Unfair business and sales practices

If you need to contact a supplier or manufacturer about faulty goods or services, you will need proof of purchase.

This is usually a tax invoice or receipt.  

This also applies if you received the goods as a gift.

Other forms of evidence

While the best proof of purchase is a tax invoice or receipt, other forms of evidence are usually acceptable, including any of the following:

• a lay-by agreement
• confirmation or the receipt number for a telephone or internet transaction
• a credit card statement
• a warranty card showing the supplier's or manufacturer's details and the date or amount of the purchase
• a serial or product number linked with the purchase of the supplier or manufacturer’s database.

Goods valued at $75 or more

Businesses must provide proof of purchase for goods or services valued at $75 or more (excluding GST).

If the transaction is less than $75, you can ask for proof of purchase to be provided within seven days of the transaction.

Itemised bill

You can ask for an itemised bill for goods and services.

A business must give you an itemised bill without charge within seven days of the request. 

The bill must be written in plain language, legible and easily read.

You can ask for the itemised bill to show all of the following:

• how the price was calculated
• the number of labour hours and the hourly rate
• a list of the materials used and the amount charged for them.

This request must be made within 30 days of whichever happens later:

• the services are supplied
• or the consumer receives a bill or account from the supplier for the services.

For more advice contact NT Consumer Affairs.