I am handicapped and purchased a mobility aid. The purchase is VAT exempt. The seller refuses to refund VAT. Before delivery I requested VAT not to be charged. He declined. After delivery I also requested the same, mailing to him forms with supporting documentation. He once again declined.
What can I do now?
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If it's VAT exempt, you didn't pay any VAT. If the seller charged any, then it is not exempt. Either way, you, not being a business registered for VAT, do not get any refund. If you ARE a business registered for VAT, then you claim it back on your VAT return in the normal way. You NEVER ask the seller and quite rightly the seller will not refund it. It's not their responsibility.
The only possible reason you could have for taking this up with HMRC is if the seller claimed to have charged VAT but in fact they are not a VAT-registered business with a VAT registration number.
You don't seem to understand how VAT works.
Tavy
Contact VAT at HMRC
sirbobby98121
Return it and shop elsewhere.
Don't Fear The Reaper
Nothing, Exempt or not HE has to pay it. That aid is his before it's yours. You accepted the purchase and paid the VAT. You sent him the money. He sent you the aid. That IS legally both consent and a completed transaction. That VAT is already in the tax authority's coffers.
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Where did you buy it from? If you got it from eBay you can contact them and PayPal for a refund.
If it's from a company contact the head office or his manager.
VAT is something anyone can rarely avoid as it's pretty much a legal requirement. Really, you shouldn't have agreed for the seller to ship when he refused to stop the charge as this did genuinely put you at a disadvantage. By agreeing and not refusing the item you consented to the tax being added.