Don't use this card!!! The terms are practically impossible to comply with. To add insult to injury, they debit your credit/debit plus 4% administratve fee 60 days after the filing deadline. I feel its a scam. In most cases the costs of getting the necessary notifications are more than the refunds.
Posted by
1 posts
Dear wfrone,
I am sorry to hear you are dissatisfied with the FEXCO Tax Free Shopping service. I would like to reassure you that we operate in compliance with the regulations set out by the EU and the Irish Revenue Commissioners and these rules are there to ensure every transaction meets the requirements of the scheme.
When shopping in retail outlets across Ireland, our non-EU customers may use the FEXCO Horizon Card to purchase goods VAT free at the point of sale. In order to avail of the VAT free scheme, customers must comply with the strict Terms and Conditions, which accompany the VAT refund scheme as set by the Irish Revenue Commissioners Office. Customers using the FEXCO Horizon Card must comply with the steps set out below (as illustrated in more detail in the booklet accompanying the FEXCO Horizon Card):
Customers must use the FEXCO Horizon Card to record purchases where a VAT refund is received at the point of sale.
The FEXCO HORIZON Card must be claimed/completed at the airport or online.
(The FEXCO HORIZON Card can be completed online and the PDF form must be returned within 60 day).
If the above steps are not completed, then as per the terms and conditions accompanying the FEXCO Horizon Card, the full VAT amount is charged back to your credit card, plus an administration fee. The administration fee is €1.85.
If the required paperwork was not received within the 60 days and your nominated credit card has been charged, you do have an additional 30 days to have the charges reversed. In the event we do not receive the requisite documentation within the timeframe set out above, then as per Irish Revenue Commissioner Guidelines we must issue a recharge, as the terms of the retail export scheme have not been met.
In order to assist our customers with Tax Free Shopping service, we have manned customer service desks in Dublin and Shannon airports, and self-service kiosks at Dublin, Shannon, and Cork airports. The self-service kiosks are available 24 hours, seven days a week, so that our customers can claim their VAT refund even if our customer service desks are closed. We also have an online option available if our customers do not have time to visit our desk/kiosk at the airport.
As a private company, there are costs involved in operating this level of customer service, and therefore the administration fee of €1.85 is charged to all customers using the Tax Free Shopping service. Our service fees are similar, and in most instances lower than the service fees charged by other VAT refunding companies operating in Ireland and the UK.
We are more than happy to help you further with your case but in order to do that we will need the following information from you:
your 16 digit FEXCO Horizon Card number; and
the first six and last four digits of the credit card charged to info@shoptaxfree.com.
This will ensure we can securely access your information and one of our representatives will be in contact with you directly to assist you further.
If you required any additional information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We look forward to hearing from you, so we can assist you further.
Posted by
OP
9 posts
You will notice that this reply leaves out the requirements for the pdf to be witnessed by a "police authority who has to sign it ". It then has to be noterized, digitized, and then emailed back. The police here have better things to do than witness this form and getting the form noterized is $15. FORGET this. Lesson learned.
Posted by
Houston
3517 posts
It is nice to see an official response from the company. You don't always get that.
" we operate in compliance with the regulations set out by the EU and the Irish Revenue Commissioners "
While that is all well and good, it does not mean that this service is financially the correct option for every tourist.
Posted by
Ohio
1478 posts
I used this card while in Ireland. I studied the terms and instructions carefully before using. I stopped and used a self service kiosk at the Dublin airport prior to my flight home. While reading the instructions a service agent came and assisted me making the process very quick. I received a credit to my credit card before I reached the U.S. I am sorry it did not work as smoothly for you.
Posted by
1 posts
Just got my refund on Nov 6, 2016. Spend 184.00 EUR. The VAT was 34.41 EUR The processing was 12.48 EUR and I got back 21.93 EUR. What a come on to keep that much in FEES!
Many years ago I tried the method of collecting the refund after returning home and when I called for a police report, they just laughed and said NO, we don't and won't do that. I felt stupid that I even tried.
Posted by
Washington DC Region, USA
7049 posts
Why are you posting the exact same word-for-word review as in May? Most people don't fall for the same scam twice. I'm beginning to think this is a bot/ troll posting.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/fexco-horizon-taxfree-card-ripoff-bcb5e2b1-fcdb-4127-ab0e-2e93799dca4c