Difficulty in getting SONY VAT back

[admin_exported]

Hi

Anbody had this problem and what did you do?

This is what has happened to me so far.

Purchased a Sony TV from PRICELESS Electronics. When I received the invoice it is from PRICELESS and the receipt is from HIFI CONFIDENTIAL for the product that I purchased.

I duly completed the VAT back form and included the invoice from Priceless as this had the full description of the product plus I stapled the receipt from HIFI CONFIDENTIAL (Priceless explained to me that they are an arm of HIFI Confidential and all receipts are accordingly from them.

After a approx a month I got in touch with the relevant SONY helpline. Was told by a lady there that my application for the VAT back would be rejected as PRICELESS and HIFI CONFIDENTIAL were not participating dealers. She said they were not on the approved list. I was not aware of this stipulation, as all I had seen in any blurb was that the correct model had to be purchased (which mine was). So I got in touch with PRICELESS who were adamant that they were part of the scheme and that they would get in touch with Sony themselves. I went back to the Sony helpline and spoke to the same lady and she was adament these companies were not on the approved list and accordingly I would not get the VAT back. I then went on the official Sony sight to check this myself. HIFI CONFIDENTIAL were listed so again I went back to the Sony helpline and spoke to another lady and she confirmed that HIFI CONFIDENTAL were indeed an approved supplier, also that the man from HIFI CONFIDENTIAL had spoken to her about it. So she said she would speak to her team leader about the matter. I then spoke to the guy at PRICELESS who said he had spoken to Sony and was told everything is OK. He said he had sent me an e-mail with an invoice from HIFI CONFIDENTIAL as an attachement to help facilitate the claim. Then the lady from the Sony helpline phone me back and I told her that I now had an invoice from HIFI CONFIDENTIAL. She said for me to send it in, but bearing in mind the date was approaching for the closure of the scheme I said could I send it in as an attachement. She agreed and gave me an e-mail address to send it. The next day had a phone call from her saying that they had the new invoice I had sent and had also located my original invoice but there was no receipt from HIFI CONFIDENTIAL on it. I said to her that it was stapled to the invoice and that I had a photocopy confirming this so obviously they had lost it. For some reason the new invoice was not acceptable to them. I agreed to scan the original invoice which showed the receipt from HIFI CONFIDENTIAL on it and sent it to her. I asked her to get in touch with me once she received it. She agreed. This was late afternoon on Thursday. Did not hear from her on Friday despite me phoning and leaving her a message with another lady. I find this terribly frustrating, not only had they made an error in advising me that my supplier was not on the approved list but they had lost my original receipt to boot, then not to have the courtesy to phone me back. They appear to be incompetent and in my opinion trying to avoid paying me the vat back that I am owed!

I will follow up on Monday, and post here if I have any joy.

Regards

Cono 18

 

[Jammoe]

I got a letter back from them saying the serial number had already been claimed against.

Of course, i may have made a mistake when writing it down. I'm not finger-pointing, just adding my experience.

Can't be bothered going any further for £20ish.

 

[jcshutts]

I am waiting for £500. Sent off the relevant forms on the 28 October and still waiting. Called the Sony Centre, they confirmed that my claim was being processed and would be duly forwarded on to me but I am still waiting.......

 

[jcshutts]

I know snow has meant that post'ies all over the country have a really tough job at present getting deliveries to doors, but I have been waiting since the end of October for the cheque and would like some peace of mind to know that at least someone has received their VAT back and the time scales involved. Anyone able to update the post??

thanks

 

[jcshutts]

DOH Seconds after making this post I checked my bank on line and the money is there! Electronic transfer into my bank (as I requested - and forgot!)

thanks Sony

 

[Anonymous]

cono18:

Hi

Anbody had this problem and what did you do?

This is what has happened to me so far.

Purchased a Sony TV from PRICELESS Electronics. When I received the invoice it is from PRICELESS and the receipt is from HIFI CONFIDENTIAL for the product that I purchased.

I duly completed the VAT back form and included the invoice from Priceless as this had the full description of the product plus I stapled the receipt from HIFI CONFIDENTIAL (Priceless explained to me that they are an arm of HIFI Confidential and all receipts are accordingly from them.

After a approx a month I got in touch with the relevant SONY helpline. Was told by a lady there that my application for the VAT back would be rejected as PRICELESS and HIFI CONFIDENTIAL were not participating dealers. She said they were not on the approved list. I was not aware of this stipulation, as all I had seen in any blurb was that the correct model had to be purchased (which mine was). So I got in touch with PRICELESS who were adamant that they were part of the scheme and that they would get in touch with Sony themselves. I went back to the Sony helpline and spoke to the same lady and she was adament these companies were not on the approved list and accordingly I would not get the VAT back. I then went on the official Sony sight to check this myself. HIFI CONFIDENTIAL were listed so again I went back to the Sony helpline and spoke to another lady and she confirmed that HIFI CONFIDENTAL were indeed an approved supplier, also that the man from HIFI CONFIDENTIAL had spoken to her about it. So she said she would speak to her team leader about the matter. I then spoke to the guy at PRICELESS who said he had spoken to Sony and was told everything is OK. He said he had sent me an e-mail with an invoice from HIFI CONFIDENTIAL as an attachement to help facilitate the claim. Then the lady from the Sony helpline phone me back and I told her that I now had an invoice from HIFI CONFIDENTIAL. She said for me to send it in, but bearing in mind the date was approaching for the closure of the scheme I said could I send it in as an attachement. She agreed and gave me an e-mail address to send it. The next day had a phone call from her saying that they had the new invoice I had sent and had also located my original invoice but there was no receipt from HIFI CONFIDENTIAL on it. I said to her that it was stapled to the invoice and that I had a photocopy confirming this so obviously they had lost it. For some reason the new invoice was not acceptable to them. I agreed to scan the original invoice which showed the receipt from HIFI CONFIDENTIAL on it and sent it to her. I asked her to get in touch with me once she received it. She agreed. This was late afternoon on Thursday. Did not hear from her on Friday despite me phoning and leaving her a message with another lady. I find this terribly frustrating, not only had they made an error in advising me that my supplier was not on the approved list but they had lost my original receipt to boot, then not to have the courtesy to phone me back. They appear to be incompetent and in my opinion trying to avoid paying me the vat back that I am owed!

I will follow up on Monday, and post here if I have any joy.

Regards

Cono 18

 

[michael hoy]

Just purchased a KDL-40NX713 today, filled the form in will post ASAP.

Let you know if any issues.

 

[jcshutts]

it sounds like a series of mistakes, but it appears as though now they have accepted the claim apart from the need for the copy of the receipt? I guess there's two options:

complain to the retailer (as your agreement of sale was with them and not with Sony). Insist that they are the ones who should pursue the claim with Sony as this was part of the terms of sale. Suggest that you will take advice from Consumer Direct helpline http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/ if they refuse.

option b - persist with the representative from Sony - asking for her supervisor to progress the claim due to your disatisfaction at the level of customer service to date.

I presume you have considered options like this. What are you considering doing next?

 

[Miker]

Ordered Sony BDP 570 Blu-ray player from Amazon on 24th November and delivered a few days later. Cheque from Sony received on 23rd December just after £200 cheque paid in from Samsung.