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AIBU?

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Original poster

Refunds

27 replies

ForeverTeach · 05/04/2022 15:22

Posting here in the hope someone can inform me.

I was under the impression that if I purchased something (clothing in this case) and lost my receipt I could show my bank statement?

Unfortunately I brought more then one item so it does not show the exact amount. The shop in question are saying that i cannot have a refund only exchange.

Thanks.

OP posts:
BlancmanegeBunny · 05/04/2022 15:25

Is the item faulty or have you just changed your mind?

Upamountain43 · 05/04/2022 15:25

As far as i know you are only actually entitled to a refund if an item is damaged or faulty. Then you do not have to have a receipt.

All the other exchanges are down to the actual store to make up their own policies.

purplecorkheart · 05/04/2022 15:27

Unless the item is faulty you are not entitled to a refund. I think the bank statement can be used in of it being faulty but they do not have accept it in a case of change of mind.

Wouldntitbenicetobeinyourshoes · 05/04/2022 15:28

Yep. As pp
If an item isn’t faulty, you just don’t like it, then a retailer isn’t under any obligation to refund, receipt or otherwise. Many do, and many offer an exchange without the receipt. Have the shop got a refund policy on display?

PineappleWilson · 05/04/2022 15:29

I've used a bank statement before, at Dunelm. That showed proof of purchase then they went back through their till receipts and found the matching receipt which showed the item. Depends on whether the company is willing to put the leg work in I guess.

KELLOGSspeck · 05/04/2022 15:32

I don't think bank statements is the norm to gain a refund.

KrisAkabusi · 05/04/2022 15:34

If you've only changed your mind, then they don't have to refund you at all. Even if the item is faulty, then they are also within their rights to offer to fix or replace it. Refunds are generally only when buying online, or at the shop's discretion. There is no legal obligation on them to refund in a shop unless repair or replacement is impossible.

Original poster
ForeverTeach · 05/04/2022 15:36

Thank you everyone. I know I should have put the receipt in a safe place and could kick myself. It’s for Choice discount store and they do not let you try anything on so I brought what I thought was my size but as with all stores cut, style isn’t always the same. Annoyingly it was a bloody expensive dress too.

OP posts:
bloodywhitecat · 05/04/2022 15:42

@KrisAkabusi

If you've only changed your mind, then they don't have to refund you at all. Even if the item is faulty, then they are also within their rights to offer to fix or replace it. Refunds are generally only when buying online, or at the shop's discretion. There is no legal obligation on them to refund in a shop unless repair or replacement is impossible.
No, you have the right to refund if you return within 30 days if the item is faulty or not of satisfactory quality regardless of what the shop say their policy is.

Taken from Which

How long do you have to return a faulty product?
The Consumer Rights Act gives you the legal right to either get a refund for goods that are of unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose or not as described, or get it repaired - depending on how long you've owned it:

0 - 30 days you can claim a full refund for goods that are of unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose or not as described.

Nicholethejewellery · 05/04/2022 15:46

@bloodywhitecat that doesn't apply here because the item is not "unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose or not as described" - it just doesn't fit the OP.

The OP could try to argue that it's not as described because the size is wrong - but the onus would be on her to prove that there are defined measurements for the particular dress size and that this item doesn't meet them.

Original poster
ForeverTeach · 05/04/2022 15:49

I am immensely annoyed at my own stupidity. Why I thought it was a good idea to buy something without being allowed to try it on I don’t know. I have emailed head office and will await their reply.

OP posts:
bloodywhitecat · 05/04/2022 15:52

[quote Nicholethejewellery]@bloodywhitecat that doesn't apply here because the item is not "unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose or not as described" - it just doesn't fit the OP.

The OP could try to argue that it's not as described because the size is wrong - but the onus would be on her to prove that there are defined measurements for the particular dress size and that this item doesn't meet them.[/quote]
Yes. I know that. I was replying to the poster who said "...Even if the item is faulty, then they are also within their rights to offer to fix or replace it. Refunds are generally only when buying online, or at the shop's discretion. There is no legal obligation on them to refund in a shop unless repair or replacement is impossible..." Which is why I quoted their post.

soyunperdador · 05/04/2022 15:53

@ForeverTeach our Choice store only allows exchange even with a receipt. It's one of the reasons I rarely buy anything from there.

Original poster
ForeverTeach · 05/04/2022 15:56

@soyunperdador I won’t be buying anything there again. Sizing varies too much between brands to be sure.

OP posts:
Original poster
ForeverTeach · 05/04/2022 15:57

I thought I was getting a bargain, more fool me!

OP posts:
DysmalRadius · 05/04/2022 15:57

It depends on the store's published policy as well - if they have a sign up saying they have a no-quibble refund policy, then that forms part of your contract with them, so they can't then say that they don't accept change-of-mind returns. Did they give any indication of their policy in store?

AHungryCaterpillar · 05/04/2022 15:57

I’ve always wondered how this actually works though as a bank statement isn’t really proof of buying something especially if it’s not the exact amount (because you bought more stuff) how many shops accept it? I imagine not many.

Brideandprejudice · 05/04/2022 15:59

You don't have any proof of purchasing the item, so I wouldn't say you are entitled to a refund.

marqueses · 05/04/2022 16:01

@ForeverTeach

I am immensely annoyed at my own stupidity. Why I thought it was a good idea to buy something without being allowed to try it on I don’t know. I have emailed head office and will await their reply.
Maybe they will do it as a goodwill gesture but as others have said they don't have to

I used to work in a shop and while you could have found one item from a purchase of more then one thing by the bank statement it was a real hassle and would have taken someone away from the till for a while.

Things might be easier now but itin that shop it was only done very very rarely.

SaxendaSummer · 05/04/2022 16:12

they will be able to print you off a duplicate receipt i'm sure!!

I often do this for nice customers.....if they shout or are rude I rarely offer to

SaxendaSummer · 05/04/2022 16:13

do you know the date and rough time of the transaction? modern day till software does allow for this

Original poster
ForeverTeach · 05/04/2022 16:15

Head Office have come back to me already. They have asked for a copy of my statement to look for the receipt. I’ve send them the purchase details. (I am not willing to share my bank statement with them) Fingers crossed!

OP posts:
marqueses · 05/04/2022 16:18

@SaxendaSummer

they will be able to print you off a duplicate receipt i'm sure!!

I often do this for nice customers.....if they shout or are rude I rarely offer to

So if I come to you and say I've bought an item I've actually stolen and ask nicely you'd give me a receipt so I can come back for a refund when you aren't there

Do let me know where you work Grin

At the shop I worked in you'd have got in big trouble if you were found doing that.

Lincslady53 · 05/04/2022 17:14

It is people who abuse the system that make retailers tighten up rules for returns. Wear an item once then take it back for a refund, steal something then bring it back for a refund with no receipt. We had customers drop a purchase and then bring it back as it was broken when they got it home. The most brazen was a few years ago. Customer had left a deposit on an item to collect at Christmas. She came to collect on the Saturday pm before Xmas to collect but no receipt. We recognised her, she paid the £60 balance and took her item. Between Xmas and NY she came in with her receipt for her item. We said you collected it a few days ago. She went ballistic accusing us of giving her item to someone else, and threatening to go to the local paper. Wasn't worth the aggro, so we said we would get her another, but it would be a few weeks as the suppliers were closed for their Xmas break. We delayed re ordering, thinking to give her chance to reconsider. But no, she came in a couple of times, until we finally git her a replacement. A few months later, we were asked by the police to go to the station to identify some goods. They had a room full of all sorts of things. She had carried out the same trick in shops all-over the city centre. The police showed me a letter from BTs HQ apologising for the problems over a fax machine worth over £200. She was so brazen that she nearly got away with £1,000s in goods. The police asked why we gave in, and the answer was it wasn't worth the bad publicity in the local press. If you haven't worked in retail you would be staggered what retail staff have to put up with. Customers try it on all the time.

SaxendaSummer · 06/04/2022 18:47

don't be ridiculous @marqueses you use your discretion and common sense....and experience should you have any! we know what we are doing and for a few quid its a case of customer service! you do know the method for ensuring this scenario doesn't go on to become retail fraud I assume?