Want VAT invoice - Supplier unhelpful - Require advice please

kizziedog

I'm looking for advice on how to deal with an unhelpful Ebay supplier.

I bought some PC memory at an Ebay shop and was told (by email) that the supplier was VAT registered & would provide a VAT invoice. I subsequently bought the memory 5 weeks ago, requesting a VAT invoice. It was delivered without an invoice. I emailed the supplier who replied that invoices were emailed on a weekly basis.

I have emailed the request 4 times and the supplier is totally silent. He is trading continuously through the Ebay shop.

Incidentally, he has also failed to give me a feedback rating again despite requests. Unfortunately, I gave him a postive feedback because the memory works perfectly & I didn't assume that there would be problems of this nature.

The amount in question is very small (£6+) but I am annoyed at the lack of principle.

frivolous_fay

kizziedog wrote:

Incidentally, he has also failed to give me a feedback rating again despite requests.

I don't know the answer to the invoice problem but I do know that asking for feedback is a seriously bad idea.

kizziedog

frivolous_fay wrote:

I don't know the answer to the invoice problem but I do know that asking for feedback is a seriously bad idea.

Why? If I pay immediately how can a supplier give a bad feedback?

frivolous_fay

Feedback is voluntary.

Many sellers won't leave feedback on payment in any case, in case you turn out to be the psycho buyer from hell and leave them a neg for no reason.

It happens.

pennylane99

this comes up time and time again...feedback is optional ...not compulsory, and if you hassle people for it you are more likely not to be given any....

Moglex

On the VAT problem:

Inform him that unless he sends you a VAT invoice within seven days you will make a formal complaint to the VAT authorities.

If the authorities get such a complaint they are very likely to investigate the trader as he may be charging VAT and pocketing it.

He would not find that a pleasant experience.

On the feedback front, as others have said, it is a bad idea to pester people for it. Some traders only leave it once a month and may 'forget' to leave yours if you annoy them.

kizziedog

Thanks for the comment on VAT, Moglex. I wondered if there was some way that Ebay would help. Invoking HMC&E is obviously the last resort.

I mentioned the failure to give feedback only as an indication of the atitude of the seller. I'm really not concerned about feedback.

blue_haddock

Remember if you pester him for feedback he could leave you a big fat neg stating "here's the feedback you were chasing me for!"

martindow

You only actually need his VAT number - invoices for small amounts don't need to have the nett and VAT amounts itemised but are required to include the VAT number. You will have to do the calculations yourself! As has been said if you have no joy contact HMCE. They are likely to take a dim view of anyone charging VAT and not including their number.