Annoyed Student in need of my £50 back!! HELP

*ella*

Last weekend I purchased a dress from River Island for £49.99 using my debit card, when I brought it home to try it on I wasn't keen and decided I would be taking it back to get a refund. However I couldn't find the receipt anywere and don't know whether I have thrown it out with the bag or have missplaced it. I understand that receipts are proof of purchase as I work in a retail store myself, however I do know in the store I work at they will take a debit card statement as proof of purchase.
So I went to a River Island store yesterday with my bank statment to try and get my refund as £50 is a lot of money for a struggling student and to keep something that I don't like or be pressured into buying something else in replace of the dress isn't fair. At the store they told me that my bank statement wouldn't be proof of purchase and after speaking to a "manager" they told me that I would only be able to exchange. I wasn't happy with the decision and have taken the number for customer services to take this further, but because it was a weekend they weren't open. I just wanted to see if anyone had an suggestions or could help me before I contact customer services tomorrow.
Thanks
Annoyed student

geordieracer

Not really - they have changing rooms in shops to see if you like something or not. You dont have many rights(IIRC) if you simply dont like it.

wealdroam

Returning an item that you no longer want for a refund is not a statutory right.
It may well be a contractual right though, if that option was made known at the time of sale.

As a contractual right, the seller can specify conditions.
For example, it may well be a condition of this type of refund that you must return the item with the original receipt.

Your bank statement would be acceptable if, say, the product was faulty and you were returning it for a refund... a statutory right.

McKneff

If youre struggling that much I wouldnt dream of spending £50 on a dress, especially if i wasnt sure I liked it.

DCFC79

McKneff wrote: »

If youre struggling that much I wouldnt dream of spending £50 on a dress, especially if i wasnt sure I liked it.

my thoughts exactly,

pcombo

How the word "student" eats into my brain. Awww i hate the word.

pendulum

You should be happy with the offer of exchange.

paddyrg

The offer of the exchange is a good one - accept it and accept the free life lesson. Maybe ask if you can get a credit note/voucher you can use when something you like comes in? They have no statutory obligation to offer you anything, so they are being decent.

Valerie84

I have to give a differing opionion here. I think many of us having been students at some point know we buy things we want, and counting pennies kinda comes later. I know it did with me! Plus, River Island once retained my card when I was a student. It just so happened that it was a new card and for some reason had not registered as valid in their machine. But RBS told me at the time they had no right to retain the card, whatsoever. It transpired, that the card did in fact work, and it was their card machine. But this had left me with no access to money, till the Monday and I had gone into the shop on a Friday. So understandably was furious. Write a letter to head office, demanding a refund and make a copy of the statement. I cannot see how a statement is not sufficent evidence, if you have proof of purchase, as well as proof of address to back it up. But do it in writing, as I suspect you will get further doing this, though it may take longer. Good luck.

wealdroam

Valerie84 wrote: »

Write a letter to head office, demanding a refund and make a copy of the statement. I cannot see how a statement is not sufficent evidence, if you have proof of purchase, as well as proof of address to back it up. But do it in writing, as I suspect you will get further doing this, though it may take longer. Good luck.

OP, I am pretty certain that demanding anything will get you nowhere.
But that sounds like a typical student tactic.

OP, if you do write to them then my advice is to appeal to their better nature and ask politely if they could possibly help you out.

As mentioned earlier, they have no obligation to give you a refund without a receipt.

jonnyd281

Valerie84 wrote: »

Write a letter to head office, demanding a refund and make a copy of the statement. I cannot see how a statement is not sufficent evidence, if you have proof of purchase, as well as proof of address to back it up. But do it in writing, as I suspect you will get further doing this, though it may take longer. Good luck.

OP has no right to a refund (or an exchange) since the dress is not faulty, if she is that tight on funds she should be more circumspect about spending £50 on a dress, maybe save for it like the rest of us have to.