Forum

• # 120509
• Mon 13 Dec 2021 04:02 PM

Apologies if this is a repeat, I think my first attempt at this timed out.

I have a client who is a charity. They have a franking machine they use for mailshots.

When they want to do a mailing, they enter an amount of money in the machine which is immediately taken from their bank account by direct debit.

The supplier of the machine has repeatedly refused to provide invoices for the cost of the postage. Their lastest reply to my request for invoices is as follows:

"We do not issue invoices for your postage account as there is no VAT charge on postage and also a payment is required upfront before you can add monies to your franking machine

"As we cannot anticipate the amount that is required to meet  your postage requirements we do not request monies from yourselves."

Are they right? It seems odd to me as every other supplier I have ever known has provided invoices, whether or not it includes VAT and whether it is paid in advance or not. 

If they are wrong, how might I persuade them to issue invoices.

Any help would be gratefully received.

• 
  Quote
  

• # 120516
• Tue 14 Dec 2021 11:35 AM

Avonfield Cottage said:

“

Apologies if this is a repeat, I think my first attempt at this timed out.

I have a client who is a charity. They have a franking machine they use for mailshots.

When they want to do a mailing, they enter an amount of money in the machine which is immediately taken from their bank account by direct debit.

The supplier of the machine has repeatedly refused to provide invoices for the cost of the postage. Their lastest reply to my request for invoices is as follows:

"We do not issue invoices for your postage account as there is no VAT charge on postage and also a payment is required upfront before you can add monies to your franking machine

"As we cannot anticipate the amount that is required to meet  your postage requirements we do not request monies from yourselves."

Are they right? It seems odd to me as every other supplier I have ever known has provided invoices, whether or not it includes VAT and whether it is paid in advance or not. 

If they are wrong, how might I persuade them to issue invoices.

Any help would be gratefully received.

 

Hi Avonfield,

 

You don't say what type of franking machine that you have.

 

However for some Pitneybowes machines I have found the following help "

When you add funds to your Envelope Printing account you have the option of printing a receipt.

1. Tap History & Reports in the application drawer on the Home screen.
2. Tap the Refill History report to view receipts for previous postage refills."

 

Will ths be of help to your client?

 

This certainly beats doing refils when I first started work in 1973.  Then we had to take the whole, very heavy, machine down to the local post office to get them to add the value needed to the machine.  Glad those days are over.

 

Adam

Edited at 13 Dec 2021 04:05 PM GMT”

• 
  Quote
  

• # 120525
• Thu 16 Dec 2021 05:58 AM

Because it is an exempt supply, they are not required to give you a VAT invoice, however, it is good practice to supply an invoice to your customers. What a pain for you. Have a look here https://www.gov.uk/vat-record-keeping/vat-invoices

 (Sorry for some reason it won't give the hyperlink)

• 
  Quote