returns entitlement?

Soldato
Joined
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5,020
Location
Midlands
Hi,

I brought a football shirt for a birthday present last week which turned out to be the wrong size. Due to convenience, i brought a large one from a shop down the road with the plan being to get a refund for the other at a later date.

I went back today to return the shirt and was told i could only have a credit note, even though i had the reciept. Now... surely if i purchased the item under 28 days ago, and i have the reciept, i am entitled by law to have a full refund? The manager said this is not the case and it is company policy to give out credit notes.

Who is right? Me or him?

Jonno.
 
As far as I can remember, the shop is not obliged to give you a refund in cash, or back onto your card, although most would be happy to refund within a certain number of weeks. - Is it a smaller, independent shop? They are probably unlikely to offer anything but a credit note.





jonno.co.uk said:
Hi,

I brought a football shirt for a birthday present last week which turned out to be the wrong size. Due to convenience, i brought a large one from a shop down the road with the plan being to get a refund for the other at a later date.

I went back today to return the shirt and was told i could only have a credit note, even though i had the reciept. Now... surely if i purchased the item under 28 days ago, and i have the reciept, i am entitled by law to have a full refund? The manager said this is not the case and it is company policy to give out credit notes.

Who is right? Me or him?

Jonno.
 
This is from the DTI website. Not looking good.

Q9. Must I accept a credit note instead of a refund?

It depends on why you want to return the goods.

• If you have changed your mind, then the shop doesn't have to do anything.

• But if the goods are faulty, incorrectly described or not fit for purpose, then you are entitled to your money back (provided you act quickly), and you certainly don't have to take a credit note

• If you do accept a credit note in these circumstances, watch out, as there may be restrictions on their use.

• If the shop displays a sign stating they only give credit notes instead of refunds, they might be breaking the law and you could report them to your local Trading Standards Department.


Maybe if you make enough noise and cause a huge stink, they might refund you rather than deal with a commotion. I've known this to work, but usually it's only mad, aggresive women that I know who do it :)
 
jonno.co.uk said:
surely if its the wrong size it is not fit for purpose?


You could have them on a technicality there :) Use the 'massive stink' approach and loudly point that out while waving your arms.

Alternatively, take the credit note, then approach a customer in the shop and see if they will let you buy their purchase. You may lose a quid or three, but it's an option.
 
If it was online you'd be fine as long as it was in the condition you got it, but the retailer doesn't have to do anything unless it's faulty (which it isn't)
 
lol indeed.

Credit note in this situation. Did you Take it up with the store manager? Might get more joy from them if it was just a check out girl.
 
By the way - if its only the wrong size then presumably you just want to exchange it for one the correct size. If this is the case then whats wrong with a credit note?
 
jonno.co.uk said:
surely if its the wrong size it is not fit for purpose?

No, it's fit for the purpose just fine, you bought the wrong size (assuming you didn't have the person you were buying for in store and have it measured up by the shop).

No right at all to a refund, technically they don't even have to give you a credit note.
 
It's a confusing issue, as many shops (Argos, Wilkinson, Boots and Asda I think) have these no quibble return policies, which I assume they are under no obligation to have.

In fact I think Boots has a lifetime retun policy. I kept the receipt for my clippers, then two years later decided to take them back for a new set. But I think they're a bit crafty and use special invisible ink on the receipt, because the print had disappeared!
 
Lagz said:
By the way - if its only the wrong size then presumably you just want to exchange it for one the correct size. If this is the case then whats wrong with a credit note?

It was a present - for convenience i brought my mate a large shirt from a store closer by with the plan of returning the medium at a more convenient time (today).

Hmm i've taken unsuitable presents back to shops loads of times and got a full cash refund :confused:

And no - the person i was buying for was NOT with me at the time of purchase - it was a birthday present :p
 
jonno.co.uk said:
It was a present - for convenience i brought my mate a large shirt from a store closer by with the plan of returning the medium at a more convenient time (today).

Ah I see. Well its entirely up to the shop whether they take it back or not. I would suggest either:

- Try and take it back to the shop where you bought the large shirt from, using the receipt for the large shirt. They wont notice its a different size (infact its probably not even on the receipt).
- Jsut take the credit note. You will probably need some new trainers or sport gear at some point anyway.
 
jonno.co.uk said:
Hmm i've taken unsuitable presents back to shops loads of times and got a full cash refund :confused:

It would have been a jesture of goodwill by the retailer. The shop does not have to accept a return if you have just changed your mind or bought the wrong size etc, but many will. However if the goods are faulty such as the seam fraying or a small rip and it isn't due to fair wear and tear then they have to by law offer a refund as long as you have proof of purchase which does not need to be in the form of a receipt.
 
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