VAT on website

dannyrst

Hi all,

I bought a coat off a website the other day, went through the whole process and thought all was good. On the website it was advertised at £165ish. On checking the email that came through confirming the purchase, it showed £199.

The company hasn't shown VAT on the website, nor made any mention on their website that prices exclude VAT at any point in the purchase process.

This seems like an underhand tactic to make items seem cheaper than they actually are? In the terms on the website under tax, it specifically says no additional tax is payable on purchases being delivered within the EU.

Any thoughts? Is this allowed and if so, any ideas how I can check this next time before buying the product?

Aylesbury_Duck

What's the website and where is the company based?

bris

Prices to consumers should show as including VAT. You need to point to the website for more advice.


I'm a bit confused though, why didn't you notice the final price at checkout? It would have shown you the full amount before you hit the confirm purchase button.

dannyrst

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

What's the website and where is the company based?

https://www.sputniksnowboardshop.com/

Has a UK registered address and VAT number at the bottom of the site, so assume it is UK based?

bris wrote: »

Prices to consumers should show as including VAT. You need to point to the website for more advice.


I'm a bit confused though, why didn't you notice the final price at checkout? It would have shown you the full amount before you hit the confirm purchase button.

As above for website. The final price at checkout was the price without VAT. The first time the VAT was added was after purchase on checking bank statement and email confirmation.

ChrisK....._3

I guess you know that you can return for refund for whatever reason you like

dannyrst wrote: »

Hi all,

I bought a coat off a website the other day, went through the whole process and thought all was good. On the website it was advertised at £165ish. On checking the email that came through confirming the purchase, it showed £199.

The company hasn't shown VAT on the website, nor made any mention on their website that prices exclude VAT at any point in the purchase process.

This seems like an underhand tactic to make items seem cheaper than they actually are? In the terms on the website under tax, it specifically says no additional tax is payable on purchases being delivered within the EU.

Any thoughts? Is this allowed and if so, any ideas how I can check this next time before buying the product?

dannyrst

ChrisK..... wrote: »

I guess you know that you can return for refund for whatever reason you like

Yeah that's fair enough. The price I ultimately paid was the same price as other stores were selling at so can't really be bothered to return / cancel the order.

Just seems like a dodgy tactic to hide the real cost of items.

The_Rainmaker

Have you spoken to them?

Meepster

I've just checked it and tried to checkout - it doesn't mention VAT at all.

If I had placed an order with them, I'd be reporting them to Trading Standards.

dannyrst

The_Rainmaker wrote: »

Have you spoken to them?

I've emailed them to query why there is no mention of VAT, yes. Awaiting a response still.

Meepster wrote: »

I've just checked it and tried to checkout - it doesn't mention VAT at all.

If I had placed an order with them, I'd be reporting them to Trading Standards.

I'm happy to go down that route, do you know how I progress that?

davidmcn

They are UK-based (company is ACTIVE WEAR & OUTDOOR LEISURE LIMITED incorporated in 1994). I suspect this is c0ck-up rather than conspiracy, so I would give them a chance to sort it out before going to trading standards etc.

unholyangel

Technically you could hold them to the price excluding vat.

Consumer legislation means that total price must be given (inclusive of taxes). The only exception is where it is not possible to calculate in advance, in which case they need to give you how the price will be calculated.

Plus you made an offer of £x, so they can't accept an offer of £y.

Whether the VAT difference is worth the effort is another matter.