Yes, you can detax in France. I recently traveled from Naples to the US via CDG and detaxed in Naples. I would recommend you detax in France since your flight could be delayed and it can be confusing (at least to me) to find the detax while you are connecting
Best way to 'detax' after H in Europe
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Yes, you can detax in France. I recently traveled from Naples to the US via CDG and detaxed in Naples. I would recommend you detax in France since your flight could be delayed and it can be confusing (at least to me) to find the detax while you are connecting
Thank you very much for the clarification. I now understand that if you have a boarding ticket outside the EU on the same day with how every many layovers within the EU you can get the customs stamp at your first airport. This will make planning flights so much easier in the future.
Does anyone have any information about FCO Fiumicino airport in Rome? A member of my party will be departing from Terminal 3. I went through here once for a flight to Zurich but do not recall where you can find the Customs office to get your receipts stamped and where the nearest mailbox is located.
I normally depart from T5 at FCO and the process is simple since the Customs stamp office and Global Blue/Premier Tax free refund kiosks and mailboxes are right across from each other before you enter security but after the check in and profiling area (unless your Hermes purchases were made in France which has to be placed in the red mailbox) T5 is just a processing terminal for US carriers so passengers are shuttled to T3 but there isn't a mailbox in the departures area either so you will have to take the tram and go through security then find the Global Blue/Premier Tax Free kiosk with the red mailbox on the opposite wall. After this you will proceed to take the tram back and go through security yet again before you can get back to your departure gate.
I departed from FCO T3 in March and the customs and tax refund companies (Global Blue & Premier) were right across each other as well. Mailboxes were also nearby. Had to complete checkin first as the customs will ask to see a boarding pass before they stamp your custom forms.
From what I remember, the customs office was behind the rows of checkin counters a little to the left of the terminal.
Anyone pay attention of the exchange rate the bank gives them on their VAT refunds? I did, and was refunded a nice little chunk of money back on 4 VAT refunds.
I called my cc and the cs I spoke to couldn't understand why the refunds had not posted with the right exchange rate so I was transferred to the dispute dept. The dispute department tried to tell me it was the European merchants that decide the 'exchange rate' to give back. I replied they do on the 'VAT amount' (which is written on the bill btw) and not the exchange rate but the cs replied back they do.
I had taken pictures of all the papers I had to send out for the VAT refunds the night before I left Europe and very happy I did because when I told the cs I was looking at all the paperwork while talking to her, she processed the proper refunds immediately (I had calculated everything before I called)
If I had not noticed, I would have had more money back by getting cash back at the airport instead of by credit card. So check your VAT refunds exchange rate (and cc posted transactions I might add!), that is quite a few dollars lost on a B/K if they don't use the right rate.
note: US banks use the exchange rate posted on the WSJ. (very easy to find the exchange rate on back dates)
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I called my cc and the cs I spoke to couldn't understand why the refunds had not posted with the right exchange rate so I was transferred to the dispute dept. The dispute department tried to tell me it was the European merchants that decide the 'exchange rate' to give back. I replied they do on the 'VAT amount' (which is written on the bill btw) and not the exchange rate but the cs replied back they do.
I had taken pictures of all the papers I had to send out for the VAT refunds the night before I left Europe and very happy I did because when I told the cs I was looking at all the paperwork while talking to her, she processed the proper refunds immediately (I had calculated everything before I called)
If I had not noticed, I would have had more money back by getting cash back at the airport instead of by credit card. So check your VAT refunds exchange rate (and cc posted transactions I might add!), that is quite a few dollars lost on a B/K if they don't use the right rate.
note: US banks use the exchange rate posted on the WSJ. (very easy to find the exchange rate on back dates)
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We have no choice definitely at bank mercy
H only does via credit card no cash worldwide except japan
I wasn't sure where to post this so hopefully this will help some tPF travellers in this thread.
We had lived in London for the past 5 years but relocating to North America. We flew from Heathrow Terminal 5, and had a few Hermes items that I wanted VAT back on (in cash) - in order to get a refund in cash (over I believe £1450) the Hermes boutique had to fill out a form then email or fax to the global blue team who will prepare the cash. The people at the travelex (aka global blue) kiosk told me they never received anything from the Hermes boutique, and the form should have been faxed not emailed... and that they didn't have enough cash on hand for the day - this is after I showed them an email of the form Hermes had filled out and sent on my behalf. (By the way... At the top of this application form, it says to either email or fax it back to them to get a cash refund).
So the lady at the counter (before security - I guess you can call them the gatekeeper) basically gave me 3 other currency options for my refund (euro, usd, or cny - all with very crappy exchange rates... About a 10 cent spread per dollar for usd). I then asked if I could take a portion in gbp, so she wrote half and half on my detax paper to show to the person after security who will be giving me the cash. I Walked away... And called the Hermes boutique... But they were extremely busy so nobody was around to answer my question... I decided to go back and ask them about the application form, and where should Hermes have sent this to then? After that question I could see panic in the lady's eyes and was then referred to the manager who ended up agreeing to give my entire refund back in gbp as I had originally asked.
So... Beware... If you are claiming something and wanted cash back, make sure you stand firm in what currency you would like the refund back in... As my experience proves, those people will try every which way for you to not get your refund... Or in the process take a large margin from the transaction... I was so disgusted by their business practice... I will definitely be feeding this back to my local London boutique so they can pass on the message to their clients...
We had lived in London for the past 5 years but relocating to North America. We flew from Heathrow Terminal 5, and had a few Hermes items that I wanted VAT back on (in cash) - in order to get a refund in cash (over I believe £1450) the Hermes boutique had to fill out a form then email or fax to the global blue team who will prepare the cash. The people at the travelex (aka global blue) kiosk told me they never received anything from the Hermes boutique, and the form should have been faxed not emailed... and that they didn't have enough cash on hand for the day - this is after I showed them an email of the form Hermes had filled out and sent on my behalf. (By the way... At the top of this application form, it says to either email or fax it back to them to get a cash refund).
So the lady at the counter (before security - I guess you can call them the gatekeeper) basically gave me 3 other currency options for my refund (euro, usd, or cny - all with very crappy exchange rates... About a 10 cent spread per dollar for usd). I then asked if I could take a portion in gbp, so she wrote half and half on my detax paper to show to the person after security who will be giving me the cash. I Walked away... And called the Hermes boutique... But they were extremely busy so nobody was around to answer my question... I decided to go back and ask them about the application form, and where should Hermes have sent this to then? After that question I could see panic in the lady's eyes and was then referred to the manager who ended up agreeing to give my entire refund back in gbp as I had originally asked.
So... Beware... If you are claiming something and wanted cash back, make sure you stand firm in what currency you would like the refund back in... As my experience proves, those people will try every which way for you to not get your refund... Or in the process take a large margin from the transaction... I was so disgusted by their business practice... I will definitely be feeding this back to my local London boutique so they can pass on the message to their clients...
That was very smart what you did... Thank you for the tip... I will keep an eye out when I get my refund back.. IF it makes it back to me.
I always like to get cash back as I had a bad experience/exchange rate with my CC. They first convert it from euro to pounds , then to usd$ and then to the currency of my CC. You lose like half of what you could get back with their high and unfavorable exchange rates. What a rip off.
I'm now convinced that cash is the way to go if possible. I had a bad experience where the agent forgot to stamp one of my forms. If I had asked for cash I would have known right away. I am still working months later to try to get my refund. Of course some stores won't do a cash refund. Some including Chanel give you significantly more if you take it on your credit card, but even with that I'm not sure it's worth it once the credit card company hits you with the terrible exchange rate. Not that the exchange rate for cash is that favorable either.but at least you know you have your money and you don't have to worry about it.
I'm convinced it's an international scam. I've been told in CDG that they do not process in Euros and in Heathrow, no refund in pounds. They told me I should get a cash refund at my home currency at 4.6 when the actual rate is 5.4. when I told them I will opt for refund to my c.c, they said I will be charged another 20% extra. However, I insisted and in the end the credit card rate was slightly better at 5.0. gosh the lengths they will go through! I also had the same luck as pocketbook pup- the agents did not stamp one of my forms! I have some doubts whether it was a genuine oversight as this is not the first time ... sigh
@Powder Puff: Ugh! I didn't realize what a headache this is. I opted to scan all of my forms (I had an 8 AM flight) using the PABLO machines at CDG and then popped everything into the mail for CC credit. We'll see how much I get back in a few weeks/months. Hope everything gets sent!
Everyone, don't forget to make photocopies of the documents if the shop did not provide you with a copy to keep.
Everyone, don't forget to make photocopies of the documents if the shop did not provide you with a copy to keep.
Good advice. Take photos of your forms at the hotel the night before.
I think I am finally getting my refund. It wasn't easy. The agents seem to miss forms fairly regularly these days. If you get a female agent at CDG beware. Honestly she was not very nice and I think she did it on purpose. She made me show her every last item. I mean everything. Which I did. But then she forgot one form.
If your form scans with Pablo you are probably fine. I have never had a problem with these forms. But Pablo will reject many of the expensive forms and you have to bring them to the agent. That seems to be where the problem arises.
They get you with the exchange rate one way or another. I use my Amex platinum to avoid fees etc and even they gave me a lousy exchange rate on the refunds. At least with cash you know that your hassle is over and you don't have to worry about it.
I managed to successfully get the green screen with the smiley face for the H purchase, so I guess I lucked out or didn't purchase enough to warrant a visit to a customs officer. Thank you for the advice on the mean customs contact should I find my way back to Paris one of these days.