topic Re: Why does my monthly bill triple if I want a VAT invoice? in Contracts & Billing

Why does my monthly bill triple if I want a VAT invoice?

Kryten602 — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 15:10:40 GMT

I've just switched over from PlusNet and although my bill is only £6 pm EE can't provide a VAT invoice without me switching to a Small Business plan at almost 3 times the price. How hard can it be to provide a VAT invoice in you're charging customers VAT? There must be a legal point here somewhere.

Re: Why does my monthly bill triple if I want a VAT invoice?

bristolian — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 15:30:20 GMT

I would assume you're on a promotional ex-PlusNet plan, and EE do only provide separated-VAT-invoices on business accounts.

Individual persons cannot be VAT-registered.

Re: Why does my monthly bill triple if I want a VAT invoice?

Kryten602 — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 16:09:23 GMT

Thank you Bristolian. I understand what you say, but none the less I am a sole trader since around 1980 and have been VAT registered since 1994. Although in this case £12 a year is negligible and unimportant if I want to claim VAT I would have to upgrade to business use which is more expensive and with no meaningful upgrade advantage.With the bare bones plan I have UL texts and calls + 5GB is perfect as I work from home. However, there's always a way.....

Thanks for the reply.

(By the way unless things have changed with HMRC your second paragraph is untrue.)

Re: Why does my monthly bill triple if I want a VAT invoice?

Kryten602 — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 12:47:46 GMT

I've dug a bit deeper on this VAT issue and it looks as though they're required by law to issue VAT invoice to a taxable person, which I am. Why do EE avoid this when it's not difficult to supply one?

Re: Why does my monthly bill triple if I want a VAT invoice?

Primera — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 23:54:56 GMT

I agree, am same situation as @Kryten602 . Please can EE issue VAT invoices.

Re: Why does my monthly bill triple if I want a VAT invoice?

Leanne_T — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 07:56:20 GMT

Morning @Primera

Our bills for personal users show all charges inclusive of VAT. If you need a VAT breakdown for business purposes, please get in touch with our mobile guides to arrange switching to a business account.

The team will go through the plans and let you know what options are available.

Leanne.

Re: Why does my monthly bill triple if I want a VAT invoice?

Kryten602 — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 10:24:52 GMT

Yes Leanne, at almost 3 times the price. You're still avoiding the real issue.

Re: Why does my monthly bill triple if I want a VAT invoice?

zipsco — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 14:26:40 GMT

I too want an invoice showing the VAT breakdown. If VAT is being charged, the customer is entitled to a proper VAT invoice, regardless or whether they are a business or not. If I buy a pack of envelopes at Ryman, for instance, the till receipt shows the company's VAT number and the breakdown. So why the reluctance by EE? I'm sure if this were to be tested, it would be found that EE is acting unlawfully by charging VAT but refusing to reveal their number and the breakdown on the bill.

Re: Why does my monthly bill triple if I want a VAT invoice?

Kryten602 — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 15:02:20 GMT

Yes, I'm wondering the same thing - if it may be unlawful to charge VAT and not show it.

This is on the HMRC website:

Invoices - what they must include

Your invoice must include:

a unique identification number
your company name, address and contact information
the company name and address of the customer you’re invoicing
a clear description of what you’re charging for
the date the goods or service were provided (supply date)
the date of the invoice
the amount(s) being charged
VAT amount if applicable
the total amount owed

And:

VAT invoices

You must use VAT invoices if you and your customer are VAT registered.

EE - any comment please?

Re: Why does my monthly bill triple if I want a VAT invoice?

Chris_B — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 19:02:48 GMT

@Kryten602 You then need to be on a business tariff, your using a personal tariff and personal tariffs don’t have to list VAT separately just because you are VAT registered. In fact you shouldn’t be claiming back any VAT on a personal tariff as you should be paying VAT on personal tariff and it’s why there are business tariffs available. So to be clear you’ve got the option to be on the correct tariff but you don’t want to be.

The 3rd item on your list is a company name this will happen when you’re on a business tariff as the company is claiming back the VAT.

Re: Why does my monthly bill triple if I want a VAT invoice?

zipsco — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 06:30:30 GMT

Actually, /you/ don't understand. There are thousands of VAT registered
sole traders who perfectly legitmately allocate portions of some
expenses to business use and it's not your business to tell people what
they should and shouldn't do - especially when you are so ill-informed.
It's presumptuous and, frankly, downright rude. EE's failure to even
state their VAT Registration number is, at best, strange - and, at
worst, shifty. Effectively, customers are asked to take their word for
it that the company is registered at all!

Re: Why does my monthly bill triple if I want a VAT invoice?

Chris_B — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 07:17:44 GMT

@zipsco Do you actually think that EE wouldn’t of done their due diligence on this ? It doesn’t matter what you think provided EE are working within the law.

Re: Why does my monthly bill triple if I want a VAT invoice?

zipsco — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 07:26:08 GMT

"/Wouldn't of/"? Good grief.

Re: Why does my monthly bill triple if I want a VAT invoice?

Kryten602 — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 07:56:31 GMT

😂

Re: Why does my monthly bill triple if I want a VAT invoice?

Kryten602 — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 08:13:15 GMT

To be honest Chris_B, zipsco is right but I didn't feel the need to respond.

I have been running my business as a sole trader since around 1980 and have never had a problem getting a VAT receipt from anyone, which by the way includes supermarket fuel stations if you understand the connection there. Strangely enough, it's just shoddy mobile phone companies like EE as far as I am aware that don't feel they need to display the VAT they are charging. I don't see why it's so difficult for them, I really don't. If I raise an invoice to any of my clients, I have to display the VAT regardless of the clients' situation regarding VAT registration. Understand?

Why EE thinks they don't need to is beyond me. But you can answer another question for me, like my first post says in the title, why is the minimum price for a business 'account' three times the cost a personal account for the same features?