Tis the Season to get a gift receipt

The Consumer Council’s Philippa McKeown-Brown, Head of Consumer Education said: “None of us wants to seem ungrateful but sometimes we can end up with a present we just won’t use and can’t offer to someone else.”

The Consumer Council’s advice is to check if the store will offer you an exchange, credit note or refund first and while they are not bound by law many stores will offer them in goodwill even if the item isn’t faulty. The advice is to act fast as there are often time limits imposed for non-faulty goods.

By law you don’t need a receipt but if you don’t have one a credit or debit card is enough for proof of purchase. Don’t throw away packaging or remove labels and some things like cds or games cannot be returned when the seal is broken; personalised gifts like printed t-shirts; and perishable gifts like food hampers. Other items like jewellery, underwear and make-up may also be refused for hygiene reasons.

For more information ring 028 9067 2488 or e-mail [email protected].