Legality and requirement for receipts?

cerastes

There are two aspects to this.
What is the law regarding receipts and purchases? Is it different for goods and services?
If a business declines to give you a receipt either by refusing, not being able or just ntnoffering them and for some reason you were accused of not paying or there was a suggestion you didn't pay how does that work out?

I had thought there was a relatively recent (like in the last few years) legislation which meant you were entitled to a receipt, in the least it seems good sense to get one as a customer, I'm not sure what the advantage to a retailer are other than to prove someone hasn't taken something as only if the customer agree to prove they purchased something?

How entitled are you to a receipt, legally?

On a few occasions I've gone through security machines at exits which have beeped, usually I pause, I'm suspicious of people who try rush out at the same time where such alarms going off as I've heard that shoplifters use that as a strategy to confuse or complicate security staffs job, I see plenty that just keep going.
Recently I was exiting a shop and this happened, another person walked through at the same time and kept going, I paused, let the security machine reset and tried again but it went off again, I'd only one purchase and I could see that there was not a security tag.
I looked back, shrugged at the security person that appeared and went to head off, but they made it obvious to check me, while they weren't making a lot of noise about it was obvious enough to be noticed by other people who were looking that it caused me some concern and embarrassment and I was concerned some might not see the small item id purchased and thinkmi stole something? or recognise me then or later and who might think I was stealing, as I'd only one small item in my hand, which made it not seem obvious I didn't have something hidden.

I think the security machine is at error or over sensitive, and am not sure how it did go off as others then passed it and it still didnt go off, this might not seem like a concern, but I'm applying for jobs and was concerned this could be witnessed by someone who might end up interviewing me and where i never saw them and it may occur that my reputation is affected if they think I'm the kind of person who would steal.

cerastes

I'm suprised that someone, anyone can't know if there is a legal entitlement to a receipt or not??
Or what right you have to decline to prove you havent take something or accept any suggestion you may have taken something, I appreciate some people have a job of trying to counter real pilfering of their products but that's their problem really and not minead I want no part of any suggestion im up to any wrongdoing lest its inferredotherwise. I'm trying to determine what the limit of that I have to accept as a person not up to anything wrong is?
I used to b more accepting and willing to prove myself, and still am, up to the point where its bordering on appearing as an accusation publicly.

I don't know what their rights are to stop an actual criminal, but they have got to be non existent for someone that is not doing any wrong.

Little CuChulainn

You've answered all your own questions.

cerastes

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

You've answered all your own questions.

I have?
I'm still not clear receipts are a requirement
Or that there is any legal obligation to provide them?