Returns and receipts

MC2013

So a little while ago I had a problem returning an item to a store - I made the return but the money wasn't credited to my credit card. I spoke to my credit card company and they told me that if they needed to make a claim on my behalf they needed 1) the receipt detailing the refund and 2) the original proof of purchase receipt showing what I bought.


Eventually it was all sorted out with the store without the CC company's involvement however since then I've been super-cautious about making sure I keep all my receipts when making returns, just in case.

Yesterday I made a return to a store and they refused to give me back my original purchase receipt (they gave me back the credit card transaction receipt but not the itemised receipt). I had a long and fruitless argument with them about this and came away without the receipt. I was just wondering if anyone knows whether shops are entitled to do this - as far as I'm aware a 'Customer Copy' of a receipt is exactly that - the customer's copy, and even if the goods are returned you should be entitled to keep your documentation, which proves a purchase was made (obviously with a note that it's since been returned) and a transaction was made on your account. Sometimes you only get the one receipt with the card transaction and the purchase on the same receipt which would have caused an even more difficult situation.

If I'm wrong then I'm wrong, but it would be nice to have some armour if I'm in the situation again!

OlliesDad

MC2013 wrote: »

So a little while ago I had a problem returning an item to a store - I made the return but the money wasn't credited to my credit card. I spoke to my credit card company and they told me that if they needed to make a claim on my behalf they needed 1) the receipt detailing the refund and 2) the original proof of purchase receipt showing what I bought.


Eventually it was all sorted out with the store without the CC company's involvement however since then I've been super-cautious about making sure I keep all my receipts when making returns, just in case.

Yesterday I made a return to a store and they refused to give me back my original purchase receipt (they gave me back the credit card transaction receipt but not the itemised receipt). I had a long and fruitless argument with them about this and came away without the receipt. I was just wondering if anyone knows whether shops are entitled to do this - as far as I'm aware a 'Customer Copy' of a receipt is exactly that - the customer's copy, and even if the goods are returned you should be entitled to keep your documentation, which proves a purchase was made (obviously with a note that it's since been returned) and a transaction was made on your account. Sometimes you only get the one receipt with the card transaction and the purchase on the same receipt which would have caused an even more difficult situation.

If I'm wrong then I'm wrong, but it would be nice to have some armour if I'm in the situation again!

I can understand why they would want to retain the receipt. It could be open to abuse i.e. a customer ordering something cheap online and returning it for a higher refund multiple times. Also, there is nothing in law entitling you to a receipt in the first place.

If you are worried, I would just make a copy of your receipt before returning it.

MC2013

True enough, it would be sensible to make a copy. I've never had an issue before, other stores normally just give it to you when asked (mostly they give you it without the need to ask), so wouldn't have thought that necessary until now!


Normally they strike through the item and write a big 'R' next to it so you can't abuse it. So I was just wondering about the principle of it really - ownership of the receipt so to speak.


(I do realise the likelihood of it reaching the stage when such documentation would be needed is hopefully pretty minimal!)