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VAT on testing strips

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I

indio02

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Have been told that as a diagnosed T2 I should be able to buy testing strips VAT free. If so how is this done? I've been using a seller off Ebay who has confirmed that all prices include VAT.
 
This should apply to all medical products which can’t have any other use. When we were self-funding sensors we just had to fill a form in on the website which was basically name and address and not much else.
 
indio02 said:
Have been told that as a diagnosed T2 I should be able to buy testing strips VAT free. If so how is this done? I've been using a seller off Ebay who has confirmed that all prices include VAT.
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Good luck. I had an argument with some idiot in Boots who insisted it was rubbish and that I needed a prescription. I gave up in the end.
 
indio02 said:
Have been told that as a diagnosed T2 I should be able to buy testing strips VAT free. If so how is this done? I've been using a seller off Ebay who has confirmed that all prices include VAT.
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Certainly on Amazon there is a tick box to confirm diabetic. They may therefore be cheaper there.
 
I'd have to report this business to HMRC for illegally charging VAT on something VAT free, unless they changed their payment method.
 
trophywench said:
I'd have to report this business to HMRC for illegally charging VAT on something VAT free, unless they changed their payment method.
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To support us claiming VAT exemption needs them to collect information, presumably passing that to HMRC. I can imagine it not being a requirement for businesses to do that, maybe it's not even allowed for businesses who aren't VAT-registered?

If they were "charging VAT" on books or something else VAT free then that's presumably fraud, but I'm not sure they're doing anything wrong in this case.
 
Leadinglights said:
Certainly on Amazon there is a tick box to confirm diabetic. They may therefore be cheaper there.
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Can you point out where that is, maybe a screen shot, because I've never been able to spot it. I buy my test strips straight from the manufacturer's online shop these days, so not really an issue for me, as it simply asks whether I'm VAT-exempt, and why.
 
Martin.A said:
Can you point out where that is, maybe a screen shot, because I've never been able to spot it. I buy my test strips straight from the manufacturer's online shop these days, so not really an issue for me, as it simply asks whether I'm VAT-exempt, and why.
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You are dead right, I know when I first ordered the Code free strips there was /indeed was a box to tick but I can't find it on the current listings.
 
Although it was some years ago now, when I ordered from Spirit Healthcare - although it was not made clear, I needed to make an account with them, wait for an email to confirm my diabetic status and reply to it, then I could order free of VAT.
 
indio02 said:
Have been told that as a diagnosed T2 I should be able to buy testing strips VAT free. If so how is this done? I've been using a seller off Ebay who has confirmed that all prices include VAT.
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why are you buying them can you not get them on prescription from your gp/dsn
 
gail2 said:
why are you buying them can you not get them on prescription from your gp/dsn
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It is only the lucky ones who get a monitor and strips on prescription if Type 2 unless on medications which could cause low blood glucose.
 
Leadinglights said:
It is only the lucky ones who get a monitor and strips on prescription if Type 2 unless on medications which could cause low blood glucose.
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i was lucky then hen i wasnt on meds my gp prescribed them to me
 
They can also be withdrawn if you stop taking medication that can cause low blood glucose, and often even get only limited strips a month.
 
My GP has now added "only 4 packs a year for Type 2" to my prescription. Not sure if they would actually give them if I end up requesting more (I've been occasionally requesting them while using up ones that I bought when I didn't get free prescriptions, but only got 2 boxes of prescribed ones left now)
 
I buy them off the Diabetes UK shop - there's listings for items with and without VAT, so use the VAT exempt item. Because of the shipping being per delivery not per item, I tend to order about 3 months worth of strips in one go (currently around 5 pots). I use the contour plus blue, and the strips are around 8.75 for 50 without VAT, so pretty reasonable - I haven't found anywhere else that's significantly cheaper.
 
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