Shopper Lucy Steer, 31, said that on trying to return a camera to Argos she found her receipt was entirely blank. “The receipt was kept in the box the whole time and I was astonished how much it had faded: I was told I might need to bring a bank statement to confirm the purchase,” Ms Steer told The Sunday Times. In response, Argos it was aware of the issue with thermal receipts but said customers could use bank statements as proof of purchase. Under UK law, there is no obligation for retailers to provide a receipt to customers, meaning there are also no rules protecting the quality of a receipt.
Increasing use of thermal printers by some of the UK's largest retailers are causing problems for consumers returning goods or invoking warranties as the receipts fade. The printers are popular because they don't require ink cartridges; text is created by directing heat onto temperature-sensitive paper. However, the print on the chemically-unstable paper can fade if exposed to light or heat, which is of particular concern for consumers purchasing extended warranties when the ink can fade within 31. As there is no legal requirement for UK stores to provide receipts there are no rules regarding receipt quality. Retailer Argos said it was aware of the issue but customers could use bank statements as proof of purchase.