Could someone explain this to me please?!

[funkydan]

I returned a pair of jeans to M&S today. They were originally bought for £12.00 on 27 December 2008. I was told I could have a refund as a credit voucher as I did not have my wife's bank card with me (she had bought them), and I was perfectly happy with this.

The lady at customer service scanned the item's barcode and said they were £12, but then proceeded to give me a refund for £11.75! When I questioned what had become of the 25p, she said and I quote: "it's VAT". It only occured to me to question this once I returned to work as I hadn't realised what had happened straight away.

Now these jeans were purchased AFTER the VAT reduction, but it appears that I have been charged 25p for that - this cannot be right? I know it's only a small amount, but M&S stand to make a lot of money if this continues and I don't see why this is happening at all?!

Can anyone explain simply to me why this should have happened?

Cheers

[AllYourBase]

You buy jeans for £12? lolz

[funkydan]

Nah wifey did, in the sale. Thanks for all your help though!

[kernow]

I'm wearing M+S jeans right now, very comfortable I might add.

..

good luck with your quest noble soldier.

[Darwock]

Doesn't sound right to me, you can't be charged VAT on something you effectively haven't bought

[AllYourBase]

Nah wifey did, in the sale. Thanks for all your help though!

Heh heh sorry for a moment I thought I was on rllmuk!

I would just tell them to GTF, it doesn't make any sense at all does it? It's probably something to do with when their tills were updated.

Still who is going to kick up a fuss over just 25p. M&S win!

Give Watchdog a ring, they would love this story.

[nintastic]

I'm wearing M+S jeans right now, very comfortable I might add.

What ? The £12 women's ones ?!

[NemesiS]

They have to refund you the full amount you paid and M&S are usually one of the best for refunding. But because it was paid on a card and the refund wasn't going to the card as your wife wasn't with you, the VAT may have been deducted as part of the charge made in the first place. Sounds odd though.
Have a google and see what you turn up

[Nijo]

The original price was £12. When the VAT got changed from 17.5 to 15% they initially didn't bother changing the prices on items - that's when your wife bought them. Later they must have adjusted the prices: £11.75 is the correct price after the VAT reduction.

They're just being lazy and using the current till price. If you have the original receipt you should be able to get back what you paid for it - only if you have no receipt would they insist on the current price (since you could have bought it that morning).

That's my take.

[BeyondJumpFish]

This doesn't make sense to me. When you bought the jeans (it doesn't matter who or how) you will have payed VAT on them anyway, even at the lower rate. When you ask for a refund, you get refunded the full amount (VAT and all). Basicly they have carged you VAT twice by the sound of it??