The end of the paper receipt? Barclays’ new app stores digital ones straight to your phone
Barclays Launchpad customers will soon be able to have receipts sent straight to their mobile banking app from the shop
PAPER receipts could become a thing of the past thanks to a new scheme which will see digital receipts sent straight to your mobile banking apps.
Bank statements already show see how much we spent, where and what time but this isn't enough proof of purchase if you want to return your goods to the shop.
At the moment, holding on to your shopping receipts can be a challenge thanks to the easy-to-loose flimsy bits of paper handed to us every time we spend.
Whilst some receipts are safe to throw away, you'll need to hang on to most of them in case you have to return your purchase.
So even if your item breaks during its warranty period, you won't be able to do anything about it without the receipt.
To tackle this, Barclays has partnered up with tech group Flux to run a trial for the 10,000 Barclays Launchpad app customers, where the bank try out new products.
It would mean no more receipts clogging up our wallets and because they're stored digitally, it will be harder to lose them.
This will make it easier to return faulty item some time after you bought it, thanks to an easy to find proof of purchase.
It's also handy for people who are self employed and have to keep proof of purchase for tax purposes.
For the idea to work, retailers also need to be able to have access to software that will let them send the receipts digitally to customers.
Some stores, like Topshop and New Look are already moving away from the printed receipt by emailing them to customers instead, but these can often end up buried in your inbox or sent to your junk folder.
Also, shops use this as an opportunity to add your email address to their newsletter mailing list, clogging up your inbox even more, making it harder to stay on top of.
What are your rights on returns?
YOUR right to return an item depends on whether you paid for your shopping online or in store.
HIGH street stores don't have to give you a refund unless the item is faulty.
This means that if you decide you no longer want it after you've bought it, then shops don't have to accept it back.
But most stores have a goodwill returns policy where you can bring your item back in exchange for a refund or credit note, as long as you still have the receipt.
Often, this period lasts between 14 and 30 days - it normally lets you know on the bottom of the receipt.
Your rights are different if you order something online.
Online shopping is protected by the Consumer Contracts Regulations so you have 14 days from when you received your goods to return something, even if it's not faulty.
This is because your decision was based on a photograph and description.
Retailers then have 14 calendar days to refund you after returning the goods or evidence that they'd been returned - so always keep hold of proof of purchase.
During the pilot, the Barclaycard pay machines at the check out will make it possible for shops to send the receipt straight to the customer's mobile app, so there is no need to handover your email.
The app will also help users track their spending by logging all of their shopping in real time, in one app.
People who have signed up to mobile banking apps Monzo or Starling have been able to track their spending habits for sometime now, but this would be the first app to actually see official receipts sent through to the app too.
Flux and Barclays have teamed up with cafe chain EAT for the trial scheme which will be the only place where customers taking part will be able to take advantage of the scheme.
Even though the idea is in really early stages, if it's successful it will be rolled out to the five million customers who use the Barclays Banking App.
Of course, if you prefer to pay with cash then you'll still need to make sure the cashier prints out a receipt for you as the digital copies are only available when you use your debit card.
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There's no official start date for the trial scheme yet but Flux say that it will be "live as soon as possible".
Barclays Launchpad app is where the bank tries out new online banking features before it rolls them out to all customers. Unfortunately, you can't just sign up to it and have to be invited to use it.
Barclays isn't new to trialling new products like this. Earlier this summer, Barclaycard tested out a self-service contactless ice cream vans, which could be rolled out in the near future.
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