Chimney removal firm charging VAT without VAT number

Risteard

Ectophile wrote: »

Are there any company registration numbers on any of the paperwork you've been sent? A genuine registered company should always quote the company name, registration number and registered address on all official communication. That would include quotes and invoices.

There is no evidence that it is a limited company - he may be a sole trader. This hasn't been proven one way or the other.

jpowell79

attached is the following:


The work contract, which I signed to agree to the commencement of work. As you can see it shows the company as being "Hylton Chimneys" on the contract, which I now know doesn't appear to be a limited company at all.


The next document is the first invoice he sent (with the VAT number that doesn't appear to exist) and it was only when I questioned it, he decided to send me another one with a completely different VAT number and he also sent me a VAT doc to so it is legitimate! Also, rather interestingly, the invoice now includes the "Hylton Construction" logo instead of the "Hylton Chimneys" logo

Also seems more than coincidental that the "date of certification" on the VAT doc was also the same date in which I questioned the original invoice VAT number!

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

System

Also seems more than coincidental that the "date of certification" on the VAT doc was also the same date in which I questioned the original invoice VAT number!

It's not 'date of certification' The date of the certificate is the date that he has downloaded it and printed it for you.

The important date is the date of registration so he has been registered for VAT for 3 years

phil24_7

VAT was quoted for in the original price so VAT must be paid. If he doesn't pay it, that is his problem and sooner or later he will be found out. It may be worth passing your concerns to HMRC, they could check to make sure he is paying VAT in accordance with current rules but, I suspect as you have queried this, he will likely pay it, even if he doesn't normally. Keep in mind though, that it could equally have been an error on his part with the invoicing.

Regards
Phil

brightontraveller

HYLTON CONSTRUCTION LTD
Company number 09191813

the VAT number is real
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/vieshome.do?selectedLanguage=EN

If they told you at the start they are VAT registered and they’d be charging you Vat weather they have given you number or not is pretty irrelevant.... There estimate didn’t contain the info why didn’t you question it then at the beginning doing so at the end when they sent bill through? To sum would seam bit like looking for excuse not to pay < if you want tell them what by law invoices etc should include and get them to send out the revised paperwork? As to how there companies set up who pays what when etc then only they'd and there accountant possibly the tax man would know that one ? Ask them if you want to know ...

MisterBaxter

As I commented in a previous post, as the customer you won't get into trouble with HMRC for paying the VAT to the wrong person if it has been invoiced; the person charging the VAT however could get into trouble with HMRC but that's not your issue.

The thing that does need to be clarified is exactly who the contract was with, who is being paid and who any guarantees are with. The changes in information could confuse this so need to be resolved.

TBagpuss

I can't see that they claim anywhere to be a limited company. The VAt number is genuine and they have provided you with proof of that, and their original quote shows that VAT would be charged.
The only issue seems to be that they had the wrong number on one bill.

Pay up.

If you feel that their customer service was poor then raise that with them as a separate matter.