Supermarket Self-Checkout Mishap Causes Misunderstanding as Shoppers Mistake It for Theft... Is It Really Wrong? Attorney DEAN DUNHAM Offers His Response, Which Might Displease You.
In a recent development, a grandson is seeking to understand the terms of his wedding contract, particularly those concerning cancellation and the return of the deposit and other payments, after the venue refused to refund the £9,000 he had paid.
The wedding, scheduled for 2026, has yet to take place, and the grandson is concerned that the venue may be holding onto a significant portion of the money unfairly, as it appears the venue has not incurred any costs related to the event.
In light of this, the grandson is citing the Competition and Markets Authority's warning to venues about high deposits and cancellation fees potentially breaching consumer law. He is also referring to the terms and conditions of the booking contract, which may dictate that the deposit and a percentage of the overall fee will be kept by the venue in the event of cancellation by the customer.
Under UK law, supermarkets and other businesses can legally use CCTV to film customers without explicit individual permission, provided they comply with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. The use of CCTV must be for a legitimate purpose, such as crime prevention or security, be clearly communicated, and handled lawfully, fairly, and transparently.
Regarding storage duration, CCTV footage is not to be kept longer than necessary for the original purpose. Typically, footage should be deleted within 30 days unless needed for an ongoing investigation or legal reason. The data controller (in this case, the supermarket) must have documented retention policies to justify the storage duration, ensuring footage is securely stored and only accessible to authorized personnel.
Customers have rights under UK GDPR to be informed about the data collected and how it is processed. While explicit consent from each customer is not usually required, supermarkets must inform customers that CCTV is in use and comply with data protection principles.
If the venue can rebook the date, they should refund most or all of the money minus a reasonable admin fee. If it is determined that the venue's terms are unfair, the grandson could potentially claim back most of the money paid, with a small retention being kept by the venue for inconvenience. The grandson is asking the venue to specify the terms in the contract they rely upon in refusing to refund the money.
This situation serves as a reminder for both customers and businesses to be aware of their rights and responsibilities under UK law, particularly when it comes to contracts, deposits, and CCTV usage.
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