Would you be able to prove you paid for a job if the work wasn't done properly?
Imagine paying a business hundreds of dollars in cash to do an end-of-lease clean only to later realise the job hasn't been done to the standard you expected. You contact the business, but they dispute what was done and say they have no record of the job or your payment.
This is exactly what a consumer who contacted us recently for assistance told us happened - they realised that without a receipt, proving what they paid for was difficult.
Most people think about receipts when buying products or a meal with friends, but they're just as important when paying for services. Whether it's a plumber, electrician, cleaner, landscaper or mechanic, keeping a record of the transaction can save you a lot of stress if something goes wrong.
Under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), businesses must provide a proof of purchase for transactions over $75, regardless of whether you paid by cash, card or another method.
For purchases under $75, consumers can still request a proof of purchase and the business must provide one within seven days.
A proof of purchase is usually a receipt but can also be: a GST tax invoice, a handwritten receipt or a digital receipt.
A consumer must also be given an itemised bill for services if they ask for one. The business has to give them the bill within 7 days and a consumer has 30 days from receiving the original bill to ask for an itemised version.
It’s important to know that consumers who pay cash for a product or service and do not receive a receipt still have rights under the ACL. They should raise the issue with the business in the first instance. If the matter cannot be resolved, they can contact Consumer Protection for advice and assistance.
The best protection is to ask for a proof of purchase at the time of payment, however consumers are also encouraged to keep copies of quotes, texts, emails, bank withdrawal records and any other documents relating to that transaction as proof of purchase should an issue arise.
Consumers should feel comfortable challenging businesses about receipts too. It pays to ask for evidence and question any items you don’t understand or don’t match with what was originally agreed to. This can be the difference between quickly resolving a dispute and struggling to prove your case.
So the next time you're paying a tradie in cash or tapping for your morning coffee, or utility bill at the post office, asking for proof of purchase is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself.