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Misled over VAT in contract with new provider

Hello,

I moved to a new mobile provider last month, and spoke to two assistants in the same shop before going ahead with the deal. When discussing prices I was interested in a monthly package and asked if the price included VAT. I was told on two separate occasions, by two separate assistants that it did. I was surprised on the first occasion and asked the assistant to clarify, and on the second occasion, I asked to double-check. I went ahead on the understanding VAT was already factored into the price of the monthly package.

Then my bill arrived last week and VAT was extra on top, meaning I am paying much more monthly than I intended to. I would like to challenge them over this because I was misled. Do you have suggestions as to how I should go about it, or is it a waste of time?

Thanks,
Sarah

Comments

  • Jon_01
    Jon_01 Posts: 5,931 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You sure the first months bill isn't higher than you thought just due to pro rata billing which happens in month one due to it not syncing to your billing cycle?
  • Yes I am - the VAT is specified and added to the total...
  • Jon_01
    Jon_01 Posts: 5,931 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Yes, but is the bill for longer than a month? The first bill is usually more as it's the first month plus a few days to line you up with one of the networks billing cycles.

    Is the ex vat amount what you were told the inc vat would be then?

    It's not a business acc? They aren't billed the same as domestic acc's.
  • Ah, I've just done the sums for myself and I think you're right. Thank you, relieved and cheered! :)
  • DarkConvict
    DarkConvict Posts: 6,347 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    The first month is always a bit of a shock ;)
    Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced.

    There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies
  • cally6008
    cally6008 Posts: 7,629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    T-mobile did this exact same thing to us and in our case, no it wasnt a case of the first month being slighter higher. Both contracts came to £55 exact in shop, asked bout VAT, both sales folk said no VAT to pay and that £55 would be what we would pay each month. How wrong were they ? Bills have been £68-£74 each month for past 17 months. Glad to be ditching them next month and going PAYG where at least we'll know exact how much money we are putting on each phone
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