Q: I work in retail and with a manual till, so prices need to be entered in. I thought an item was 45p (it usually is for the last couple of months) but it was actually 42p, so I overcharged a customer 3p. The customer had taken it to give to their child so I didn’t check at the time of checking out. My manager is not aware of this, but I know I overcharged 3p – do I need to give this away from my wealth as interest and make repentance for this?
Also, many customers say to me to ‘keep the change’ from a transaction, often a few pence. Am I allowed to put this back into my till?
الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب
A: The price displayed at the merchandise display or advertised elsewhere is simply an invitation to treat. The price charged at the till is the actual price of the contract and provided the buyer and seller are both aware of the price being charged it may differ from that advertised or displayed at the merchandise display. Therefore, the ‘extra’ 3p in this case is not unlawfully earned wealth and there is no need to repent. Of course, best practice is to charge exactly the same as advertised and displayed but if buyer and seller agree a different price then that is permitted.
You are allowed to keep the change. It is simply a gift from the buyer and is not interest in any way.