Is this really the end of the receipt? What changes from August 1

Last day ! From this Tuesday, August 1, the receipt in paper format will no longer be issued automatically to the customer. You will have to request it or upgrade to a digital version. Here is all the practical information to remember…

The paper receipt that you inspect more or less carefully or carelessly put in your bag before throwing it away is (almost) over. After two successive postponements on January 1 and April 1, 2023, the end of the paper receipt issued automatically to the customer will come into force on Tuesday August 1, 2023, in accordance with what was written in the so-called “anti-waste” Climate law passed in 2020. But what does this really change for the consumer? Answers in a few key points.

Can you still get a paper receipt?

Yes, but you will have to ask for it explicitly. “The only thing that will change is that if you want the receipt, you will have to think about asking for it”, confirms the Minister Delegate for Trade Olivia Grégoire. The government advances the ecological argument with a fact: 30 billion receipts are printed each year in France, including 12.5 billion for receipts alone. However, these are difficult to recycle today, both because of the paper used and the ink.

What are the exceptions?

Any product purchased and benefiting from a guarantee will always be accompanied by a paper receipt issued automatically by the store. This will be the case, for example, of electronic products or household appliances. You will then not have to apply for it. The reason is simple: the paper receipt is very often the proof of purchase requested to invoke the guarantee and allow the merchant to verify the date of purchase. Here are the other exceptions announced:

• the weighed products. For example, if you buy fruit in a supermarket, whether on a self-service scale or managed by an employee, a receipt will always be printed.
• all services for an amount greater than or equal to 25 euros. This is the case, for example, of a service in a garage, a haircut at the hairdresser, a laundry service, etc.
• restaurant bills or hotel bills.
• automatic and/or underground car parks.

Same thing in the event of payment failure, for example for a payment by card which would not have succeeded (ceiling exceeded, breakdown of the EPT, contactless payment which did not work, etc.)

Will merchants be able to offer alternatives?

Yes, it will be possible, for example, to offer a digital receipt, but you will not be obliged to accept it. Many brands have already implemented the electronic receipt, especially if you are registered on their loyalty program. This is particularly the case for franchises and clothing brands. Having an electronic record of the purchase can then be practical in the event of a size error or if you need to make an exchange.

Downside: to enter it, you must most often provide a telephone number, an address and/or an email address and therefore enter the customer file. With the risk of seeing your personal data being stored or entered in other customer files… The digital ticket can be sent by SMS or email, or in the form of a QR Code. But it will be optional. You can always prefer a paper ticket and ask for it at the cash desk. The law only changes the automatic aspect of issuing the paper ticket. It’s up to you to ask for it if you want to get it where it was printed automatically until then.

Paper receipt or not: the choice is yours

In short, now you will have a choice. It remains to be seen if all traders will really play the game and offer several solutions… In the case of a small trade, the paper ticket should remain widely used. You will then have the choice to ask for it or to do without it. A word of advice: if you have any doubts about the product you have just purchased (in particular the size of a garment), always ask for a ticket in paper or digital format. For smaller purchases, food for example, ask yourself the question of its usefulness. The paper receipt had an advantage in this period of inflation: it allows you to check the prices of everyday consumer products and have a wise eye on your budget in the blink of an eye when leaving your supermarket…