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VAT overcharging complaint - where do we stand?
SuperMum2008
Posts: 673 Forumite
in N. Ireland
We bought a pair of jeans on Saturday in Belfast in a well known store, and when we got home and looked at the receipt we had been charged 21.5% VAT. The receipt clearly broke down the net value of the goods, and then showed the figure "21.5%" under the VAT column.
We went back on Sunday to query this, and were met with a very rude and unpleasant manager who refused to give their name, told us we were wrong, then eventually owned up, saying that the head office was in Cork and the VAT was the Eire rate. We pointed out that this must be illegal and the manager confessed that they knew it was, and then gave us coins from the till to refund the overcharged VAT rate.
We think this is totally disgraceful for an internationally known branded store. Any thoughts on where we go from here, as thousands of people must have been overcharged in the weeks leading up to Christmas and this is surely unfair?
I understand that shops dont have to reduce the price of items, as they could just have reduced the VAT to 15% and increased the cost of the item, so the overall price is the same, but this is clearly VAT being charged at an illegal rate? Any thoughts?
We went back on Sunday to query this, and were met with a very rude and unpleasant manager who refused to give their name, told us we were wrong, then eventually owned up, saying that the head office was in Cork and the VAT was the Eire rate. We pointed out that this must be illegal and the manager confessed that they knew it was, and then gave us coins from the till to refund the overcharged VAT rate.
We think this is totally disgraceful for an internationally known branded store. Any thoughts on where we go from here, as thousands of people must have been overcharged in the weeks leading up to Christmas and this is surely unfair?
I understand that shops dont have to reduce the price of items, as they could just have reduced the VAT to 15% and increased the cost of the item, so the overall price is the same, but this is clearly VAT being charged at an illegal rate? Any thoughts?
Feel free to thank me, it makes my toes tingle and my ears go warm :T
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Comments
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name and shame so that others can be aware of it if they shop there!Norn Iron Club Member #64
Wikkity Wikkity Wikkity Lets go racing!0 -
Im just on hold with Trading Standards now - will let you know the outcome before naming and shaming!Feel free to thank me, it makes my toes tingle and my ears go warm :T0
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Unless the advertised price wasn't what you were charged, this isn't a Tradings Standards issue.
Charging customers the incorrect rate of VAT is however something for HMRC.0
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