Wiggle warning

[danfoto]

I am sitting here looking at my receipt for goods just now delivered from Messrs Wiggle.

The invoice date is 02 Jan 2011.

So why have they charged 20% VAT?

I doubt very much that I'm the only customer they've done this to, so if you've bought from Wiggle in the last few days - check your receipt!!!!!

[gbnz]

Unless you've just bought a £3000 bike, the extra 2.5% VAT isn't going to be a huge sum

That said, I'd take the matter up with wiggle, as they shouldn't be deducting illegal sums of tax from a customer (Email, so it doesn't cost a penny to do so). Aside from anything else, it provides of harmless fun (Far better than the TV)

[Mick F]

Agree, contact Wiggle asap.

[[XAP]Bob]

It's almost certainly a misunderstanding of the law - we've been being told for months that it is "in the new year".

Until yesterday I had assumed that it was on the 1st...

[danfoto]

I did email Messrs Wiggle, and was favoured with an auto-reply to the effect that they hope to reply "within 8 working hours".

Erm ... "almost certainly a misunderstanding of the law"? I really don't think so. Nor, I am sure, would anybody else who has ever been VAT registered. You would be in no doubt whatsoever as to the effective date.

As for it being only a small percentage, indeed it is. However, I for one would welcome that small percentage of just one day's turnover at Wiggle being transferred to my bank account with their compliments.

At best it's a mistake which should have been spotted before Wiggle implemented the rate change in their software.

[pherron]

Possibly this is because 2nd January was a Sunday. The 3rd was a Bank Holiday, so the nearest working day is the 4th?

[lobsterboyuk]

I'm glad it is not just me then, received goods today invoiced 2nd January yet with 20% rate. The HMRC website seems pretty clear that 20% rate applies from 4th January onwards - as per numerous news stories also.

I've yet to hear back from wiggle also....

[smitton]

I would forget it. Instead, take comfort in the fact that Wiggle is a superb company who sells our equipment at absolute rock bottom prices, has a total no quibble returns policy, huge range, zero cost delivery and delivers next day in many many cases. It is also a strong supporter of British Cycling and if you are a member you have an even larger discount available. I would hate to see their name suffer for a minor mistake when they do so much for our sport. Let us please be open minded about this and look at the bigger picture. The only warning required over Wiggle is shop elsewhere at your peril!! Rant over.

[NUKe]

I did email Messrs Wiggle, and was favoured with an auto-reply to the effect that they hope to reply "within 8 working hours".

I suggest you at least give Wiggle chance to respond before damning them. They agreed to get back to within in 8 hours which I suspect is working hours.

[[XAP]Bob]

Erm ... "almost certainly a misunderstanding of the law"? I really don't think so. Nor, I am sure, would anybody else who has ever been VAT registered. You would be in no doubt whatsoever as to the effective date.

I am VAT registered...
Actually when everyone is shouting "new year, new year" I hear "new year", not "first working day in the new year".
Life was so much simpler when everyone was shut on Weekends and Bank Holidays...


Bob

PS - Although I should probably unregister, I'm not actually trading at the moment - they must be getting bored of zero returns.

[meic]

I would forget it. Instead, take comfort in the fact that Wiggle is a superb company who sells our equipment at absolute rock bottom prices, has a total no quibble returns policy, huge range, zero cost delivery and delivers next day in many many cases. It is also a strong supporter of British Cycling and if you are a member you have an even larger discount available. I would hate to see their name suffer for a minor mistake when they do so much for our sport. Let us please be open minded about this and look at the bigger picture. The only warning required over Wiggle is shop elsewhere at your peril!! Rant over.

You arent Wiggle's mum by any chance?

[MartinC]

I would forget it. Instead, take comfort in the fact that Wiggle is a superb company who sells our equipment at absolute rock bottom prices, has a total no quibble returns policy, huge range, zero cost delivery and delivers next day in many many cases. It is also a strong supporter of British Cycling and if you are a member you have an even larger discount available. I would hate to see their name suffer for a minor mistake when they do so much for our sport. Let us please be open minded about this and look at the bigger picture. The only warning required over Wiggle is shop elsewhere at your peril!! Rant over.

Forgive me but this is unecessary hyperbole. Your advice is sound - be open minded. Their name won't suffer if they sort the mistake out, it might if they don't.

Wiggle may be an excellent supplier, they certainly have a good reputation. I don't use them, mostly because they don't stock what I need nor sell at competitive prices. I use my LBS or other internet suppliers who support our interests in many ways. Many here - but certainly not all - are interested in our sport but that doesn't oblige anyone to pay an unexpected surcharge for a retailers mistake.

[andyh2]

If you're interested (can be bothered ) there's some info on applying the new VAT rate here;
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/forms-rates/ ... idance.pdf

You'll see there is some 'wiggle' room in how the change is applied depending on circumstances.

I'd have thought the main thing to consider is did you pay the advertised price or did you get charged an additional 2.5%?
If you paid the advertised price and Wiggle included 20% VAT then they're the ones losing the additional 2.5%. They might have chosen to do that in order to have their system ready for the changeover. Or it might be a mistake, but not one which is negatively affecting customers.
If they added 2.5% to the original price and the goods were delivered before the 4th Jan then that looks like a mistake that looks like being an error that does negatively affect customers.

[goatwarden]

Are you sure they did actually charge at 20%, despite what the receipt says? When VAT dropped back to 15% a couple of years ago, many businesses didn't alter their stationery, but did charge at the lower rate, as it was a temporary measure. Is it possible that Wiggle re-did their reports before the analyst went on holiday, ready for the new year, but only applied the increase on the official day.

In the grand scheme of things, I think you may be winging rather, as the actual overpayment (if there was one) is unlikely to be huge and the date is only a couple of days early. I have always found Wiggle quite happy to take unexpected costs on the chin (suppling replacements without asking for the faulty part back, etc.) so would be happy, if I were in your position, to let this pass.

[[XAP]Bob]

So I now need to charge at 20% and pay 14.5%
Seems nice enough...