Supplier that won't a provide VAT receipt
Discussion
A few months ago, we bought some new mobile PAYG handsets from our mobile phone provider (a big one, used to sponsor McLaren F1), via their web shop. All delivered OK and we are happy with the purchase. BUT, the supplier seems unable to provide us with a VAT receipt for them. They double charged us as well (paid online by debit card, then they added the cost to our monthly bill as well), which we are still trying to resolve.
I have contacted them numerous times (yesterday spent an hour on the phone to their collections team, trying to get it sorteed). I've complained through their official channels, but they still keep sending us the wrong VAT invoice despite my explanations. They send me the bill after, which just shows the amount as an 'outstanding balance' from a previous bill, and doesn't include a VAT breakdown for it. So it's not that they're out and out refusing to provide it, just that they are so utterly incompetent that they are unable to.
I've go to the end of my tether with then now, what can I do? It's only a small amount, but I want my accounts to be accurate. Can I report them to HMRC (or somewhere else) for failing to provide a VAT receipt/invoice?
I have contacted them numerous times (yesterday spent an hour on the phone to their collections team, trying to get it sorteed). I've complained through their official channels, but they still keep sending us the wrong VAT invoice despite my explanations. They send me the bill after, which just shows the amount as an 'outstanding balance' from a previous bill, and doesn't include a VAT breakdown for it. So it's not that they're out and out refusing to provide it, just that they are so utterly incompetent that they are unable to.
I've go to the end of my tether with then now, what can I do? It's only a small amount, but I want my accounts to be accurate. Can I report them to HMRC (or somewhere else) for failing to provide a VAT receipt/invoice?
I'm pretty sure that they will be UK VAT registered Eric. All the regular bills I get from them are VAT invoices.
I've already been via the CEO's complaints process, but only using the contact form on their website. Perhaps I'll try forwarding the emails to the address above, it's the only option left.
I've already been via the CEO's complaints process, but only using the contact form on their website. Perhaps I'll try forwarding the emails to the address above, it's the only option left.
mjb1 said:
My VAT registered limited company.
You could report to HMRC but I doubt they will give a stuff.I have a similar problem with O2, their monthly online invoices state 'This is not a VAT invoice' but I put it through reclaiming the VAT anyway. My accountants don't have an issue with it as they know O2 are charging the VAT (the invoice even itemises it), and HMRC don't appear to do VAT inspections anymore.
I think they do this so they can treat the payment date as the Tax point instead of the invoice date. This gets them another month of money that isn't being paid to HMRC. All the networks have all provided me VAT invoices on demand though. Persist 
Don't assume it's always 20% though - sometimes the items on the bill have different VAT rates (insurance, for example)
Don't assume it's always 20% though - sometimes the items on the bill have different VAT rates (insurance, for example)
PurpleMoonlight said:
You could report to HMRC but I doubt they will give a stuff.
I have a similar problem with O2, their monthly online invoices state 'This is not a VAT invoice' but I put it through reclaiming the VAT anyway. My accountants don't have an issue with it as they know O2 are charging the VAT (the invoice even itemises it), and HMRC don't appear to do VAT inspections anymore.
I had that with T mobile, all of sudden they amended their monthly invoices with the note 'This is not a VAT invoice'. It was six months before I noticed the small change. When I phoned them, rather than send out proper invoices, they just sent me a letter stating that the VAT had been charged/paid on all previous invoices.I have a similar problem with O2, their monthly online invoices state 'This is not a VAT invoice' but I put it through reclaiming the VAT anyway. My accountants don't have an issue with it as they know O2 are charging the VAT (the invoice even itemises it), and HMRC don't appear to do VAT inspections anymore.
What makes you think HMRC don't do vat inspections any more?
mjb1 said:
I had that with T mobile, all of sudden they amended their monthly invoices with the note 'This is not a VAT invoice'. It was six months before I noticed the small change. When I phoned them, rather than send out proper invoices, they just sent me a letter stating that the VAT had been charged/paid on all previous invoices.
What makes you think HMRC don't do vat inspections any more?
Direct with O2.What makes you think HMRC don't do vat inspections any more?
Well, I've not had one in over 10 years.
PurpleMoonlight said:
mjb1 said:
I had that with T mobile, all of sudden they amended their monthly invoices with the note 'This is not a VAT invoice'. It was six months before I noticed the small change. When I phoned them, rather than send out proper invoices, they just sent me a letter stating that the VAT had been charged/paid on all previous invoices.
What makes you think HMRC don't do vat inspections any more?
Direct with O2.What makes you think HMRC don't do vat inspections any more?
Well, I've not had one in over 10 years.
A start-up of mine has just had one - firstly a telephone call and then a half-day visit brought about by a refund claim on the first return as a result of claiming all the input tax on equipment etc.
There was 1 error as the client had used a pro-forma in the records instead of the actual invoice - told the Inspector as the VAT was £142 less and gave him a revised reclaim figure and 3 days letter the reclaim was paid in full, without reduction for the error highlighted!
Re telecoms, I have noticed that most companies will not issue VAT invoices unless you have a business tariff or if they will charge a fee for the privilege.
David
There was 1 error as the client had used a pro-forma in the records instead of the actual invoice - told the Inspector as the VAT was £142 less and gave him a revised reclaim figure and 3 days letter the reclaim was paid in full, without reduction for the error highlighted!
Re telecoms, I have noticed that most companies will not issue VAT invoices unless you have a business tariff or if they will charge a fee for the privilege.
David
If you register for Vodafone online portal, you can download all the invoices from there.
https://www.vodafone.co.uk/myvodafone/faces/oracle...
https://www.vodafone.co.uk/myvodafone/faces/oracle...
Mr Overheads said:
If you register for Vodafone online portal, you can download all the invoices from there.
https://www.vodafone.co.uk/myvodafone/faces/oracle...
Just remember that when you leave vodafone you lose access to the portal immediately https://www.vodafone.co.uk/myvodafone/faces/oracle...
Mr Overheads said:
If you register for Vodafone online portal, you can download all the invoices from there.
https://www.vodafone.co.uk/myvodafone/faces/oracle...
Good call.https://www.vodafone.co.uk/myvodafone/faces/oracle...
It works sometimes then others is decidedly flaky with oracle errors here and there.
Quite unbelievable for a company of that size.
We do have an account on Vodafone's portal already, it's where I download our bill every month (flaky bodge job that is). However, the bill that they took the duplicate payment for is not even listed or available on there! The only place it is mentioned is on the bill after it, where they've tagged on an 'outstanding amount from previous bill'.
Further progress is that they are now saying that our account is further in arrears (even though they've taken the regular monthly direct debits since). Even the monthly bill from last week, that they've scheduled the DD for 1st August, is apparently part of our arrears.
And today they have put a block on our account - can't make any calls on any of our lines with them. To say I'm fuming is an understatement. Spent another half an hour on the phone (from another number, so it's now costing me to call them), and they still haven't made the slightest bit of progress.
Further progress is that they are now saying that our account is further in arrears (even though they've taken the regular monthly direct debits since). Even the monthly bill from last week, that they've scheduled the DD for 1st August, is apparently part of our arrears.
And today they have put a block on our account - can't make any calls on any of our lines with them. To say I'm fuming is an understatement. Spent another half an hour on the phone (from another number, so it's now costing me to call them), and they still haven't made the slightest bit of progress.
mjb1 said:
I finally got a VAT receipt out of them a couple of weeks ago. But we have had our numbers barred and disconnected twice now, while Vodafone are still searching for the payment. Thoroughly disgusted with their customer service.
I feel your pain.I took over someone phone and Mob number 2 weeks ago as I was buying their business. All done in a Vodaphone high street shop with my passport, utility bills and the current owner with me.
They now have no record of anything being done or changed over (even though I was given an account number),they can't do anything without me giving them the security pin which I don't know and can't get because the original owner isn't available to contact at the moment),and to cap it all I've got zero signal at my house (it's a business that I need to run from home)on the Vodaphone network even though I've got 4 bars with EE.
After 40 minutes on the 191 number speaking to someone in God-knows-where who simply repeated the same line from her training manual in broken English I gave up for the day.
As you said, their customer service is simply appalling.
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