Are merchants legally required to give a credit card receipt?

techno79

Are merchants legally required to give a credit card receipt if you pay by card (as a card present transaction)? Does this change whether you use chip and PIN or contactless payment?

I recently used my contactless payment card to pay for something. I saw the sales assistant screw up something that came out of the till although I didn't see what he screwed up. When he gave me the sales receipt, it was just the VAT receipt, he didn't give me the credit card receipt (normally this is on a separate paper).

He got really defensive saying he didn't screw my receipt up and was adamant that the VAT receipt was the only receipt given.

I know this is wrong as I went to the same store earlier this week and got a credit card receipt for that transaction (using contactless payment).

Is it a legal requirement for merchants to give a credit card receipt for each transaction? My understanding was that this is a legal requirement. However, I can't find any information online to confirm or deny this.

Any help or suggestion.

nomoneytoday

If it was contactless i'm guessing it was a small value item, so what would you do with the receipt?

techno79

nomoneytoday wrote: »

If it was contactless i'm guessing it was a small value item, so what would you do with the receipt?

I'm not being funny and with the greatest of respects, my reasons for wanting the receipt are not relevant to the question.

HappyMJ

nomoneytoday wrote: »

If it was contactless i'm guessing it was a small value item, so what would you do with the receipt?

No matter the value of an item purchased you can use the receipt as evidence that a purchase was made. The receipt can be used to claim an expense from an employer or for self employed accounts if it's a business purchase.

I use them to verify the transaction value on my statement is the same as the one the trader provided.

Not sure about any laws about having to provide the CC slip though...

I would expect that the customer copy is given to me. I'd just like to know the amount I've signed for is the same as the VAT receipt....and the receipt shows part of your credit card number and the traders actual name. Sometimes a credit card transaction might show the name of the payment processor instead of the shop's store front name. If you have the receipt it's easier to cross reference it when you check your credit card statement.

techno79

HappyMJ wrote: »

No matter the value of an item purchased you can use the receipt as evidence that a purchase was made. The receipt can be used to claim an expense from an employer or for self employed accounts if it's a business purchase.

I use them to verify the transaction value on my statement is the same as the one the trader provided.

Not sure about any laws about having to provide the CC slip though...

I would expect that the customer copy is given to me. I'd just like to know the amount I've signed for is the same as the VAT receipt....and the receipt shows part of your credit card number and the traders actual name. Sometimes a credit card transaction might show the name of the payment processor instead of the shop's store front name. If you have the receipt it's easier to cross reference it when you check your credit card statement.

Thank you, in this case the VAT receipt I was given does not have part of the credit card number. I visited this place earlier this week and I was given two receipts (VAT receipt and a card receipt). The receipt I was given today is just the VAT receipt so I was not given the card receipt.

I know some stores print the card receipt information on the same paper as the VAT receipt.

My understanding is this, any time you present your card for a payment transaction then there will be a receipt issued which for the customer which is proof of the transaction. This will be the case for a successful payment, unsuccessful payment or payment refund. I'm fairly sure this is legally required but I can't find reference to it.

techno79

Ok, I think I found reference. I was Googling for generic Credit Card Receipt but I then did a specific Mastercard Receipt search and it found this:
http://www.mastercard.com/us/merchant/pdf/TPR-Entire_Manual_public.pdf

Page 77, Providing a Transaction Receipt.

In summary, a merchant must provide a receipt for a transaction. There are only 3 exemptions:
1. The merchant offers and the card holder declines.
2. If it's a QPS Transaction or Contactless Transaction and the card holder does not request a receipt.
3. Unattended terminal and the card holder explicitly says No receipt required.

Therefore, if the customer requests the receipt, there is no exemptions for providing the receipt. I would bet that these rules are identical to Visa credit cards and other types.

shane1104

9/10 shops i use contactless, a receipt is not generated (Greggs, Subway,Poundland, McD's) (seeing a trend here.. whoops!)


a VAT receipt is printed mostly, but a lot of places don't generate a contactless receipt.

InsideInsurance

techno79 wrote: »

3. Unattended terminal and the card holder explicitly says No receipt required.

If it is unattended how does the merchant know what the cardholder has said?


The law says that only a VAT receipt is legally required to be given and then only on request. If the merchant isnt VAT registered then there is no legal requirement for them to give any form of receipt.

Card receipts for payment arent covered by "the law" however the scheme rules which the merchant should be obeying may (or may not) require them to provide receipts. That said, you are in practice talking about a 2 or 3 way commercial contract and if you are big enough a merchant then those contracts are negotiable

glider3560

shane1104 wrote: »

9/10 shops i use contactless, a receipt is not generated (Greggs, Subway,Poundland, McD's) (seeing a trend here.. whoops!)

Same experience here. An assistant in WHSmith actually told me off for paying with contactless when I wanted a receipt. Apparently I should use a PIN if I want a receipt...! What a load of rubbish.

Other (smaller retailers) don't know how to use their terminals and claim they point blank cannot issue receipts for contactless payments. A chinese takeaway and a pub near me claim this. They need to learn how to go into the menu to reprint receipts or simply press the correct button after payment to generate this. As both insist on touching your card without your knowledge, you have no idea what amount they entered.

PBA

InsideInsurance wrote: »

If it is unattended how does the merchant know what the cardholder has said?

If it's something like an unattended petrol pump, you can press a button requesting no receipt.

I don't like not receiving a receipt for contactless, especially as it tends to be pubs that don't offer them routinely. However I tend to find that if you ask for a receipt before the transaction it can easily be provided, whereas if you ask afterwards they have to go through a bunch of menus to reprint.

Djene

The way our system works is if you pay by card, the till automatically prints a card receipt, then an itemised receipt has to be clicked 'Yes' or 'No'. Most of the time I'll automatically but both in the customers bag or hand it to them, but if it's a small amount, I'll ask if they would like a receipt.

A receipt is always available no matter what the cost is, PIN, contact less or cash.

I'm sure the law is a receipt must always be available for the customer, but the merchant does not have to automatically give you one. But if asked for one, must issue one.