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Suspected customer fraud at Wickes store

Published: 9 February 2012
Chippenham police officers are investigating a suspected cause of fraud at a Wickes store on Bumpers Farm retail park, involving a man trying to claim a refund on goods he hadn't bought.
Suspected customer fraud at Wickes store
The man allegedly entered the store shortly before 4pm on Thursday, January 12, and filled a trolley with several flat packed kitchen units. He then took them to the counter and claimed a refund after stating they were faulty.

Police have released CCTV images of the man and are keen to speak to him or anyone who might know him. He is described as white, between 5ft 8in and 5ft 10in tall and aged in his late forties.

He is described as looking very 'unclean' with black teeth of which some are missing. He was wearing a green farmer's style cap with grey hair showing at the side and had black/grey facial stubble. He also wore a grey scarf, green duffle coat style jacket and blue jeans.

Officers are also keen to speak to the man in relation to several other similar incidents from similar stores across the country.

Anyone who recognises the man or who has any information in relation to this or similar incidents is asked to contact PC Melonie Neal at Chippenham Police Station on 101 quoting crime reference 54120005203. Alternatively people can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously if they wish.

Comments

Published prior to March 2014
By nick
Sometimes retailers can be their won worst enemy with things like this! The more retailers try to beat everyone else's customer service levels by offering "no questions asked" refunds, the more people like this will try to take advantage. I worked for Woolies 20 years ago, and they tried this policy in an attempt to set the bar for top customer service - after a week of kids buying compuetr games at the local market for a fiver then bringing them into store for 30 "refunds" they adjusted the policy quickly enough!
Published prior to March 2014
By Richard Hazell
My guess is its a celebrity chef bringing back a kitchen that can no longer be used on the BBC set of a cooking program due to an unfortunate incident with a bottle of wine and some cheese.
Published prior to March 2014
By Ian Jeffries
I thought this was quite a common type of retail fraud. When a customer returns faulty goods for a refund if we are in any doubt we insist on proof of purchase.
We might exchange goods without this as a gesture of good will but never refund. (We do not carry any own label brands) We do not like taking goods back from any customers if they have bought them from elsewhere!
Published prior to March 2014
By Steve Gadd Fleetgate Hardware
618819Yes this is common but the RBA epos system does not allow refunds without the original receipt. Still we get the I know my rights gang.Worst case was an ex employee unloading the van gave a passing customer two tins of paint and told him to go to the front counter and say he had bought the paint but did not need it and wanted a refund.NO RECEIPT NO REFUND
Published prior to March 2014
By Louise Townsend
This has happened to us, several years ago now. I have spoken to other retailers since who had had the same experience. The fraudster in our case was a woman who became very beligerent "I know my rights - this product is faulty and I demand a refund" and said she had left small children at home as she "didn't think it would take this long to get her money back". It was very confusing and upsetting for the staff and ultimately she was never caught - even though another member of staff so her later that day in the local Waitrose later "bringing back" a large joint of beef that "smelt funny". It is so very difficult to prove.

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