Question
We sell goods by the laybye system. Our time limit is two months. If the customer does not collect his laybye, we wait another two months then open the parcel and sell the goods. If he comes thereafter, we give him a refund of the amount he had paid. What should be done if the customer does not come?
Answer
In the laybye system, the goods belong to the customer. The trader retains possession until he is fully paid. You are allowed to open up the parcel and sell the items after the two month mutually agreed on time limit. The payments made by the customer have to be refunded to him whenever he comes, even if after years. If the goods have been sold at a higher price than the laybye price, the profit also has to be given to the customer. If there is a genuine loss, the loss may be deducted from the payment made by the customer.
If after one year, the customer has not come, then the money has to be given as Sadqah. But even after having given the money to charity, if the customer arrives, you will have to make the refund, and you will receive the thawaab of the Sadqah.
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- The Majlis Vol 24 No 01
- PDF page
- 5
Appears under Questions and Answers (approximate).