What rights? Item purchased online, paid, but retailer claims website glitch.

neilmcl

reform wrote: »

Given any other purchase on the site has the VAT included it was assumed that the price I paid included VAT. If the "Grand total" I paid on this occasion failed to include VAT(ie internally on the website calculation), then it is fair to say that my understanding was that VAT was included in the price and the actual retail cost was 17% less. Thus the retailer has to take the hit. But, given the site has no VAT number, values, etc I suppose the retailer can argue either way.

But that's not the case. The decision as to whether prices include VAT or not is dependant as to what currency had been selected/defaulted to on the main page. During that time you made your purchase all the other prices would have been exclusive of VAT. I totally agree that given the poor design of the website that you have no way of knowing from the prices alone whether it includes VAT or not but that still doesn't change the fact that your purchase was exclusive of VAT which the retailer is entitled to ask for. In reality what he should be doing is cancellling the transaction altogether and getting you reorder with the VAT inclusive price.

reform wrote: »

Interesting : http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/managing/returns-accounts/tax-points.htm

If the "Tax-point" has passed... the retailer must now be liable to pay the VAT I have considered myself to pay, no ?

Absolutely not. You are reading this totally out of all context and is not relevant. Tax points have no relevance as to whether you, the consumer, have to pay VAT or not. They're used for VAT accounting periods only, related to when & how the supplier makes his VAT return.