The big Brexit thread - news, updates and discussion

[Bahnhof Strasse]

I paid tax on a second hand cd on eBay from Germany about a week ago. I don't know the ins and outs of why. Perhaps nothing has changed except the tax is now stated, whereas before it was just the sellers business. But something somewhere is different.

Duty has to be paid on goods that attract it and VAT on all goods that attract that too, however sellers selling to outside of the EU can sell at a zero-rate of VAT on all goods that are leaving the EU. This has been standard practice for decades so really unsure why there has been a flurry of stories of people apparently paying VAT twice.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

What a fucking place we are in now.

Voluntary returns scheme? Enoch would have approved.

 

[Raheem]

Duty has to be paid on goods that attract it and VAT on all goods that attract that too, however sellers selling to outside of the EU can sell at a zero-rate of VAT on all goods that are leaving the EU. This has been standard practice for decades so really unsure why there has been a flurry of stories of people apparently paying VAT twice.

Only speculating, but in my case it might be because a second-hand cd on ebay doesn't attract German sales tax, but does attract import VAT.

I would guess it might also be the case that a lot of EU online stores haven't made any adjustments to the way they do things, so they are just paying their domestic tax as they always have.

 

[SpookyFrank]

I think we should withhold all vaccines from the EU until that bloke gets his ham sandwich back, together with a written apology.

 

[Raheem]

I think we should withhold all vaccines from the EU until that bloke gets his ham sandwich back, together with a written apology.

They've probably put it in a drawer for him to collect next time he's coming in the other direction.

 

[prunus]

You can bet your bollocks it wasn't made in Canada though. Unless you've spent >£1000 on the thing it is odds on for manufacture in Bangladesh or similar, with materials shipped in from around the world, then the finished product shipped to Canada, then to Germany or wherever, then the UK. Really don't need to worry about touring bands and fucked incomes, the planet's about to die anyway.

You’re almost certainly right - except that it might never have been to Canada even. They might keep stock in a German warehouse, or even ship directly from the manufacturing country. Ain’t globalisation great?

 

[toblerone3]

You can bet your bollocks it wasn't made in Canada though. Unless you've spent >£1000 on the thing it is odds on for manufacture in Bangladesh or similar, with materials shipped in from around the world, then the finished product shipped to Canada, then to Germany or wherever, then the UK. Really don't need to worry about touring bands and fucked incomes, the planet's about to die anyway.

Well apart from the world's about to die and problems of touring musicians you wouldn't expect to pay customs duties incurred in the supply and distribution network. The supply costs should be covered in the price of the good as advertised on the website and distribution costs can be covered by a delivery charge or bundled into the cost of the good itself if it is free delivery as it was in this case.

From the website "[Firm] currently offers FREE SHIPPING on all orders. The estimated processing and delivery time using express shipping is approximately 3 - 5 business days. Please be aware, our shipping partners are experiencing COVID-19 related delays which may result in extended delivery times..... Online purchases can be shipped to destinations within Canada, USA, Germany, UK, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, France, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Spain, Japan, Italy, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Australia and the Netherlands. "

 

[editor]

And the Brexit wins keep on coming

Mastercard will increase fees more than fivefold when a British shopper uses a debit or credit card to buy from an EU-based company, sparking alarm among companies that rely on online payments and concern among MPs over higher consumer prices. Mastercard and Visa levy an “interchange” fee on behalf of banks for every debit or credit card payment that uses their networks. The EU introduced a cap in 2015 after concerns the hidden fees were leading to hundreds of millions of euros in costs for companies and higher prices for consumers. But Mastercard has told merchants that the cap no longer applies to some transactions post-Brexit, because payments between the UK and European Economic Area are now deemed “inter-regional”. From October 15, Mastercard will charge 1.5 per cent of the transaction value for every online credit card payment from the UK to the EU, up from 0.3 per cent at the moment. For debit card payments, the fee will jump from 0.2 per cent to 1.15 per cent. The increase will benefit British banks and other card issuers, rather than Mastercard itself.

Mastercard to increase fees for UK purchases from EU

Departure from single market spells end for Brussels-mandated cap on transaction levies

www.ft.com

 

[littlebabyjesus]

And the rich get richer...

 

[The39thStep]

This is interesting.

EU citizens offered financial incentives to leave UK

European nationals added to voluntary returns scheme, which can include flights and up to £2,000 for resettlement

www.theguardian.com

Wonder how many will take up the offer? Not many I'd expect if they have a job in the UK that pays a lot more than they could expect to earn in a similar role in their home country. Also, gutted for anyone who left in 2016-2020 and missed out on a free two grand!

I wonder if I should get Portuguese citizenship , you can have dual nationality here, and apply for this to cover the cost of the hotel quarantine flight and covid tests?

 

[steeplejack]

ask for calvados next time you're in a well-stocked bar. it's very pleasant.

 

[Pickman's model]

I'm assuming that's some allo allo reference I'm not getting

 

[Pingety Pong]

I wonder if I should get Portuguese citizenship , you can have dual nationality here, and apply for this to cover the cost of the hotel quarantine flight and covid tests?

I very much doubt that they will give this to people who also hold British citizenship (assuming you do do?) It seems to only apply to EU citizens in the UK who haven't applied for or couldn't get Settled Status if I understand it correctly.

 

[steeplejack]

I'm assuming that's some allo allo reference I'm not getting

It actually pre-dates 'Allo 'Allo. It's from Secret Army, the quite serious occupation drama that 80s Tory and Queenie favourite Allo Allo ripped off. 'Allo 'Allo was basically UKIP as a sitcom instead of a political party.

The character is the chief sinister Nazi in Secret Army, Kessler, whose tipple of choice was Calvados.

 

[The39thStep]

I think what is happening is there's a shortage of vaccine and its unclear who will get what when.
That means the UK may not get what it expected at the time it expected.
The use of the word "threaten" seems a bit UKIPy to me. Lots of people have orders in, its a question of fair distribution with the limited supply.
The UK has had more than most other countries so far.
This is an awkward situation, but I don't see any reason why it should be Britain First
?
Or have I misunderstood something here?

 

[captainmission]

What a fucking place we are in now.

Voluntary returns scheme? Enoch would have approved.

Interesting side note - the UK's current Voluntary return scheme (a combination of the Assisted Voluntary Return of Irregular Migrants (AVRIM) & Assisted Voluntary Return for Families and Children (AVRFC) schemes) is a scheme that developed out of the Voluntary assisted return and reintegration programme for irregular non-EEA nationals( VARRP). This scheme was set up and co-funded by the Home Office and the EU commission.

Anyhow, let get back to talking about Enoch...

 

[mojo pixy]

I'm assuming that's some allo allo reference I'm not getting

It actually pre-dates 'Allo 'Allo. It's from Secret Army, the quite serious occupation drama that 80s Tory and Queenie favourite Allo Allo ripped off. 'Allo 'Allo was basically UKIP as a sitcom instead of a political party.

The character is the chief sinister Nazi in Secret Army, Kessler, whose tipple of choice was Calvados.

Series 1, Episode 1 is here. Episode 2 here. Can't promise any more than that so apologies in advance for any random reader who gets hooked.
It is excellent. It's just .. 1970s. Old-fashioned and stagey.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Interesting side note - the UK's current Voluntary return scheme (a combination of the Assisted Voluntary Return of Irregular Migrants (AVRIM) & Assisted Voluntary Return for Families and Children (AVRFC) schemes) is a scheme that developed out of the Voluntary assisted return and reintegration programme for irregular non-EEA nationals( VARRP). This scheme was set up and co-funded by the Home Office and the EU commission.

Anyhow, let get back to talking about Enoch...

I didn't know that. The 'fortress Europe' aspect of the EU is something I don't like at all, and it is rather Enoch-like but on a European scale. 'Voluntary repatriation' was very much one of his things.

 

[TopCat]

Enoch would support gunboats in the Med, keeping out refugees and migrants. He is dead but still there, on your side.

 

[teqniq]

Enoch would support gunboats in the Med, keeping out refugees and migrants. He is dead but still there, on your side.

Whilst EU policy towards refugees is disgusting, people in glass houses etc... The UK is making it as difficult as possible for refugees to gain entry to the UK and in it's latest all-time low:

Britain closes the door on unaccompanied child refugees

Campaigners warn decision to end safe route for lone minors will place children at risk of trafficking

www.independent.co.uk

 

[rutabowa]

UK is shit, EU is also shit SURPRISE. I guess the UK in the EU would be shit squared? Or would it be the square root of shit, that is the question.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Whilst EU policy towards refugees is disgusting, people in glass houses etc... The UK is making it as difficult as possible for refugees to gain entry to the UK and in it's latest all-time low:

Britain closes the door on unaccompanied child refugees

Campaigners warn decision to end safe route for lone minors will place children at risk of trafficking

www.independent.co.uk

And the UK's recent record of accepting refugees is already shamefully poor. It was already near the bottom of the league inside the EU and is only likely to get even worse outside it.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

Enoch would support gunboats in the Med, keeping out refugees and migrants. He is dead but still there, on your side.

Just a suggestion, but could we stop trying to guess on whose side of the Brexit debate dead nasty people would have been, or what line they might have taken on various contemporary issues? I mean, personally I am convinced that Genghis Kahn would have been a Brexiteer and a climate change denier, but you can never be completely sure, can you?

 

[The39thStep]

More problems for the wine industry

 

[ska invita]

And the UK's recent record of accepting refugees is already shamefully poor. It was already near the bottom of the league inside the EU and is only likely to get even worse outside it.

And inversely the EU is the sum of its parts....in a way the EU is lucky to have the Tories out of it

 

[littlebabyjesus]

And inversely the EU is the sum of its parts....in a way the EU is lucky to have the Tories out of it

Yep. This is one of the biggest nonsenses of many Leave arguments – the idea that the UK has somehow had the nasty EU imposed on it. In many ways, the EU has been fashioned and shaped in the image of Thatcher's Britain, under heavy influence from UK governments.

 

[Roadkill]

Yep. This is one of the biggest nonsenses of many Leave arguments – the idea that the UK has somehow had the nasty EU imposed on it. In many ways, the EU has been fashioned and shaped in the image of Thatcher's Britain, under heavy influence from UK governments.

Not least in the form of the single market, with which the splendidly named Lord Cockfield had more than a little to do.

 

[two sheds]

Not least in the form of the single market, with which the splendidly named Lord Cockfield had more than a little to do.

"This is the sort of nonsense up with which I will not put"







sorry, was actually an informative and nicely written post, I just came over all Churchillian

 

[zora]

Random small practical question: I ordered a specialist electrical item worth around £100 from Germany in December. The sender didn't get it out in time before the 31 Dec, and refunded me the original payment and issued me with a new bill excluding the German VAT and said I would have to pay VAT here in the UK instead on delivery.
The person I ordered from is very much a one-man enterprise, so he did this mainly for ease of his own accounts I think, and I don't know if he understands the regulations correctly. Anyway, the item got delivered by Royal Mail yesterday with a customs declaration sticker from the sender on the parcel, but I didn't have to pay anything.
Anyone knows anything what should be happening with this sort of thing?

 

[Sunray]

The UK ordered from a non-US vaccine supplier and research team to ensure we had our own supply chain. They were understandably afraid of crazy presidents telling a US company they are taking all the vaccines.
India has already done this with the Serum Institue which can produce an insane 50m vaccines a week.
Now the EU want to prevent Pfizer vaccines from going to the UK as we are now a third country. Brexit reality.

It's kinda weird to watch impressive action on COVID vs inaction over vaccines when comparing UK v EU. Shame such competence in the UK was limited to vaccines.