Incorrect VAT payment on NTL bill

ArthurDent

Just a quick question - upgraded my NTL to digital and when the bill arrived I noticed that the full total was at 21%VAT - on front page there was a section that explained services @21% VAT but installation costs (€42 ish) had a VAT rate of 13.5%. So rang NTL they said no, bill correct - I said not according to your own literature (FAQ's etc), put me on hold for about 10 minutes and came back and said no - bill was correct. I said I was going to make a formal complaint and teleperson came back and said - ok we'll reduce your bill - as if doing me a BIG favour and promptly hung up. So I'm left wondering if this is a simple mistake or is NTL messing up across the boards on billing? Tried to ring COMREG to see if they would look into it (cos have a pathalogical fear of the Govt getting more VAT than they should )but they said, since deregulation of cable market no longer their problem.

Anyone else notice this or was it a once off?
AD

DMC

Comreg wouldnt know the VAT rate from their LLU, but, the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs may shed some light on it. 1890 220 229 http://www.odca.ie/

The function of ODCA with regard to Telecommunication queries is restricted to:

* Advising Consumers of their rights under the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, 1980
* Investigation of complaints in relation to Misleading Advertising covered by the Consumer Information Act 1978
* The European Communities (Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract) Regulations, 1995

Do let us know how you get on...

ArthurDent

DMC wrote:

Comreg wouldnt know the VAT rate from their LLU, but, the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs may shed some light on it. 1890 220 229 http://www.odca.ie/



Do let us know how you get on...

Nah - they sent me on to comreg! and comreg sent me back to them - popped off an e-mail to them and got the following:

The question you have submitted to the ODCA Website has been received and you will be contacted shortly.

Wonder what the definition of shortly is?

paconnors

if it was vat on instalation for an engeneer vat it charged @ 13.5 for Labour

DMC

ArthurDent wrote:

Nah - they sent me on to comreg! and comreg sent me back to them - popped off an e-mail to them and got the following:

The question you have submitted to the ODCA Website has been received and you will be contacted shortly.

Wonder what the definition of shortly is?

Oh fudge. Quote that to the ODCA, see what happens. It's their baby, according to this page... http://www.odca.ie/cfmdocs/c_query/cable.cfm

Consumer Query - Goods & Services


Cable & Telecommunications

There are three main bodies who deal with Telecommunications queries, The Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs, The Commission for Communciations Regulation (ComReg) and The Regulator of Premium Rate Telecommunications Services Ltd, (REGTEL)

The function of ODCA with regard to Telecommunication queries is restricted to:

* Advising Consumers of their rights under the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, 1980
* Investigation of complaints in relation to Misleading Advertising covered by the Consumer Information Act 1978
* The European Communities (Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract) Regulations, 1995

ComReg

The Commission for Communications Regulation (formerly known as The Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation, ODTR), Abbey Court, Irish Life Centre, Dublin 1 (phone number 01-804 96 00) has responsibility for the licensing and regulation of the Irish electronic communications industry.

Queries concerning billing, cable T.V., network faults, postal sector and telecommunication price increases etc are referred to ComReg for their attention and direct reply to the complainant.

REGTEL

Queries which involve premium rate phone numbers should be referred to The Regulator of Premium Rate Telecommunications Services Ltd, (REGTEL) 3rd Floor, Crescent Hall, Mount Street Crescent, Dublin 2 (phone no: 01-6767 025) who have responsibility for Premium Rate Services.

For further information on your rights under the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, 1980, The Consumer Information Act 1978, or Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts please see our document section or if you require more answers to your query please check our FAQ section

cgarvey

Most installations are chargable at 13.5%, but there are porvisions that were equipment is supplied as part of the installation, and makes up a significant value of the installation, that the entire installation can be charged at 21%. So the fact that the rate applied is 21% isn't all that unusual (unless of course they're only passing on 13.5% in their VAT payments!).

The fact that it's not explained in thier publishings, or that their call staff don't know this, is a joke, but then so are *ALL* telecoms companies in Ireland.

Their publishings should have quoted the VAT inclusive pricing everywhere, anyway (because it's a primarily residential service offering). So, to the regular residential customer it makes no difference.

So if you're complaint is that you paid VAT you didn't think you should have, contact the Revenue Commissioner (revenue.ie). If it's with the advertising of false rates, or misleading rates, contact ASAI (asai.ie). If your complaint is with ntl for giving you contradicting advice, contact their complaints procedure. I don't see how ComReg or OCDA can help here. I don't think anyone will be interested (bar maybe you set something in motion in the Revenue to check that VAT is being passed on correctly), becuase, like I say, the VAT rates are flexible enough to allow both being charged. I'd suspect in the case of a digibox installation, the Revenue would recommend/insist on 21%.

.cg
.cg