Most businesses keep copies of receipts, but it’s best to contact the store to see if a reprint is possible.
If you’ve lost a receipt, your best course of action is probably to contact the place that gave you the original copy and see if the store can reprint the receipt for you. When getting a reprinted receipt isn’t an option, you can check your bank or credit card statements to see if you can find a copy of your transaction, but of course this is only useful if you paid for something by check, card credit, debit or credit card. If you need to return an item and can’t prove your purchase, you can still get store credit. Most stores won’t give you cash for returned items if you don’t have your receipt, but a store credit will allow you to purchase another item of equal or lesser value.
Very few businesses give customers receipts without keeping copies for them, so losing one isn’t necessarily an irreparable problem. If you can’t find your receipt, visit the place where you bought it and request a reprint. Many places of business are hesitant to do this for people because it tends to be too much of a hassle for them, especially for large companies that have a lot of daily transactions that would need to be resolved. Try to remember as many details as you can about your purchase before requesting a reprint. Knowing the date and amount of your purchase, as well as a description of the person who took your money, can make locating your specific transaction much easier for the company you’re doing business with.
If you used a debit, check, or credit card to make the purchase, you probably don’t need the original receipt. Double check your bank and credit card statements to see if your purchase is listed there, and if it is, you can print copies of your statements and use them as proof of purchase. Most businesses will accept it as a replacement for a lost receipt. If you can’t get your money back when you return something, you can get a credit from the store in question. This may not be offered to you immediately, so you should apply for credit if it is not offered.
There are some things you can do to avoid losing receipts in the future. If you have a cell phone with a built-in camera, you can take a photo of your receipt as soon as you receive it. It’s also smart to scan your receipts into your computer if you have a scanner. Most businesses will accept images of receipts if a physical copy is not available. Be especially careful with receipts for expensive items like jewelry, electronics, and tools, because these things are much more likely to cause a lot of stress if something happens and you need to make a return.