Shoppers are entitled to cash refunds on returned goods, and do not have to accept vouchers.

Janet© · 24-10-08, 21:53

A Barcelona Court has declared that it is "unfair" to give shoppers credit vouchers in exchange for returned goods instead of a cash refund. In particular it has condemned one well-known clothes shop for not just giving a voucher, but particularly for deducting "legal interest" from the value of one such credit note. The Court considered that shoppers freedom is infringed when a voucher is given because it requires use of the same retail establishment.

The sentence is without precedent in Spain, and cannot be appealed. It can now be considered as law.

The tribunal reasoned that Retail law "empowers shoppers to renounce a contract", and added that "sellers are obliged to return amounts paid without retention of costs". If a voucher is offered, it can be rejected in favour of cash, and if accepted, should not contain any deductions from the full amount, nor should it have a time limit because, as the court insisted, it is equivalent to cash, and money doesn't expire.

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pelinor · 24-10-08, 22:35

So Janet this does away with the 'credit note only refund' sometimes posted inside shops. It's a cash refund only, except when the customer decides to accept a credit note.

Janet© · 24-10-08, 22:55

It would appear so. The press report is pretty explicit: this is a court ruling "sin precedentes y que puede crear jurisprudencia -no puede ser recurrida-" (without precedent and which can establish case law - it cannot be appealed) ...