Cheap Printer - idiotic rule change

[dctrpl]

We've been using a printer in Germany because they slaughter the price of anything we've found in the UK but they've changed their rules and we can't place an order because they need a "mandatory" VAT number on their dumb order form and we're not VAT-registered.

We're trying to sort it out with them - but in the meantime does anyone know a super duper good-but-cheap printer in the UK in case these mad Germans can't sort it out?

Is there someone we've missed who isn't twice the price of the Germans?

Yo!
dctrpl

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Could you not register for VAT?

 

[dctrpl]

Thanks vanman - we could of course, but... just to use the same printer?

I mean - we should be hitting VAT next year but could do without the hassle of voluntary registration just now. We did that for a previous business which ended up never getting close to the threshold and the whole experience was a pain in the arse.

We just want cheap printing!

 

[sla3]

Your German printing costs will be 20% more than they would be if you were VAT registered. You might - with all the other VAT you're having to swallow when selling to corporate clients (assuming you are) - benefit financially from early registration

 

[dctrpl]

I know whatyou're saying but we sell to people rather than companies and we'd need to hike our prices right to cover VAT registration. We don't really spend that much on VAT.

And, tiny point of order, German VAT is 19%. Christ... life of Von Reilly over there, innit?

 

[neildigital]

Can i put my hand up....

 

^^ I haven't used Neil above, but he has a very good reputation on here (and this place can be harsh on those who don't provide some seriously good service).

...on that note, Neil do you provide a white-label solution, or a reseller option? I have a potential site I might want to add it onto at some stage soon....just basic stuff like business cards, leaflets, flyers, etc.....

 

[neildigital]

...on that note, Neil do you provide a white-label solution, or a reseller option? I have a potential site I might want to add it onto at some stage soon....just basic stuff like business cards, leaflets, flyers, etc.....

Thanks Comspec, all my deliveries are via Next working day courier, completely white labelled, so there are no details of Scubaprint anywhere.
Also I do trade rates for people, to enable competitive prices for everyone.

Neil

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Yep I've only heard good things about Neil.

Apparently he sends the artwork to Germany and they do the job for him.

 

Thanks Comspec, all my deliveries are via Next working day courier, completely white labelled, so there are no details of Scubaprint anywhere.
Also I do trade rates for people, to enable competitive prices for everyone.

Neil

Thanks for the info Neil, I'm way too busy just at the minute to be thinking about adding this on, but I'll be in touch in the next week or two. It would be an excellent bolt-on to an existing business.

 

[dctrpl]

Thanks for putting your hand up Neil and thanks to others for recommendations of Neil's service.

 

[office man]

there is actually no VAT on many printed items, what is it you have from them?

 

[dctrpl]

Aye. A mixture of flyers/posters/leaflets: sizes A6, A4, DIN-long. Maybe we'll get some brochures at some point.

The Germans finally explained themselves this evening. Apparently the hmrc told them they couldn't sell to people here in the UK with German VAT of 19% and that they would have to charge UK Vat at 20%. And that they need to charge different VAT for different products.

The Germans have told us they need to spend money and time to upgrade their software to make it possible to comply with hmrc demands and in the meantime their workaround is to get a VAT number and NOT charge the VAT - therefore charging net.

This sounds a bit mad to me but the upshot is they are now suddenly definitely NOT accepting orders from anyone who isn't VAT registered. It's really annoying.

 

[neildigital]

Aye. A mixture of flyers/posters/leaflets: sizes A6, A4, DIN-long. Maybe we'll get some brochures at some point.

The Germans finally explained themselves this evening. Apparently the hmrc told them they couldn't sell to people here in the UK with German VAT of 19% and that they would have to charge UK Vat at 20%. And that they need to charge different VAT for different products.

The Germans have told us they need to spend money and time to upgrade their software to make it possible to comply with hmrc demands and in the meantime their workaround is to get a VAT number and NOT charge the VAT - therefore charging net.

This sounds a bit mad to me but the upshot is they are now suddenly definitely NOT accepting orders from anyone who isn't VAT registered. It's really annoying.

Did you get my email?

 

[Talay]

Aye. A mixture of flyers/posters/leaflets: sizes A6, A4, DIN-long. Maybe we'll get some brochures at some point.

The Germans finally explained themselves this evening. Apparently the hmrc told them they couldn't sell to people here in the UK with German VAT of 19% and that they would have to charge UK Vat at 20%. And that they need to charge different VAT for different products.

The Germans have told us they need to spend money and time to upgrade their software to make it possible to comply with hmrc demands and in the meantime their workaround is to get a VAT number and NOT charge the VAT - therefore charging net.

This sounds a bit mad to me but the upshot is they are now suddenly definitely NOT accepting orders from anyone who isn't VAT registered. It's really annoying.

Just make a number up then ?

987 654 3210

There you are.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

VIES VAT number validation

No, invalid VAT number (please refer to FAQ, questions 7, 11, 12, 13 and 20 for more information).
Member StateGBVAT NumberGB 987654321Date when request received2012/04/04 09:22:56Name---Address---Consultation Number

 

[lockyer]

another thumbs up from neil from us.

 

[dctrpl]

I like your thinking Talay but I think vanman is right - we tried putting in the VAT number for our old company but it didn't work, so we presume they're using some kind of validation, as vanman has indicated in his link.

But - what if we "borrowed" a friendly company's VAT number? Would our orders have any impact on teh friendly company's books? By the way - I don't really get VAT at the best of times - so if the answer is blindingly obvious, then be nice

 

[Minuteman Press]

Feel free to direct message us / email if you decide to use a UK manufacturer. We've in-house digital / offset / inkjet presses, bindery, graphic design team, etc - happy to provide bespoke quotations.

The joy of VAT!

 

[Talay]

I like your thinking Talay but I think vanman is right - we tried putting in the VAT number for our old company but it didn't work, so we presume they're using some kind of validation, as vanman has indicated in his link.

But - what if we "borrowed" a friendly company's VAT number? Would our orders have any impact on teh friendly company's books? By the way - I don't really get VAT at the best of times - so if the answer is blindingly obvious, then be nice

I've done this, borrowing a VAT number.

By my mind, any fraud would only occur at the point at which you wished to reclaim VAT, which you won't do.

I spoke to the VAT a while ago regarding checking a VAT number was valid for a company and there was no mention of an automatic system, certainly not for individual companies.

I suspect there is a syntax error in the number of digits and I wonder whether this is caused by the system wanting a German VAT number, in their alphanumeric style, with the correct number of German digits, rather than a UK number ?

Just a thought.

 

[P4D | Parcels4Delivery]

Neil pops up frequently on this forum and always with a professional manner, so I'd also give a thumbs up to a quote from him

 

[StevensOnln1]

I spoke to the VAT a while ago regarding checking a VAT number was valid for a company and there was no mention of an automatic system, certainly not for individual companies.

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/vieshome.do - online validation of of VAT numbers issued by any EU member state. Gives name/address of the business the VAT number belongs to.