Seller item location stated as London, but have been charged VAT, suspect shipping from abroad

[amf78]

Hi

I hope some experienced ebayers can help me out with appropriate next steps. 

I purchased an item recently. The seller item details stated the item location under postage as London.  When I saw the invoice I noticed that VAT had been charged.  I queried this with the seller, the next day, asked where the item was being shipped from, and also stated that if the item was being posted from abroad that the purchase be cancelled.  The seller responded that the item had been dispatched so they can't cancel the purchase BUT won't answer the question 'where is the item being sent from'.  The seller says that I should refuse the item on delivery BUT I may not be in when the item is delivered. 

Where do I go from here in terms of process of cancelling this purchase and getting a refund.  I just want to go about this the right way because I haven't encountered this before.

Thank you!

[tommystrezures]

On the relevant seller if the item go to their feedback shop area. There will be a tab with about me. Click on this it will tell you where the seller is located. If outside uk then this why you would have been charged vat. It could be for example an Asian seller using a warehouse in the uk to ship from.

if however the item is being sent from overseas then you need to report them for misrepresentation of location.

you will have an estimated delivery date given to you. If the item has not arrived one day after this then you need to open a item not received case.

edit:: do not refuse delivery of item when it returns as this invalidates the eBay mbg. Your seller has given you bad advice there.

[red_magpie]

Check the listing. If either the seller or the item is located outside the UK this will be VAT. As it was added to your payment eBay will have included the VAT on behalf of HMRC. Payment of UK import duties is your responsibility and nothing to do with the seller.

You can't cancel the sale. If the item has been dispatched you would have to wait until it arrives, then send the seller a return request. Even if they accept the return, you would be responsible for the return postage and the seller would only refund the cost of the item. I'm not sure whether eBay would refund the VAT, as they collected it, or whether you would have to apply to HMRC.

If both the item and the seller are located in the UK but the item was dispatched from another country this is reportable to eBay. If this is the case ask again, as it would be more complicted.

[papso22]

If you look at the seller's feedback page where does it say they are registered?  If they are registered overseas but the items are located in the UK, then ebay have to charge you VAT as they are the deemed seller and they are VAT registered.

[plpmr]

"The seller says that I should refuse the item on delivery" 

Never do that as you would stand to lose the money and item - as already advised you, at least, lose eBay buyer protection.

[amf78]

Hi

Thank you so much for taking time to reply - this is very helpful advice. 

I have now checked the About tab and it does state that the seller is in China - I must admit it's not something I've looked at before, as I've only gone on the item location under postage.  I'll be checking in future; not least because of the VAT addition. 

So may I ask - how does one know in advance of buying an item that VAT will be added?  Is it just by checking first where the seller is located on the about tab?  

I'll wait now, until the parcel is delivered and then make up my mind. 

Thank you once again for taking time to reply and help.

[amf78]

Thank you so much for your advice.  I'm learning a lot today!

[amf78]

Thank you.  I haven't encountered VAT addition before on ebay.  So I need to check both item location and seller location before I bid.  That's very helpful to know.

[amf78]

Thank you.  I've only gone on item location before.  I appreciate ebay has to collect VAT for the HMRC, but I haven't checked seller location before now.  So I know to do that from now on. 

Thank you again.