Best way to 'detax' after H in Europe

[dragonette]

Okay I need to gripe... How much do you guys actually get back in the end? I have 3 refunds incoming, and received the 2 smaller amounts (even though all 3 were submitted the same day). But the amount received is so little? For example, one is supposed euro 221 = sgd 350 and I received sgd 201. Seriously? The other one is euro 207 = sgd 331 and I received sgd 188. How does this even make sense? What kind of exchange rate is this? Robber's rate?

And I'm still waiting for the biggest refund to come through. It's been more than a month.

 

[dragonette]

I made a few Hermes purchases in France during my vacation in September. I had two VAT forms: one for a larger amount and one for a very small amount. I scanned the forms at the PABLO machine and of course the smaller amount was approved (green), and the the larger amount was declined (red). I took the larger amount form to the custom officer at the Paris airport and he took a look on his computer, scanned the form, and returned the form to me. I put the respective forms in its envelope and placed it in the mail.

One week later after I got home, i logged onto the Global Blue website to check my status. To my surprise, the information for both of my VAT refunds (date/location of purchase, VAT refund amount) was already available on their website. The status for both said "Payment Pending" and i would get my payment to my credit card in a few days (with my correct credit card info on their page) but it said if they don't received the forms stamped by the custom, then it will be reversed. So i kept waiting for that to happen but no refund was sent to my credit card. Today (it has been a little over 3 weeks since I scanned the forms), I got this on both of my VAT refund forms, even the one the PABLO approved:

View attachment 3843401


I tried to call and of course they are closed right now. I will call again tomorrow but I'm freaking out. Should I be worried? Or is this status automatically done after a certain amount of time have passed (a little over 3 weeks) from the PABLO "scanned" date because both forms have this same payment status.

Wow that's annoying. I hope you get it sorted!

 

[dianaetc]

Okay I need to gripe... How much do you guys actually get back in the end? I have 3 refunds incoming, and received the 2 smaller amounts (even though all 3 were submitted the same day). But the amount received is so little? For example, one is supposed euro 221 = sgd 350 and I received sgd 201. Seriously? The other one is euro 207 = sgd 331 and I received sgd 188. How does this even make sense? What kind of exchange rate is this? Robber's rate?

And I'm still waiting for the biggest refund to come through. It's been more than a month.

That is very frustrating... In the past, I have always gotten less then the 10% VAT refund, maybe more so 8-9% of the purchase price instead.

According to Global Blue's website, it says for credit card refunds "in a currency different than the currency in which the Tax Free Form is issued, the current Global Blue "we sell" rate (based on the "we sell" rate of a recognized European Retail Bank) plus 3 to 5% ,will be applied for the currency conversion." I'm guessing the "we sell" rate must not be in favor of SGD. These "Retail Bank" rate is always lower than the rate of what you see on the money market exchange. And of course the additional 3 to 5% conversion fee.

However, in your case it is a substantial amount...you definitely should take it up with them why the "fees" took over 40% of your refund.

 

[cavalla]

Thank you! That’s really helpful info! Yes same airline so hopefully I will have enough time to do the detaxe AND shop more haha.

Not sure if this is too late. You might want to look up how far apart the gates might be. Even though you’re taking the same airline, within Europe and Europe - Asia, the gates might not be so close by and you’ll quite likely have to go through security, possibly not only one. But the good news is, there are not only one but 2 Hs and at least one custom where you get the stamp (possibly both are, can’t remember now) is basically right next to H.

 

[cavalla]

Okay I need to gripe... How much do you guys actually get back in the end? I have 3 refunds incoming, and received the 2 smaller amounts (even though all 3 were submitted the same day). But the amount received is so little? For example, one is supposed euro 221 = sgd 350 and I received sgd 201. Seriously? The other one is euro 207 = sgd 331 and I received sgd 188. How does this even make sense? What kind of exchange rate is this? Robber's rate?

And I'm still waiting for the biggest refund to come through. It's been more than a month.

If you go back a few pages, you’ll see some discussion on the cc refund rate.

 

[allyrae]

Not sure if this is too late. You might want to look up how far apart the gates might be. Even though you’re taking the same airline, within Europe and Europe - Asia, the gates might not be so close by and you’ll quite likely have to go through security, possibly not only one. But the good news is, there are not only one but 2 Hs and at least one custom where you get the stamp (possibly both are, can’t remember now) is basically right next to H.

Thank you! Yes, my hubby says there’s a customs desk next to one of the H stores. So hopefully, the gate we will arrive at and the gate we are leaving from are not too far apart!

 

[cavalla]

Thank you! Yes, my hubby says there’s a customs desk next to one of the H stores. So hopefully, the gate we will arrive at and the gate we are leaving from are not too far apart!

Good luck!

 

[allyrae]

Good luck!

Thank you! [emoji4]

 

[dragonette]

That is very frustrating... In the past, I have always gotten less then the 10% VAT refund, maybe more so 8-9% of the purchase price instead.

According to Global Blue's website, it says for credit card refunds "in a currency different than the currency in which the Tax Free Form is issued, the current Global Blue "we sell" rate (based on the "we sell" rate of a recognized European Retail Bank) plus 3 to 5% ,will be applied for the currency conversion." I'm guessing the "we sell" rate must not be in favor of SGD. These "Retail Bank" rate is always lower than the rate of what you see on the money market exchange. And of course the additional 3 to 5% conversion fee.

However, in your case it is a substantial amount...you definitely should take it up with them why the "fees" took over 40% of your refund.

I think I lost a lot more because they exchanged to USD first then to SGD. Sigh.

If you go back a few pages, you’ll see some discussion on the cc refund rate.

I found it. Thank you!

 

[hcrazy8]

Thank you! Yes, my hubby says there’s a customs desk next to one of the H stores. So hopefully, the gate we will arrive at and the gate we are leaving from are not too far apart!

1.5 hours for transit is not enough based on my experience. There may be flight delay, de-plane delay, change of arrival or departure terminal and long queues to clear custom if your arrival terminal is not the same as your departure terminal. It can get stressful.

There's a Travelex desk to get vat cash refunds near one of the H store in Terminal 2E at CDG. It is not a custom desk. You need to present a validated (custom stamp) form which typically is outside before clearing customs. Best to study the Terminal Map of the Airport you will be departing to last destination.

Good luck [emoji4]

 

[allyrae]

1.5 hours for transit is not enough based on my experience. There may be flight delay, de-plane delay, change of arrival or departure terminal and long queues to clear custom if your arrival terminal is not the same as your departure terminal. It can get stressful.

There's a Travelex desk to get vat cash refunds near one of the H store in Terminal 2E at CDG. It is not a custom desk. You need to present a validated (custom stamp) form which typically is outside before clearing customs. Best to study the Terminal Map of the Airport you will be departing to last destination.

Good luck [emoji4]

Thanks for the info! The H cashier says there should be a customs desk at Gare de Lyon or a customs officer on the train. Will update all once I’ve experienced it. Hopefully it will be a smooth process!

 

[allyrae]

Thanks for the info! The H cashier says there should be a customs desk at Gare de Lyon or a customs officer on the train. Will update all once I’ve experienced it. Hopefully it will be a smooth process!

Hi ladies. Just got back home and I’d like to share my experience. There was no customs desk at Gare de Lyon but customs officers came on board before crossing from France into Switzerland. They had the stamp with them and kindly offered to help me mail off the envelopes

And just as well. Our GVA-FRA flight was horribly delayed and we ended up with only a 1 hour layover instead of 2 hours. We had to run to catch our FRA-SIN flight so there was no way we could have gotten the tax refund done in Frankfurt.

Keeping my fingers crossed we will get our refunds soon!

 

[bunnyNwife]

Hi fellow TPFers, finally I found this thread.

Hubby n I will be flying into Frankfurt, take train to Lucerne and then Zurich before flying back to Asia. I understand that i can submit the tax refund in Frankfurt downtown but how am I gonna find a Custom officer to stamp on my form when I leave Frankfurt / EU?

Can I drop by at Frankfurt airport to get the custom officer to stamp on my form on my day of leaving EU by providing the train ticket as proof of leaving ?

Or I have to get a train ticket to Germany border (any clue which station ?) to get custom officer to stamp on my form b4 continue my journey to Lucerne (but I understand that I need to chg train again at Basel).

I wish to do my H shopping in Frankfurt more than Zurich due to the lower price tag plus higher tax refund.

Thanks in advance !

 

[momoc]

Hello, I'm running into a problem here in Dublin, and here's the situation. Sorry it's a super long rant.

Last Friday, I bought stuff from the store in Dublin (the one inside Brown Thomas). I asked for the refund form, the SA stamped my receipt, but did NOT give me the form for some reason! I didn't realize this until I got back to my hotel room, opened the envelope (they put the receipt and the form together inside an envelope, so I didn't see the form was missing until I got back to my hotel). Anyways I only have the receipt, no refund form.

I was busy the next two days; today I finally had time to go back to the store and ask what to do in this case. I asked if they can re-issue the form. They said no, and asked me to contact premier tax free.

I got back to my hotel, got on the phone with premier tax free, who told me that in this case the retailer should be able to just re-issue the form for me. So I'm now a little confused. I also feel that even the premier tax free person didn't sound that certain...am I like, the first person to run into this problem? If someone lose their form but realize before leaving the country, is there no way to fix the situation?
(And what's really annoying to me is that I'm quite certain I didn't lose the form, it's the SA forgetting to give it to me. I absolutely did not toss anything out in the 10 minute commute between the store and my hotel; as soon as I got back to the hotel I realized it's not there and looked everywhere for it...)

Anyways, I called the store again and said premier tax told me I should be able to have my form re-issued. The person then admitted that they don't know how to do it, that's why they told me no earlier. If there's a way, the manager would be the only one who knows, and she won't be in until Wednesday. They told me to call/come back on Wednesday.

Because I'm here until this weekend, I can give it a try. But what if I had to leave before then? Then I will just say goodbye to the refund I guess...I'm almost inclined to return everything out of spite even though I know that's such a mean thing to do (and would they even allow me to return it? bleh). I will see what happens on Wednesday...

But has anyone had or heard of a situation like this? If so I'd love to hear your advice!!! Thank you so much.

It's not even the refund money itself...the whole thing is just so frustrating. I keep telling myself that even without refund I should still be very happy with the purchases. It's not like I NEED the refund. But I guess I'm just kinda petty and will always remember the whole bad experience when I look at the lovely purchases now...even though I know, logically, I shouldn't. Ugh

 

[HermesAmasser]

Hello, I'm running into a problem here in Dublin, and here's the situation. Sorry it's a super long rant.

Last Friday, I bought stuff from the store in Dublin (the one inside Brown Thomas). I asked for the refund form, the SA stamped my receipt, but did NOT give me the form for some reason! I didn't realize this until I got back to my hotel room, opened the envelope (they put the receipt and the form together inside an envelope, so I didn't see the form was missing until I got back to my hotel). Anyways I only have the receipt, no refund form.

I was busy the next two days; today I finally had time to go back to the store and ask what to do in this case. I asked if they can re-issue the form. They said no, and asked me to contact premier tax free.

I got back to my hotel, got on the phone with premier tax free, who told me that in this case the retailer should be able to just re-issue the form for me. So I'm now a little confused. I also feel that even the premier tax free person didn't sound that certain...am I like, the first person to run into this problem? If someone lose their form but realize before leaving the country, is there no way to fix the situation?
(And what's really annoying to me is that I'm quite certain I didn't lose the form, it's the SA forgetting to give it to me. I absolutely did not toss anything out in the 10 minute commute between the store and my hotel; as soon as I got back to the hotel I realized it's not there and looked everywhere for it...)

Anyways, I called the store again and said premier tax told me I should be able to have my form re-issued. The person then admitted that they don't know how to do it, that's why they told me no earlier. If there's a way, the manager would be the only one who knows, and she won't be in until Wednesday. They told me to call/come back on Wednesday.

Because I'm here until this weekend, I can give it a try. But what if I had to leave before then? Then I will just say goodbye to the refund I guess...I'm almost inclined to return everything out of spite even though I know that's such a mean thing to do (and would they even allow me to return it? bleh). I will see what happens on Wednesday...

But has anyone had or heard of a situation like this? If so I'd love to hear your advice!!! Thank you so much.

It's not even the refund money itself...the whole thing is just so frustrating. I keep telling myself that even without refund I should still be very happy with the purchases. It's not like I NEED the refund. But I guess I'm just kinda petty and will always remember the whole bad experience when I look at the lovely purchases now...even though I know, logically, I shouldn't. Ugh

Stores can absolutely reissue tax refund forms. Ive had 2 experiences with this before. First time with the tax free form had another client's name written on it with my purchases, on them. (Their fault). Second time i lost the form. (My fault).

Both times, the store i bought from was able to reissue another tax free form.