HI.I always understood that VAT exemption was only applicable to items or devices very specifically adapted for the disabled due to their prohibitively high cost to most users. The treasury recognises this barrier to independence and does its bit by giving VAT relief to companies and individuals buying such items and Apple devices just because they have a built in accessibility feature should not be exempt from VAT. An IPad, IPhone or IPod is a pre boxed off the shelf device anyone can buy whether you are blind or sighted, all you need do if your blind is turn on Voice Over and its accessible, just as a Mac computer comes with Voice Over. If Apple decides that it wants to give disabled people a VAT exemption, then it had better be prepared to explain their reasoning to the treasury or pay the VAT due on the goods. I am as cash strapped as many of the people on this list are, however I consider this VAT exemption, patchy as it would appear to be a blessing rather than a given and will always budget for the full price I plan to pay for any Apple product.
All the best, Ibrahim.-----Original Message----- From: emma goodwin
Sent: Monday, December 24, 2012 2:41 PM To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: VAT exemption on VoiceOver products Hi Ari, in many ways I hear what you saying but its funny that many other people on this list don't have that bitter negative attitude Will has. I agree with most of the points you have made about our country and I do certainly not know everything about English law but I hear many people on this list saying that he must not be so angry and negative or describe it as sour grapes. I agree that our country is very behind but to go around demanding that you get special discounts or why you weren't treated like some other people isn't completely right. Maybe he has a point to his views but does that mean he has to come and frustrate other people because it doesn't seem everyone on this list feels the same even though they had to pay full price. I'm goingto step back and just listen from now on because I don't know completely how things work but to go around trying to make people feel guilty because one person got it and someone else didn't, that's not their fault and yes policy should be standardised but I guess as many people have said, its up to the various apple stores around the country and they decide the rules. On 12/24/12, Saqib <Saqib500@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Will. It's not Jacky's fault if she gets exempt from paying VAT. I personally don't have any issues with people who are being offered this exemption. I was hoping that Apple stores accross the board were offering this. If I have to pay full price for the product in question then I'll happily pay it without any fus. I've already asked the Bull Ring centrestore about this and they are not offering it. That is just unfortunate forus and this tirade doesn't help anyone on this list. Asking people to pay back the difference isn't the right thing to do. I'm glad Jacky put out the information in the first place. At least we are aware of this exemption. So on my part Jacky! There's no hard feelings and Marry Christmas to you all. -----Original Message----- From: william lomas Sent: Monday, December 24, 2012 12:50 PM To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: VAT exemption on VoiceOver products it should not be up to the store, it should be a company wide policy when i turned on voiceover my store should have givene me the v.a.t. off straight away why should some of you get it and not others, it disgustingnext time i want an apple products not leaving store until i get it, simpleas really you are all breaking the law and should pay it back blind or not,who do you think you are, to avaoid tax on products taht were not meant foryou to be excempt from? On 24 Dec 2012, at 11:34, "Jackie Cairns" <jackie.cairnsplace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:Which part of "it is at the discretion of the store" don't you get? How about you come to terms with being blind and get rid of that big chip on your shoulder? Goodness me!! Merry Christmas everyone, (lol). Kind Regards, Jackie Cairns -----Original Message----- From: access-uk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Will Sent: 24 December 2012 00:06 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [access-uk] Re: VAT exemption on VoiceOver products If we can not all get it then u cheating system if we all get fair enough Maybe if wear certain clothes i get? Where fairness? Sent from my iPhone On Dec 23, 2012, at 9:54 PM, "Steve Hyde-Dryden" <csdryden@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:What utter twoddle Wil. If you were one of those who were lucky to not pay VAT then I bet you wouldn't be mouthing off. Grow up and get alife!Steve -----Original Message----- From: access-uk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Will Sent: 23 December 2012 16:16 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: VAT exemption on VoiceOver products I hope all those people who have had the exemption are forced to pay back Sent from my iPhone On Dec 23, 2012, at 1:46 PM, Sean O'Connor <capricorn8159@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:On 23/12/2012 11:50, paul leake wrote:Nobody is getting away with anything! There should be consistency throughout the company as certainly when the Trafford Centre apple store checked, there was a definite policy! Clearly not all stores appreciate this! Cheers Paul Twitter: @paulleake1 paul.leake@xxxxxxxxxxxx ----- Original Message ----- From: "Saqib" <Saqib500@xxxxxxxxxxx To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date sent: Sun, 23 Dec 2012 09:33:30 -0000 Subject: [access-uk] Re: VAT exemption on VoiceOver products Hi. I contacted the Birmingham Store about this and they informed me that they don't offer such exemption to VI customers. What's so unfair about it is some people are getting away with it when Voiceover products haven't had any adaptions made to them so I don't understand why there is an exemption in the first place. I would be interested to find out if anyone else has visitted the Birmingham store recently. -----Original Message----- From: paul leake Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2012 11:51 PM To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: VAT exemption on VoiceOver products I confirm that after some discussions with the Manager of the apple store in the Trafford Centre, I purchased an Ipad and received the vat deduction. I explained that other stores had ^one this and they checked Apple's policy and then agffeed that it was ok to do it. I specifically went to the apple store as I feared that other general stores would have no idea! Good luck! Cheers Paul Twitter: @paulleake1 paul.leake@xxxxxxxxxxxx ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faqanother point to bear in mind with regard to tax (vat) exemption is that t6his exemption only applies if the product is specifically deigned for use by a person with a known access requirement( speech in the case of people with impaired vision), voiceover although enabling Vi users to access Apple products, is an integral part of the product and not specifically designed as an optional accessibility tool, if voiceover was a separate product requiring a separate purchasing transaction the case for an exemption to VAT would be stronger, maybe a chat with the VAT office might be more rewarding as they would be in a better position to advise on specific grounds for VAT exemption , however, if you go through this route don't expect a simple clear cut answer as the vat rules are horrendously complex sorry if this is not the answer the original enquirer was seeking but its the best shot I can give on the subject regards to all, Sean ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
-- SleepTalk in action ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq