki_angel

I think it is to do with making sure that the refund isn't fraudulent. Cashiers giving fraudulent refunds to family etc I believe.

Esqui

Every time you refund something, retailers take your details so they can secretly come round your house and move your furniture around to be annoying.

That or tracking refund fraud. One of the two.

NGlady

Do shops also make places untidy? If so... explains a couple of things!

juno

We've had some people claiming they weren't refunded (especially if it's something they've returned a few days after the first purchase and it ends up on a different credit card/bank statement) and showing them a slip they've signed proves they have.

unholyangel

juno wrote: »

We've had some people claiming they weren't refunded (especially if it's something they've returned a few days after the first purchase and it ends up on a different credit card/bank statement) and showing them a slip they've signed proves they have.

Wouldnt that just prove that they had applied for a refund? Of course it should have on it the details of the card that was refunded, it doesnt actually prove it was credited to their account. Only their account statement could prove that.

I've had to fill them out even when paying by cash though. I actually figured it was so they could check and see if there was anything fraudulent about the activity.
Although from the attention the assistants here pay, i could write that my name is Jemima Puddleduck and i live at 212b Baker Street and they wouldnt notice.

4743hudsonj

Right well most places ask you to do this as said, to prevent fraudulent refunds. Ie staff refunding purchases willy nilly and pocketing the cash. Nothing more is done with the info unless it is explicitly said to you (never actually came across this though)

So do you have to give the info? Well no....

There is nothing in the Sale of goods act requiring you to give details and they cannot enforce you to if you are exercising your statutory rights and their statutory duties. They may get stroppy and say its store policy but you can get equally stroppy and state law (if you wish to be difficult) but i just put

Micky mouse
disney world
florida

They dont usually notice so i find it fairly amusing.

However bear in mind that if you are not exercising statutory duty (ie you have changed your mind or its the wrong size) and they are refunding out of "goodwill" then they can enforce and terms of the refund they want. So if you want that refund, you may well have to play ball.

Interestingly, a lot of systems(including my works) have a built in feature requiring the details to process a refund despite them not being legally enforceable when exercising statutory duty, so still you may have to provide duff info and hope the cashier understands or doesnt notice. I get john smiths and mickey mouses all the time and dont batter and eyelid as i know i cant force them to.

NGlady

Thats fair enough thanks for explaining that a little further 4743 - I understand about the staff refunding things fraudulently, and also I guess shop lifters etc. I do deffinatly agree though, they are effectively helping us out by accepting the return so you have to play ball. I like the idea of putting Minnie Mouse on my next refund I may even live at Buckingham palace too!