Airport boarding pass VAT scam

wwl

This story has been everywhere today - Airport shops (already a rip off) ask you for your boarding pass so if you're going outside the EU they can trouser the VAT instead of giving the customer a discount.

Boots & WH Smiths have said in the press that it is impractical to give customers different pricing if they show a non-EU boarding pass, which of course is a blatent lie. It would be trivial to apply a discount at checkout - they don't need to have "different pricing", just say, for example "10% off if you show a non EU boarding pass".

I came across this recently, before I knew the reason - All WH Smith checkouts at Stansted are self checkout, and people fumbling for boarding passes were contributing to a huge queue. I didn't even bother. Some were just leaving their stuff at the checkout

Later, at the gate, where there wasn't a queue, I scanned he item, put the exact money in. It then propmpted me for either "scan boarding card" or "seek assistance". I'd already paid so just walked away. This probably meant someone had to go sort the machine. Tough!

So it seems there is one way to get the message through to retailers that this rip-off isn't acceptable.
Either at auto or manual checkout, if the items are scanned and you have the right money is simply hand over the money, refuse to show your BP and and walk away, leaving them to deal with their checkout asking for the BP.

Double_V

I am travelling on Friday to Europe and planning to buy stuff from the airport.
So can i refuse to show them my boarding pass ? Can they refuse the sale to me ?
I don't know to be embarrassed in front of whole crowd.
I just don't want to give them my pass if they are ripping off people.

zaax

This part RIP off Britain put the UK in a bad light, and the CEO's of these companies should be ashamed

wwl

They can refuse the sale, but that's losing them business.
My reaction would be to tell them that it's an EU flight so there is no reason for them to scan the BP.

Bear in mind that you don't know how much of your personal information is contained on the BP barcode, and not wishing to share it with them is an additional reason to refuse.

A less confrontational approach is simply to say yout travel partner has it.

If it's not an EU flight it might be amusing to say that unless they are prepared to give you a discount of at least some of the VAT element of the price you're not going to let them trouser it.

You should not be embarrassed - they are the ones ripping off their customers.

If they insist prior to scanning and taking your money, I'd just leave the goods there and walk away. If enough people do it they will get the message.

The problem is staff often don't know the reason, and say all sorts of spurious things like it's to do with security. Fortunately now it has hit the press many people now know this is not the case.
Their till may require it before it's completed the transaction, but if they've scanned the item and you've paid (and aren't waiting for change) then that's entirely their problem if you just walk away.

Kernow666

get Martin involved and he might knock up a template you can use to get your money back

prestonmanchester

it states shops only make money from travelling OUTSIDE OF EUROPE.

they dont make money off EU trips. its clearly stated.

wwl

prestonmanchester wrote: »

it states shops only make money from travelling OUTSIDE OF EUROPE.

they dont make money off EU trips. its clearly stated.

This is true, however asking for the boarding card is an inconvenience and makes queues longer for the majority of people that aren't going outside the EU.
Ane we don't know what info about us they may be getting and keeping.

CM66

Flew from Heathrow this morning. For the first time in a long time i wasnt asked for my boarding pass in Boots so its obviously making a difference.......