Can I get a refund without a receipt?

Q: Can you advise whether I am entitled to a refund of goods purchased when these are returned to the shop only a few days after purchase? When I tried to return an unwanted gift, I was asked for the receipt which I did not have. The shop even refused to give me a credit note. Can they do this?

A: The receipt is proof of where and when goods were purchased. Therefore, it is always advisable to keep it to be guaranteed a remedy from the shop if anything turns out to be wrong with the goods. When the actual receipt is not available you should at least have some proof of purchase, such as a credit card account if the product was paid for in this way.

Since in this case the goods are a gift and you do not have a gift receipt, I suggest that you contact your friend, explain why you need to change the gift, and ask whether there is any proof of purchase you can use.

However, legally as a buyer you only have the right to request a replacement or refund if the goods purchased are either not as agreed with the seller or are in any way defective. Proof of purchase is also needed to claim these remedies.

If there is nothing wrong with the gift, then your solution depends on the agreement your friend had with the shop at the time of purchase. If there was no agreement to exchange the gift, should it not be suitable or to your liking, there is nothing legally you can do.