SPOKANE, Wash — If you’ve paid attention at checkout recently, you’ve probably noticed there are more options when it comes to getting a receipt. In many cases, you can choose to have the receipt printed, or e-mailed, or you can skip it altogether.
Our VERIFY team heard from one viewer who chose not to take a receipt but then ran into some challenges when he went to make a return.
THE QUESTION
The question comes from Carl, who says he selected no receipt, but he then later wanted to return an item. Carl said he was told that he wasn't able to return the item because he didn't have a receipt.
Carl asks, "Can a store refuse a return without a receipt?"
Let's Verify.
THE SOURCES
THE ANSWER
Yes, a store may be able to refuse some returns without a receipt, but it needs to make that clear in its return policy.
"So first, I always have to be a little careful, because when it comes to law, you know, we have to keep it relatively general. Specific facts can change things, number one," Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson said.
"Number two, in general, stores do have a lot of flexibility on what the return policies are. You know, they can even say, 'Hey, you got to have the original packaging,' for example, or you have to have a receipt in general," Ferguson added.
The Washington State Attorney General’s website makes it clear, apart from a few specific cases such as telemarketing or door-to-door sales, “No law requires sellers to accept items for refund, exchange or credit unless merchandise is defective or misrepresented.”
"We always encourage folks to do some work upfront to find out what the return policy is," Ferguson said.
WHAT WE FOUND
A receipt may not be a guarantee when it comes to making a return, but the Washington Attorney General still recommends getting one.
"Getting a receipt is certainly something that I do," Ferguson said. "And I would encourage consumers to do as well, just as a backup just in case.”
So, what can you do if you want to make a return but don’t have the receipt?
"I would encourage the individual if they used a credit card, they could maybe show their credit card... while not a receipt, evidence of the purchase," Ferguson suggested. "And to give it a try, because most stores, I think want to work with their customers, right? They don't want to have a reputation of being inflexible.”
If you are still having trouble with a return, you can reach out to your state’s consumer protection team. Both Washington and Idaho have these units which help return millions of dollars to consumers each year.
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