ASOS no longer issuing VAT refunds

Lcarlenet on 23/08/2010 - 07:43

Thought I'd give a heads up to any old or new customers of ASOS that they are no longer issuing their 17.5% VAT refunds. Here is the reply I got when I posted to their forums 30 days after placing my order about receiving my VAT refund -

"Hey Carlene

Thanks for your request for a VAT refund.

If we may explain, exports are treated as zero-rate VAT. This means that whilst it is chargeable, it is at a rate of 0%. Consequently, as no VAT would have been paid to HMRC or any other tax jurisdiction, there is no refund to pass on to you.

In the past, ASOS has credited accounts to the value of VAT as a gesture of goodwill, however we have ceased this practice to ensure there is parity in our service.

We realise this may be disappointing news for you, however with our investments in delivery and returns services as well as our ever expanding range of exciting brands, we hope you will continue to shop with ASOS.com.

Thanks,

ASOSCasey xx"

Sadly their prices aren't as appealing when you have to pay the VAT! :(

General Discussion

Comments

  • shiba on 23/08/2010 - 13:34

    merely placed an order yesterday. luckily i didn't as it really is not as appealing as before. thanks for letting us know.

  • Pizza The Hut on 23/08/2010 - 13:42

    so before they were not chargin 17.5% tax and then giving you the 17.5% back. In effect they were giving you ~17.5% discount. I wish I shopped there before!

  • carlenet on 23/08/2010 - 18:04

    Pizza The Hut, I actually asked them to clarify that particular statement in an email I sent them. It is true they don't charge VAT on children's clothing and shoes, however, adult clothing attracts VAT. To date I've received no reply. I believe it is crap because what are they trying to say, they charge no one VAT…yeah right!?

    Thing that annoyed me the most was that the order I was trying to claim for did indeed include VAT on my invoice. Most UK websites actually deduct the VAT at the checkout when Australia is chosen as the shipping destination. My first and last order with them sadly!

    • Pizza The Hut on 24/08/2010 - 00:14

      oh ok I see. surely someone in their customer service department should be sensible enough to know how to read their own receipts. I had something similar happen a few years ago ordering some games from ebgames in america. californians get charged vat but for outsiders they're supposed to take it off by law. the people in their customer service desk I complained to admitted they could see the mistake but they said there was nothing they could do about it. Later on maybe a year passed I got a email from the company announcing that they were refunding vat to everyone they had incorrectly charged in the form of store credit. I didnt want to fight with them again to get it reimbursed properly to my credit card so I left it there. If american shipping rates werent so stupid I probably would have got a game or two.

    • gavt on 26/08/2010 - 11:02

      Same thing happened to me!

      =(

      I think they must've got sick of processing the refunds…

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join