Out of Hours Service.

[geoffrey]

A friend told me that on Boxing Day last she went to a superstore for an exchange or refund on an electric kettle that she deemed was faulty.
On arrival the checkout operator told her 'I am sorry but as it is a public holiday we are on out of hours service and that means no refunds or exchanges as there are no managerial staff present to authorise it'. My friend protested but the assistant replied 'But madam, you work in the medical centre pharmacy and you do not offer full service on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays do you'? She smiled at this and returned a few days later where the manager informed her that it is simply impossible to get graduate managers to work every weekend. He replaced the fuse in her kettle and it worked perfectly and everyone was happy, but was that store acting legally in not providing refunds or replacements at weekends as they were on out of hours service? If the answer is 'n', then what about the NHS?

[nemesis45]

Re: Out of Hours Service.

If that is the company policy I cannot see anything criminal illegal ) or unlawful here.
The NHS is an entirely separate situation and is irrelevant to this.

[geoffrey]

Re: Out of Hours Service.

This incident had a pleasant outcome. The customer was very remorseful when her attention was drawn to the poor pay and working conditions in that retail store when she compared their one day Christmas break with her own ten day break. She has now joined the Fair Pay campaign and the campaign to force large stores to close on public holidays and to pay enhanced wages for Saturday, Sunday and evening working.

[wales01man]

Re: Out of Hours Service.

A campaign to get stores to close on a Sunday! not a hope Im afraid

[Kati]

Re: Out of Hours Service.

This incident had a pleasant outcome. The customer was very remorseful when her attention was drawn to the poor pay and working conditions in that retail store when she compared their one day Christmas break with her own ten day break. She has now joined the Fair Pay campaign and the campaign to force large stores to close on public holidays and to pay enhanced wages for Saturday, Sunday and evening working.

Can you explain the "fair play" scheme to me please??

[stevemLS]

Re: Out of Hours Service.

A campaign to get stores to close on a Sunday! not a hope Im afraid

Sundays aren't public holidays?

[wales01man]

Re: Out of Hours Service.

y mistake even Public Holidays wont happen the stores will soon open on all of them Xmas and easter

[geoffrey]

Re: Out of Hours Service.

The question was not about shop opening times but about whether stores can legally provide a restricted Out-of-Hours service at weekends and evenings and therefore exclude refunds and exchanges at those times. It would be similar to the restricted service provided by doctors, dentists and others.

[wales01man]

Re: Out of Hours Service.

Seems the big shops can do what they like until challenged or taken to court .

same as why refunds online or on the phone take days when its a press of a key away in real terms