Where do I stand? VAT

DullGreyGuy

ThumbRemote said:

macman said:

Why is he asking you to pay an amount that's not included on the invoice?
Did you not ask at the outset if he was VAT-registered?

Why on earth would they ask if the trader was VAT registered? It's of no concern of the customers. 

You wouldn't ask if a tradesman had any illnesses that might affect their work, what their credit limit was with their suppliers, whether they had van breakdown cover, who they banked with, or any of a myriad other questions that are none of your business. 

Given many tradesman dont accept cards you actually do often ask who they bank with when you ask them for their bank details to pay by BACS/FasterPay

Official documents are supposed to include certain information, for a VAT registered business that includes their VAT registration number. Technically they didnt have to give the OP an invoice at all however having done so they have failed in their duty to provide their number so the OP is perfectly in their right to ask for this to be corrected. 

VAT registration is public data so once they've got the claimed number they can double check the registration is for the trades person

pineappletree23

Thanks for all the responses. 
I’ve had legal advice that says the amount he quoted and invoiced is inclusive of vat unless otherwise stated. However I don’t think he’ll complete the work now and I’ll have to find someone else to complete. I think that’ll be higher than I was expected to pay as I got this quote march last year. Sadly the advice extends to that. To pursue anything is to pay a solicitor or go through cab. Our insurance doesn’t cover this work  

Aylesbury_Duck

I suspect that he wants to "add VAT" because he underestimated the cost of materials, labour, transport etc when he quoted almost a year ago.

To be honest, finding someone else is a good idea, anyway. It will surely be better than having work done by someone you've been in dispute with?

m0bov

The VAT is down to him to sort out, if you've paid as per the estimate/quote and the work is complete, then that's the end of it.

HillStreetBlues

As the work hasn't been completed tell the tradesman any outstanding balance will only be paid once all work has finished (do not agree to VAT or a figure).
Once finished tell the trader that after checking everything  there is no balance to pay.

DE_612183

and if you have paid and all the work has NOT been completed you can ask for a refund, followed by LBA and small claims

Flight3287462

outtatune said:

Flight3287462 said:

Just ask him for his VAT registration number and tell him you are going to check it with HMRC.  Assuming he is not VAT registered that should put a stop to his nonsense straightaway.  (If he is VAT registered that may make things a bit trickier)

Why would it make things trickier? He's provided the OP with a quote. All quotes to consumers must be VAT inclusive. That is the amount the OP should pay, and no more. If the trader needs to account to HMRC for VAT, whether for all of the work or just some of it, that is his problem and of no concern to the OP.

I won't bother spelling it out, use your imagination.