FMW Tuning - BEWARE VAT issues

[robmarrs]

Bought an new expansion tank from FMW in Germany as it appeared to be a quick option and the same cost, even with the €60.00 euro Fedex Shipping. It duly arrived in 3 days, so great service, the Stealers in the UK where quoting much the same price but a 3-4 week lead..... being impatiant I wouldn't wait.

So it arrives and I get a Customs Invoice from Fedex charging VAT on the part and shipping and a handling fee totalling some £66.00. What I hadn't realised at the time is that I paid german VAT @ 19% plus another 1% tax .... not sure what the 1% was for, to FMW Tuning. As we have left the EU I shouldn't have paid any VAT at source.

I contacted Frank Wolf, the owner, at FMW by email, and he said I had not paid VAT, but I said I had, and then sent him a screen shot clearly showing nearly €34.00 in taxes was paid and included in the price,....... no reply at all since..... he is ignoring me basically.

This morning I check his website and do a dummy order for shipping to Norway and one to the USA, low and behold the part is €34.00 euro cheaper as the german VAT has been removed! Shipping to the UK still shows it includes german VAT.

Not happy...... so be warned. Might have to report to my credit card company/Paypal who processed it and see what happens.

[---pete---]

Hi - Just thought I'd post a reply as I'm a finance guy and you may not realise the below:-

One of the changes since 1st Jan due to brexit is the VAT rules. When anyone imports anything now into the UK, the place of supply it determined to be the UK and therefore UK VAT is applicable. This will have to be paid at customs before the goods are delivered unless you are a company and have applied to have a Postponement VAT account. There will also likely be some other smaller admin changes and possibly a customs declaration charge depending on the the goods and the value. If you are a company obviously you can claim the VAT element back on a VAT return.

I think this is probably what you have experienced here and I'm not sure its any fault of the supplier.

Would be interested to hear if it's not that and something else though.

Pete

[robmarrs]

Hi Pete

I expected to pay VAT on import plus some admin fees, that's not the issue.

The issue is the German Retailer is charging German VAT at their end and shouldn't be, and failing to acknowledge this fact.

[BarryM]

Not exactly the same situation but I ordered some speakers through Amazon recently not realising they were shipping from the EU. I'm planning to reject delivery now I know as the extra VAT charge makes them more expensive than UK resellers....lesson learned that I need to take more care of where the reseller is based!

[Charles]

As a comparison, I wonder what the situation is when buying from AWD?

If I understand their corporate structure correctly, they buy in Germany through their German business, import "internally" and then sell in the UK through their UK business.

Does anyone have any recent experience post-Brexit?

[brett]

Charles

I have ordered a wheel centre for my alloys last month came to £40 with delivery just checked the previous order from September it was £35 with delivery so £5.00 extra somewhere

[Rav]

Had similar issues with AWD with my suspension and hence the long delay with my parts. They are now charging extras to get into the UK, but got stuck as they had not factored this in when i made my order. I didnt have to pay, but they would have.

Who voted Brexit?

[Bob]

Who voted Brexit?

Steady on Rav. Let’s not go there

[brett]

Well I can’t believe my eyes , just went to order a center cap emblem from awd , £24.99 , £24.00 shipping? Will get a price from the dealer this week I think

[ScooBeeFive]

Well I can’t believe my eyes , just went to order a center cap emblem from awd , £24.99 , £24.00 shipping? Will get a price from the dealer this week I think

Just checked back what I paid in December. I ordered 3 centre cap emblems and carriers, lock striker, wallet and a couple of keyrings - postage was £16.

Cheers Brexit.

[brett]

Yes mate when I orderd in January the shipping was £12 with an unexplained £4.00 tax

[Gee.Singh]

Alloy Wheels Direct have just had a price increase
I suspected Brexit related

[brett]

Well I managed to order a wheel emblem from Sytner Tamworth £24.00 plus vat £28.00 so looks like a winner