Sneaky VAT additions

Aaaaant

I've just bought an item off eBay on a buy it now for £10, when I got to the PayPal checkout the price was £10 + VAT.

Now on the item's auction page it does at the bottom in very small writing that VAT will be added during checkout. Maybe it's my fault for not reading everything, but isn't this practice against the law?

I thought the price that companies displayed to consumers had to be inclusive of VAT. And selling the item at £10 + VAT makes it more expensive that similar items now.

A very sneaky way to do business I think, am I within my rights to not pay?

frivolous_fay

No, if it's stated that VAT will be added, that's the price.

If you have good reason to think they're using a cheap trick to lure people into buying, ask to see their VAT number - if they don't have one, they're committing an offence.

jarrod1

There are many listings which state + VAT at the bottom, i have noticed a few on ps3 games.

You should always read a listing before bidding. Thats how people end up buying an xbox 360 box instead of an xbox 360

Aaaaant

Thanks for your replies, but I thought it was against the law to sell to consumers at a price that did not include VAT to stop exactly the type of scams like this, which is trying to make ur products look cheaper than the competitors.

Revenue and Customs certainly wouldn't allow Curry's to advertise the new PS3 at £299 (whereas everyone else sells them for £349) only for customers to get to the till and told to pay £350 with a snotty cashier telling them they should have looked at the smallprint saying the price is plus VAT. I think the same applies here with this eBay seller.

Granted Currys might have the decency to put an asterix next to the price to say VAT is to be added, but it looks like this seller has gone out of his way to hide the +VAT addition.

smartie1976

Sites like ebuyer show the non-VAT price (as well as the VAT price).
However that's not really the issue, the seller did state VAT, albeit in a sneaky way by not using regular size text and being massively upfront about it.
If you're unhappy raise your concerns to ebay, although I'm not sure what for.

jarrod1

there is a new ps3 @ £299

soolin

If you read post 2 it will tell you when VAT is allowed to be added and how to see if the seller is being sneaky. It might also be worth checking the ebay terms and conditons (go ia help) to see if ebay require the addition of VAT to mentioned in a certain size type face or something, but that is my only other suggestion.

It is not against the law or against ebay policy to show the price exclusive of VAT as long as certain conditions are met.

JohalaReewi

Have just been 'caught' by this. The seller did say VAT will be added but their product description was a massive war and peace novel so it was very easy to miss this.

In the EBAY listings, prices are ex-VAT so no mention of it there. When I clicked the ebay BUY IT NOW button, there was no mention of VAT and when I clicked on the ebay PAY NOW button they was no mention of VAT. The first time VAT appears is on the PAYPAL website when you go to pay and at that point, you are committed.

Ebay should improve the buying experience by showing the VAT that is going to be added. PAYPAL can do it, why not Ebay?

TKPeters

JohalaReewi wrote: »

Ebay should improve the buying experience by showing the VAT that is going to be added. PAYPAL can do it, why not Ebay?

All eBay ask is to make sure that 'VAT to be added' is stated & the seller then sets up his Paypal account to add 17.5% to the item price upon payment thus not paying eBay fee's on the VAT.

We're currently still charging inclusive VAT prices but our accountant says we shouldn't due to eBay charging insertion fee's on the VAT amount which we dont see

Hintza

If you thing the seller is being sharp, don't moan here. Whack them with a negative. OK so you'll probably get one in return but hey ho.

Personally it really annoys me and I would much prefer (on say a £10 item) to pay 50p more to seller that is not being sneaky.

Just to go slightly off topic yesterday i wa slooking for a micro SD card and I was willing to pay upa bit to anyone who would offer to post it firstclass yesterday not one offered that sort of service. half just had "Sellers Standard Delivery" which to me means I'll post it sometime!!

For any of you guys selling commodity stuff like SD cards please offer fast postage options. On things like this folk want them asap. For me to get in the car drive 20 miles there and back makes it cost effective to pay up for a speedy service!!

Sorry tha was a bit of a rant..lol

custardy

ive had the same where i paid extra to the seller listing a specific postal service over sellers standard yada yada