Adding VAT after confirming purchase...

Wig

scbk wrote: »

It's even worse living in the most northern city in the UK...

Aberdeen?

Labman_2

Wig wrote: »

Aberdeen?

Inverness surely?

Hintza

To get back to the point I agree with the OP it is sneaky and is usually hidden ( but OP should of known and I imagine he is more annoyed with himself for missing it as I would be).

I would actually rather pay more than have someone adding on VAT, even if stated in their listing. As OP says it is just used to trap buyers. I hope OP has a buying account and can whack the seller with a negative, a few of those and he will soon change his business pratices.

I think it should also be sorted out by EBay, in my view EBay is a retail site and as such all prices should include VAT.

StaffsSW

Yeah - I'm a bit ashamed that I did miss it at the bottom of the listing amongst the sellers's small print, but it I had looked at so many, and most of them had long winded descriptions with loads of pictures and guff about their trading history, other products etc, that I had zoned out by this time.

The transaction was never completed, as it was immediate payment only and I did not complete the payment, but it was a disposable Buying account I was using so depending on other customer service factors, a neutral would have been left at the very least.

I agree that VAT should be shown by eBay in the confirmation of sale section - you can see from the screen shot that there is no mention that it is including or excluding VAT, only when I got to the paypal screen. Bearing in mind that eBay is aimed at a mass retail market, the technicalities of VAT should not be an issue - do they expect fully trained accountants to be the only buyers on there!!?

Wig

Originally Posted by Altarf
But unless the buyer is a VAT registered business, they don't have to provide one.

I think that you misunderstood my point.

Yes I did, sorry, I missed the keyword "buyer" in your OP.

RFW

Altarf wrote: »

But unless the buyer is a VAT registered business, they don't have to provide one.

How would you know if your buyer is VAT registered?
Also a non registered buyer can later become registered and has the option to reclaim VAT from up to 2 years prior (if still has goods).

If you are in business and someone asks you for an invoice/receipt (VAT registered or not) you are entitled to provide one. I doubt you'd be taken to court for not doing so, but you'd have C&E investigating you after a few complaints!

Back to the thread......

If an item is listed as being subject to VAT after purchase this should be in the payment details box at the top of the page, with bid price and postage, and the same size as both.

Wig

RFW wrote: »

How would you know if your buyer is VAT registered?
Also a non registered buyer can later become registered and has the option to reclaim VAT from up to 2 years prior (if still has goods).

Good point, How does the seller know if you are a VAT registered business or not, and if he asks for your VAT no. you can give him Tesco's :rotfl:

If an item is listed as being subject to VAT after purchase this should be in the payment details box at the top of the page, with bid price and postage, and the same size as both.

Exactly!

RFW

Altarf wrote: »

Obviously the practicality is that most businesses will send a VAT invoice if you ask. However I was pointing out that legally they can tell you to get lost, unless you are VAT registered. If they wanted to be awkward then they could ask you to prove that you were VAT registered, for example by you needing to provide a copy of your VAT registration certificate.

Some companies will refuse to provide a VAT invoice point blank, even if you are a VAT registered business. For example many broadband companies sell a 'business' service and a 'domestic' service. Their T&C say that you cannot use the 'domestic' service for business, therefore by definition you cannot be VAT registered. If you want a VAT invoice you need to be on their (higher charge) business tariff, and until you are on that they will not send you a VAT invoice (and I have yet to see HMRC do anything about this).

Invoicing depends on the service/goods. If you are selling something that cannot be used for business, ie a domestic telephone service, then a VAT invoice would not be provided. Anything that could be used for business, a VAT invoice/receipt should be supplied if asked for.

alooof

so what was the conclusion? are sellers allowed to add it on at the end?
surely not.
i just bought something and got hit with a VAT charge at the last possible moment, after ebay checkout, when completing paypal payment

im sure this is not allowed. i am emailing the seller to see if he can withdraw the charge, if not I'll pay the amount but leave a neg/report to ebay

this is a CON!!!!!!! most people probably take it on the chin but that is wrong, people are getting screwed out of money but this dodgy practise

frivolous_fay

alooof wrote: »

so what was the conclusion? are sellers allowed to add it on at the end?
surely not.
i just bought something and got hit with a VAT charge at the last possible moment, after ebay checkout, when completing paypal payment

im sure this is not allowed. i am emailing the seller to see if he can withdraw the charge, if not I'll pay the amount but leave a neg/report to ebay

this is a CON!!!!!!! most people probably take it on the chin but that is wrong, people are getting screwed out of money but this dodgy practise

- What does it say on the listing?
- Do they show a VAT number?