But while shopper were getting the most out of their dollars - some "shysty" storekeepers were trying to use the GST free day to come up - at consumers' expense. Belmopan resident Sherlet Neal sounded the alarm early on Saturday morning - we got a response from the tax boss today:
Sherlet Neal, Shopper
"If today you choose to use your card you might run into some problems so me like a good Creole wait till today to buy my groceries so I could save my little two cents just to be told by the Chinese store that if I am using my card whether it's debit or credit I am not entitled to the GST discount, because they have to pay the bank tree percent."
"Well I stand right there roll my good good eye and make them know that no have nothing to do with me."
"You will see that I was charged GST and the guy had to go ahead and refund me the the amount there. I did not pay. I told the girl print my receipt and give it to me I'm going across to her boss and I went and I put up a fuss.
"So guys whatever arrangement the store has with the bank, no had nothing to do with you."
Jules Vasquez
"They had some business owners who were trying to come up on consumers."
Michelle Longsworth, Director General - BTS
"So um I'll use the example of one of the businesses who chose to still charge GST and then you had to go to somebody else to collect the cash back and they kept their receipts. I want to inform um all consumers no business should keep your receipts. You should know that is your right that you'll be issued a receipt and you do not leave that store without your receipt."
"We have already sent persons there this morning again to sit with that business to say that is not the right way to do things, because many people were not aware that they were to go to another person to get back their GST, so they left."
"What that meant is that that business kept the GST for themselves and that is wrong. So we are addressing that issue, but I need to inform consumers that they should not leave a business without their receipts."
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