APD

Originally posted by ManchesterMark
I got an email confirmation from Paypal, but nothing from Virgin. I even got an email from Virgin today saying I had to pay the additional APD, even though I already have paid the extra.

Me too!

[mitchja]

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick

It does seem a strange system, why employ a third party (Paypal) to collect this money, surely Paypal will be taking their cut, meaning that VS will have to make up that amount when they pass on the money to HMG? [?]

I assume they could easily create the facility on the VS bookings website to collect this awful tax. [:?][:?]

Nick

I think the problem is that VS still have to manually process all credit card transactions (even with online flight bookings) dont they? Hence the reason why they are using PayPal to collect this.

Regards

I've received the email from VS asking for payment but both links in the email don't work - anyone else had this trouble? All I'm keen to is pay, albeit reluctantly!

Payment seems to look like it works, Ill pay later on (Im a student, and really have no money half the time).
I really cant agree with this tax and feel that more airliens should be following ryanairs suit.
http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/notices. ... _Notice-GB

Kev.

I don't know why we are all so worried... I'm sure we'll be getting it all back in the form of tax sweetners to smooth the way for Mr Browns first election victory - Cynical. Moi?

Originally posted by kkempton
Payment seems to look like it works, Ill pay later on (Im a student, and really have no money half the time).
I really cant agree with this tax and feel that more airliens should be following ryanairs suit.
http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/notices. ... _Notice-GB

Kev.

It's outrageous - if BA isn't going to collect this retrospectively, as Ryanair isn't, the why can't Virgin follow suit? The email I got today about it says about issuing a voucher to the tune of whatever the amount of tax you'll pay - but that's no consolation to those people who won't fly again - it's really little more than VS trying to get more business out of us. I assume these vouchers would be redeemable whether buying a flight with miles, MPM or filthy lucre???

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by catsilversword
[br
It's outrageous - if BA isn't going to collect this retrospectively, as Ryanair isn't, the why can't Virgin follow suit?

Where does it say that Ryanair isn't going to collect this retrospectively? Sure they are urging people to protest about it but if you read my post on page 3 of this thread you will see a copy of an email I received from Ryanair saying they will be collecting this tax and deducting it from my credit card within the next two weeks.

[preiffer]

Indeed, RyanAir are absolutely collecting the tax

We greatly regret that Ryanair has no alternative, but to act as the UK Chancellor's tax collector, in accordance with Article 4.2.2 of Ryanair's General Conditions of Carriage. In order to fly, all affected passengers will be advised via email of the additional tax amount levied by the UK government. This outstanding amount will then be automatically charged to the credit card/debit card which was used to pay for the original booking. These credit/debit card transactions will take place over the next 2 weeks.

And actually, I'm yet to be convinced of the LEGALITIES of RyanAir "automatically charging the card you paid with" for the extra amount.

a) I've not AUTHORISED that amount to be given to that company
b) I've not REQUESTED the company to charge it to my account
c) Nowhere in their T's and C's does it give them permission to assess further charges

... and finally, I MIGHT not travel (through choice or delay). At which point, the tax should be refunded.


It also proves that RyanAir keep your credit card details in an accessible format for a significant period of time after booking. THAT worries me.



Hmmm... [V]

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by preiffer
Indeed, RyanAir are absolutely collecting the tax

We greatly regret that Ryanair has no alternative, but to act as the UK Chancellor's tax collector, in accordance with Article 4.2.2 of Ryanair's General Conditions of Carriage. In order to fly, all affected passengers will be advised via email of the additional tax amount levied by the UK government. This outstanding amount will then be automatically charged to the credit card/debit card which was used to pay for the original booking. These credit/debit card transactions will take place over the next 2 weeks.

And actually, I'm yet to be convinced of the LEGALITIES of RyanAir "automatically charging the card you paid with" for the extra amount.

a) I've not AUTHORISED that amount to be given to that company
b) I've not REQUESTED the company to charge it to my account
c) Nowhere in their T's and C's does it give them permission to assess further charges

... and finally, I MIGHT not travel (through choice or delay). At which point, the tax should be refunded.


It also proves that RyanAir keep your credit card details in an accessible format for a significant period of time after booking. THAT worries me.



Hmmm... [V]

I seem to recall that was discussed on BBC breakfast news last Saturday (or was it the Saturday before) when the whole issue was being discussed and other companies were also saying they were collecting it from the credit card. It was agreed by the pundits that it was legal [:?]

Originally posted by preiffer

It also proves that RyanAir keep your credit card details in an accessible format for a significant period of time after booking. THAT worries me.

Hmmm... [V]

Isn't this standard practice by airlines? I'm sure that I caught televised advice from some money expert or other saying that airlines were perfectly within their rights (and the law) to do this. Hopefully someone will corroborate this and prove I didn't imagine it [:I]

[y] honey lamb.

[preiffer]

Interesting debate from the BBC here.

Still don't believe that it's ENTIRELY legal.

Or at the very least, it's surely disputable with the card issuer : YOU did not AUTHORISE the transaction...

[honey lamb]

It could be argued that by emailing me saying that they were going to deduct the money was giving me an opportunity to object and them to claim that silence gave consent [:?] I'm like most of the people in the forum of the link you gave. I'm delighted I don't have to do anything other than to check my credit card statement when it comes in

I can see 2 issues now.

1. Will airlines make full refund available for passengers who now decided don't want to fly due to the additional APD?

Surely this was one of the intention for introducing APD - reducing the number of people travel by air (although the aircraft will still operate without these passengers). But I don't think any airline will make this refund availabble. Nobody has mentioned this in their press release.

2. This additional APD has significant impact on upgrading seats.

If anyone wants to upgrade from Y to W or J with VS, does that mean not only the money/miles you will need to pay to VS, on top of that you will need to pay additional 40 pounds APD (or 60 pounds if you haven't paid the 20 for Y) to the government?

I guess this will be the case if anyone upgrade seats before their travel. I guess it's probably a small amount for anyone using money to upgrade.

But for people who are using miles for update, and want to save money. The only way I can think about to avoid that is, check in Y seat as normal. Get into Club House, upgrade your seats there (and hope upgrades are still available).

Becasue you have checked in already, I don't think they will collecting money in CH. Or will they? Oops, is there anyone from VS here, pleaase don't tell SRB about this idea.

Originally posted by Snow
Surely this was one of the intention for introducing APD - reducing the number of people travel by air (although the aircraft will still operate without these passengers).

Do you think so? I very much doubt it. It's a way of raising more funding for the government and I look forward to seeing this extra money being put to good use and for the purpose to which it is intended. I reckon I could be waiting a while [:w]

As far as I am concerned, I really can't get into a lather about it. It represents about 2.5% of my fare and I don't see why Virgin should have to absorb the cost. I pay my taxes, under duress at times, but there's no way out so I really can't be bothered with the effort of griping about it all.

Phil

Originally posted by Snow


1. Will airlines make full refund available for passengers who now decided don't want to fly due to the additional APD?

Your fare conditions will dictate if you can get a refund or not. Airlines won't be refunding Non-Flexible tickets in mass numbers just because passengers don't want to pay the extra tax...

Phil, I don't believe the environmental story too, but at least that's what they are talking about.

Rob, I agree. Just a thought that someone may use this as a reason for refund. And I think they should win the case if they stay with the "environmental reason".

Originally posted by Treelo

Originally posted by preiffer

It also proves that RyanAir keep your credit card details in an accessible format for a significant period of time after booking. THAT worries me.

Hmmm... [V]

Isn't this standard practice by airlines? I'm sure that I caught televised advice from some money expert or other saying that airlines were perfectly within their rights (and the law) to do this. Hopefully someone will corroborate this and prove I didn't imagine it [:I]

Seems to be standard practice of moe than just airlines. I recently bought a new landline phone, but once we'd set it up, we were less than happy with it, so took it back to the store for a refund. In the past, this has always entailed giving them the credit card so they can doo a refund, but this time we were told 'no problem, we'll just put it back on to card you used for the purchase'. No amount of reassurance that these details are stored remotely and are therefore secure convinces me either....

Originally posted by preiffer
Indeed, RyanAir are absolutely collecting the tax

We greatly regret that Ryanair has no alternative, but to act as the UK Chancellor's tax collector, in accordance with Article 4.2.2 of Ryanair's General Conditions of Carriage. In order to fly, all affected passengers will be advised via email of the additional tax amount levied by the UK government. This outstanding amount will then be automatically charged to the credit card/debit card which was used to pay for the original booking. These credit/debit card transactions will take place over the next 2 weeks.

Apologies, I totally misread that! So, CAN this be paid by Amex? From what people here are saying, then not online - but it looks (if I read it correctly) that you can pay at the airport - can you also pay via the premier team? Would you not be able to use Amex for either of those alternatives, or do we have to lose points as well???

Am going to go and lie down - darkened room optional - I can feel myself turning into Mrs Very Angry here..........[xx(]

[Neil]

Originally posted by catsilversword
CAN this be paid by Amex?

Claire, it was mentioned on pages 4 aand 5 of this thread that you can use your Amex to pay the charges through Paypal, but there is a charge as explained in the old thread that Nick provided a link too.

Neil

I just tried paying the extra APD amount online using my VS Amex but the Paypal site errored saying I cannot use a credit card and must use a bank account instead. Using a MasterCard doesn't throw up this error message.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Maybe VS realised that Amex users would incur the conversion charges and therefore stopped accepting it via Paypal?

Thanks,
Neal

Originally posted by neal
I just tried paying the extra APD amount online using my VS Amex but the Paypal site errored saying I cannot use a credit card and must use a bank account instead. Using a MasterCard doesn't throw up this error message.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Maybe VS realised that Amex users would incur the conversion charges and therefore stopped accepting it via Paypal?

Thanks,
Neal

Good old Amex - loser every time! Virgin phone shops don't accept them either......[:w]

I did pay by Amex late on Friday afternoon, so PayPal was accepting it without problems then.

I have to say that I've never seen a process as shonky as this from an organisation as big and aware of its reputation as VAA. The email copy contained typos, the email images and link were broken, the pages on virginatlantic.com contained a load of improperly coded characters (so lots of question marks in place of pound signs), and then it was being paid through PayPal (which I think was the most shocking single element), with Virgin showing up as an unverified supplier!

The broken images and dodgy characters have since been fixed, but considering people will rightly resent paying extra for a ticket they've already paid for, this didn't strike me as a particularly positive process to try and present Virgin in a good light.

And as for the "we don't think you should pay this tax so we'll give you a voucher for money off your next purchase" line, that's disingenous at best, since the APD will apply to the next purchase too.

[HighFlyer]

Totally agree with you Jon.

Just paid my APD for my upcoming flight and didn't like the process of using Paypal at all. I appreciate that it is probably easier for VS to use, but the whole process, from dodgy URL and email to an unverified Virgin account just makes the whole process feel very unprofessional.

Thanks,
Sarah

Originally posted by neal
I just tried paying the extra APD amount online using my VS Amex but the Paypal site errored saying I cannot use a credit card and must use a bank account instead. Using a MasterCard doesn't throw up this error message.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Maybe VS realised that Amex users would incur the conversion charges and therefore stopped accepting it via Paypal?

Thanks,
Neal

Just tried to pay our APD and got the same error, spoke to VS and they tried to blame paypal but had payed someone else ten minutes earlier with no problem. Only advice VS could give were email paypal or pay at check in - not good enough, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER VIRGIN [n]