Were you mistakenly charged UK VAT by Very.co.uk?

Shoppers in Jersey who recently bought items from online retailer Very could find they were mistakenly charged UK VAT — despite the company’s checkout system appearing to calculate the correct Jersey price.

The Jersey Consumer Council uncovered the error after one of our Members noticed that their total cost increased when using one of Very’s payment plans, such as Buy Now Pay Later or a monthly instalment option.

Although the checkout basket initially showed the correct Jersey price – with the 20% UK VAT removed and 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) added – the total amount quietly reverted to the UK price once a payment scheme was selected, without notifying the customer.

This meant that Islanders using these deferred payment options were unknowingly paying the full UK price including VAT, despite Jersey being outside the UK VAT area.

We contacted Very immediately to raise the issue. The retailer investigated and confirmed that a technical glitch was responsible for the miscalculation and that the problem has now been resolved, and Very has promised to refund affected customers.

We have checked this out at the time of writing and can confirm that it is now working correctly.

A spokesperson for Very told the Council: “We became aware of a short-term technical issue, which saw some customers in Jersey being incorrectly charged VAT on purchases. A solution has been implemented, and the technical issue has now been resolved. For those customers affected, we are processing refunds and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

While Very could not confirm how many Islanders had been overcharged or the total value of refunds, it said the issue was short-lived and limited to certain types of transactions.

Carl Walker, Chair of the Jersey Consumer Council, welcomed the retailer’s quick response, but urged Islanders to check their recent orders to ensure they are refunded correctly.

“This was a simple technical bug, but one that could have easily gone unnoticed,” he said. “We’re pleased that Very acted quickly once we made contact and that they’re refunding customers. However, it’s a good reminder for all online shoppers to keep a close eye on checkout totals – particularly when using flexible payment plans.

“This case highlights the complexities of online shopping for Islanders, who are often charged UK prices or face issues with delivery and tax calculations.”

Mr Walker added: “Jersey consumers are savvy, but we’re shopping in a system designed primarily for the UK. Even reputable, well-known retailers sometimes make mistakes when it comes to tax rules for the Channel Islands. That’s why it’s vital that we continue to monitor, challenge and engage with these companies on behalf of Islanders.”

The Jersey Consumer Council also reminds shoppers to regularly check their online accounts and payment statements.

Anyone who made a Very purchase within the past month using a payment plan is advised to:

1. Check the order confirmation and payment plan total,
2. Compare it to the Jersey price displayed at checkout, and
3. Monitor their account for a refund over the coming weeks.

If a refund doesn’t appear, customers should contact Very’s customer service team or let us know so that we can follow this up with Very.