VAT refund issues

fjcruiserdxb

Asking whether Consumer Rights can help with the following. I ordered online from John Lewis for delivery to the U.A.E. After my payment, I realised that JL had not deducted VAT. When I contacted Customer Services about it, the reply was that because it was an overseas order, JL does not have to pay VAT therefore cannot refund me. I believe this to be incorrect. Had I bought from the store and travelled back to the UAE, I would have been able to reclaim VAT. I believe JL is ripping off customers on international online orders. Any suggestions for complaints please ? Thanks for your help.

Keep_pedalling

It is likely that the person you were speaking to has zero knowledge about non UK deliveries. JL have an export department so perhaps you should try contacting them.

https://www.johnlewis.com/customer-services/shopping-with-us/export-facilities-from-john-lewis-department-stores

Are you a resident of the U.A.E or was this for someone else? If you are a U.K. resident you can’t simply claim back the VAT.

davidmcn

The terms are quite clear on their website:

Where you have requested delivery to a Non-EU Country address, the Products and the delivery service will normally be zero-rated i.e. not subject to UK VAT. However the price paid by you for the Products and/or the delivery service will remain the same as shown on the Website.

As no VAT has been charged there is no tax to reclaim from us.