I tried to get a refund earlier from wyevale (for faulty goods) and they 'couldnt' unless I gave my name and postcode - this cant be the law - I didnt give my name when I bought the stuff. So the manager was called and I am now Mr Smith and my postcode is the same as the managers. I dont legally have to give personal details to get a refund do I?
nope. It's one of these ridiculous store policies to allow the till refund money. You'll sometimes be asked for the same details when buying electrical goods, and I'm not kidding, it's almost always followed by the phrase "you don't have to give me your real details"...
It could be so that no one (ie staff) can con the system. By giving your name and postcode 'someone' from head office can in theory contact you to make sure you had the refund and that it isn't either a con by staff or the same set of shop lifters taking stuff back.
PC World used to ask for this information at the tills, they claimed it was for warranty purposes......I don't know if they still ask as I refuse to shop there now.
I always assumed it was for guarding against fraud purposes like putting the money back on the card you used to pay for it with rather than giving cash.