Ring the Tills

japal


Joined: 12/08/2008
Posts: 89

Message Posted:
12/10/2008 07:27

On occasions recently, I have bought some top quality gooods (lol) from the pound shop (4 lire shop), however I have noticed that on a couple of occasions , the items were not rang on the till. i.e. 10 items times 4, which was pretty easy for the assistant to work out, and the money was just put into the till. Now I know what is obviously going on here, but its the first time I`ve seen it happen. Can i insist on a receipt,and would it cause trouble, would it be worth it. Dothey not have anyone checking on this. Or perhaps Im just jealous that they can get away with it, and I like all other ex-pats can`t get away with anything.

wynyardman



Joined: 15/12/2007
Posts: 4580

Message Posted:
12/10/2008 08:25

Japal,



I suspect if you do not demand a receipt, you may well not be shopping there much longer!



wyn

lancashirelad


Joined: 18/09/2008
Posts: 74

Message Posted:
12/10/2008 09:36

Are your questions rhetorical?

You sound as though you know the answers to your questions - although you don't actually give them to us.

For instance, you say "Now I know what is obviously going on here" - but DO you? - Do you REALLY know what is going on?

Is the till operator perhaps trying to correct some earlier error when he/she has 'over-rung' a transaction?

Or are you implying that the till operator is stealing from the employer?

Or what?

Something based on your own past experience and practices perhaps?

Forgive me for mentioning the latter, but your last sentence seems to suggest that you would like to engage in some dubious, illegal activity yourself.

In any event, your duty is clear.

Ask to speak to the store owner / manager, and report what you have seen - at the very least you have seen a member of staff apparently break the rules governing till operations.

If you see the same thing happening again, then you will need to consider taking the matter further.

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
12/10/2008 10:05

But maybe the store owner/manager has asked the employee not to ring every transaction through the till thus avoiding paying the VAT, for example.

Aussie


Joined: 17/06/2007
Posts: 657

Message Posted:
12/10/2008 11:03

Its pretty common knowledge here that the main reason many businesses often don't put the amounts through the till and issue receipts is to avoid VAT and probably other business taxes as well.



In some cases staff also pocket some of the money but this is less common and probably not the case in Mr Pound as presumably it would become clear in stock counts etc.



You can always ask for a receipt many or most locals do and if you are unsure you can request a Fatura (I think which is a detailed often handwritten bill which may be worth while when buying large items (by law they have to give you one on request). The electric bills are an example of a printed Fatura.



On the rare occassions we feel a bill is not right we request a Fatura as this makes it difficult for them if they aren't doing the right thing (usually in restaurants) .



Aussie

dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
12/10/2008 11:47

Happens all the time in small shops in UK.

They are dodging VAT

david123


Joined: 07/07/2008
Posts: 393

Message Posted:
12/10/2008 13:28

Hi Japal,



what does it matter, you are buying goods it is up to them what they do with the money afterwards, if you want free goods then go and steal them I understand what you are getting at, but it is not up to you if something is going on because if you do bring it up and you are wrong there will be problems.



David

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
12/10/2008 13:58

I thought it was the law that you had to be given a receipt, I also thought that if you didn't have a receipt and you were asked by some official for the receipt after you had left the premises you could be prosecuted if you did not have one.

dixie normus


Joined: 22/02/2008
Posts: 820

Message Posted:
12/10/2008 16:33

80% of shops here have to do a bit of a fiddle to keep there heads above water, the goverment and most offices are all on the take, corruption is a means of survival, Pay a fair price, take your goods and move on, let the tax & vat man worry about the fiddles, they are probably all on back handers themselves.



D.N

lancashirelad


Joined: 18/09/2008
Posts: 74

Message Posted:
12/10/2008 16:43

joandjelly

Shame on you! ;-)

I very carefully avoided making that insinuation, I was trying to get japal to say it, if that was in fact his point, but you fell into the hole he dug!

Expect a posting any minute from an outraged shop owner... :-(

Must say I didn't quite get the drift of Wyn's post though.

Fred

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
12/10/2008 18:20

Lancs,

Must apologise for Wyn,he is at a funny age you know.Perhaps he is going cold turkey through lack of Efes,

Paul.

wynyardman



Joined: 15/12/2007
Posts: 4580

Message Posted:
12/10/2008 18:54

lancashirelad,



My point was......If staff are stealing from their employers, that there was every chance the business would not survive, hence it should be bought to the owners attention.





Newlad,



It is a funny age. Global meltdown, facing financial ruin. Is it any wonder that we drink?



Cheers.



wyn

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
12/10/2008 18:54

Hi Fred



To be honest I thought the insinuation was that the shop assistant would pocket the money later. I know employees who have been asked not to ring things through the till so thought this was a bit unfair.



Cue posts from irate shop keepers!



Jo

flowerfairy


Joined: 17/09/2008
Posts: 1277

Message Posted:
12/10/2008 19:38

Hi Jo,

no I am not an irate shop owner. I used to own two shops. I did have a member of staff that did just as was suggested, didn't ring the sale on, and after the customer left the shop, the money went in her purse. I eventually found out, I eventually took her to tribunal as I had to terminate her employment. Guess what..........I ended up paying her holiday pay that she'd already had, and she never had to pay for the goods she stole!!!!

My point, I'd keep out of it, if the employer is avoiding tax, that's his business, if he gets caught, God help his short and curlies!!!

wynyardman



Joined: 15/12/2007
Posts: 4580

Message Posted:
12/10/2008 20:05

flowerfairy,



Many of us have been there. Can easily cripple a business.



There is an old expression in retail..........



Where theres a till, these usually fingers in it!



wyn

lancashirelad


Joined: 18/09/2008
Posts: 74

Message Posted:
12/10/2008 23:36

Well,

I see that we're all singing from the same hymn book then!

Just that some are a bit cryptic!

Night all,

Fred

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
13/10/2008 07:50

Just trying to provide a bit of balance flowerfairy. Despite your experience, it is not always the employee that is stealing!

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
13/10/2008 09:49

cash has always been king.

anyone who has owned a business knows that.

flowerfairy


Joined: 17/09/2008
Posts: 1277

Message Posted:
13/10/2008 20:33

I totally agree with you Joan, there were times when we asked the reliable staff not to ring on, as was suggested, to correct an over ring, or refund.

There are a few reasons why the goods aren't being rung on.

Turbo


Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 833

Message Posted:
13/10/2008 22:00

Just ask for a reciept,



Dixie E, tried to email you, address didn't work.