Losing a receipt can be a significant headache when filing a complaint about a damaged product within its warranty period. It’s not just the hassle of returning to the store and waiting for the manufacturer to repair the product or refund the money. It’s also the possibility of being unable to find the receipt, especially if the product was purchased with cash. This can be a problem, especially if the product is worth thousands or tens of thousands of dollars.
However, there are ways to file a complaint even without a receipt. Many consumers think that they can’t file a complaint without a receipt. Unfortunately, some businesses take advantage of this lack of knowledge and make the acceptance of a complaint conditional on presenting a paper receipt. But consumers have several ways to prove their purchase or use of a service.
One way is to take a photo of the receipt with a phone in case the paper receipt is lost or becomes unreadable. If the consumer then presents an electronic copy of the paper receipt to the business, the business must accept it as evidence of the purchase.
Another option is to use a particular app for managing receipts. Several mobile or internet applications are now available for this purpose, such as Spendee or Fidoo. Consumers can take a photo of the receipt after purchase, name it, and throw away the original with peace of mind.
However, this option is more complicated than simply putting the receipt in a drawer with other papers. Fortunately, most people now pay for goods by card or direct debit. In this case, the easiest way to prove the purchase is with a bank statement that shows the merchant’s name, the date of purchase, and the amount paid. Consumers can quickly obtain this information by searching their online bank statements.
If the consumer paid in cash and has no paper or electronic receipt, all is not lost. He or she can prove the purchase of the product with the original packaging or the uniqueness of the product that no one else sells.
Another option is to keep the warranty, which the consumer confirms after purchase. In extreme cases, if the dispute over the complaint were to go to court, the purchase could be proven through testimony from a witness.