AerialForce Quote and actual price

EmmaMarnie wrote: »

Had a quote of £199 today. The job was completed and I gave my card for him to take payment. I was not told at all that this quote did not include VAT. Ended up taking nearly £240 from me.

That's outrageous... should've been £238.80.

But seriously, was it a written quotation?

Whilst it might not be good business practice, the installation company were acting within the law.

There is legislation that covers how the selling price of goods must be displayed to consumers and this is the "Price marking order 2004"
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2004/102/article/1/made
and this does state that goods sold to consumers should show a tax inclusive price.

“selling price” means the final price for a unit of a product, or a given quantity of a product, including VAT and all other taxes;

However, there is an exemption that would cover what happened to the OP:

Scope of application of the Order
3.—(1) This Order shall not apply:

(a) to products which are supplied in the course of the provision of a service; or

So basically, if you are sold an aerial, the trader should show a VAT inclusive price but if you are sold an aerial as part of an installation service, the quote can be shown excluding VAT.