FYI UK Customers- Cost Increase

[thornegareth34]

Hi all. I don't know if anyone else has encountered this but there has been a large price rise for UK customers (since 12/8) in trying to buy/reload tickets. As I haven't seen this charge posted anywhere and no other comments I thought I'd flag it for UK customers.

On pornbox the price for a ticket reload of 120 tickets is £65.84, which always used to be what was charged. But now after being taken to the GTF Charge page the price is £79.01. It seems that VAT is now being levied on UK customers. Quickly checking some other random countries using the drop down box (eg US, Germany, etc) it seems to price to be charged is still £65.84. The extra cost is also on straight ticket purchases as well.

I have contacted support as well as since this price increase all of my cards are being declined on GTF Charge, despite the banks being unaware of any declined transactions, and I was wondering if other UK based customers are having the same trouble.

[Ultra-Gape]

I think this must be tied to the payment method you're using. I'm in the UK and the two payments I've made this month have both been for the advertised amount. This is using a Masterard credit card for what it's worth.

I don't think the issue you've experienced is specifically a Pornbox one by the way. I have actually spotted the same issue with VAT being added myself on other porn sites, between the advertised membership offer screen and the payment one.

[thornegareth34]

Every other payment I've made this month has been for the stated amount and this only seems to have started yesterday. I agree other sites often add VAT at the payment stage, but as this has never happened on here before so I'm assuming something changed yesterday. Also I've tried Mastercard and Visa with the same result. Curiously recurring subscription payments don't seem to be affected.

[Ultra-Gape]

My last payment was a recurring 90 day subscription last week. The other this month was a studio subscription but if this only started for you yesterday then I guess I won't know if I'll be affected till I buy something new.

From a quick Google it sadly looks like us being charged UK VAT is what probably should happen. Provided GTFCharge are registered for UK VAT and as such are transferring the money to HMRC.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-vat-rul ... -consumers

[davebowman]

I thought this had been happenning for a while?

[Ultra-Gape]

I thought this had been happenning for a while?

Are you in the UK and have been paying VAT for longer for Pornbox payments?

[davebowman]

I thought so, but to be honest I can't recall 100%. I cancelled my recurring subscription on this site after the last round of price increases/ticket devaluations, so it's been a little while.

[thornegareth34]

I had always assumed the reload price or ticket price was inclusive of VAT. It always used to be the price stated on pornbox was the price that I paid. Now though the cost on GTF charge is the pornbox price + 20% which on the breakdown is VAT.

[xxxVIPERxxx]

For those who are in the UK, this is a bit of good news for you. Thank God you do not live in Argentina, where the inflation is at 69.5% and increasing!!!

[Ultra-Gape]

I had always assumed the reload price or ticket price was inclusive of VAT. It always used to be the price stated on pornbox was the price that I paid. Now though the cost on GTF charge is the pornbox price + 20% which on the breakdown is VAT.

I very much doubt any VAT was being paid to the UK government previously. Maybe we all need to think that we're helping to fund the NHS by buying porn...

[Ultra-Gape]

For those who are in the UK, this is a bit of good news for you. Thank God you do not live in Argentina, where the inflation is at 69.5% and increasing!!!

Do you live in Argentina? That inflation rate is awful. Current UK inflation is ballpark 10% for what it's worth, but going up.

[MackZatis]

For those who are in the UK, this is a bit of good news for you. Thank God you do not live in Argentina, where the inflation is at 69.5% and increasing!!!

This is COMPLETELY FICTIONAL!

There would be RIOTS IN THE STREET.

A quick google search:
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina reported a monthly inflation rate of 7.4% in July, the highest number in two decades for a country where citizens are used to increasing prices. Over the past year, Argentina's consumer prices have soared a whopping 71%, the INDEC national statistics agency said Thursday.3 days ago

Consumer prices and inflation are 2 different things

The CPI is often used to measure changes in the cost of living, but it is not an ideal indicator of this. While the CPI measures price changes, cost-of-living inflation is the change in spending by households required to maintain a given standard of living.

[Alan2008]

Hi all. I don't know if anyone else has encountered this but there has been a large price rise for UK customers (since 12/8) in trying to buy/reload tickets. As I haven't seen this charge posted anywhere and no other comments I thought I'd flag it for UK customers.

On pornbox the price for a ticket reload of 120 tickets is £65.84, which always used to be what was charged. But now after being taken to the GTF Charge page the price is £79.01. It seems that VAT is now being levied on UK customers. Quickly checking some other random countries using the drop down box (eg US, Germany, etc) it seems to price to be charged is still £65.84. The extra cost is also on straight ticket purchases as well.

I have contacted support as well as since this price increase all of my cards are being declined on GTF Charge, despite the banks being unaware of any declined transactions, and I was wondering if other UK based customers are having the same trouble.

To the best of my knowledge VAT has been charged for quite a few years now (especially with US companies). But I haven't noticed any additional charges on my monthly top ups.

Let me check and update you.

[dap-addict]

On pornbox the price for a ticket reload of 120 tickets is £65.84, which always used to be what was charged. But now after being taken to the GTF Charge page the price is £79.01.

I reload directly without any other page popping up.
Now over 2 weeks later I learned from my Credit Card excerpt that 22% VAT was added.

Sorry to say, but I find it incredible that on pornbox a price being 22% lower is presented, but in fact we pay 22% more. Reminds me of that sudden unheralded ticket value devaluation by 35%.

[ToryLaneRulez]

I noticed the same and also was declined to use the GTF Charge so I stupidly used paypal and the price is even higher

100 tickets if I could pay with GTF Charge is £82.57 despite showing initially on the previous screen as £68.81

BUT

as I kept getting declined via GTF Charge and used paypal 100 tickets is an eye watering £97.56

So along with the per scene increase there has been another increase on actual purchase of tickets and also the inability to use the cheapest option when purchasing said tickets

my advice DO NOT succumb and use paypal and go back through your already purchased scenes

[xxxVIPERxxx]

Wow! That is a hefty and very significant price increase. I can recall that only 18 months or so ago, I was paying 58-59 GBP for a top-up. Now, you guys are saying it is a number just under 85 GBP, or even 93+ GBP with PayPal...

Not only is the top up to get the same number of tickets increasing by so much, but the cost of a scene has also shot up from 7-8 tickets to 11-12 tickets!

I guess, for a lot of customers...we have to be more selective and tighten our spending all round.

[Ultra-Gape]

I've just had my first recurring payment taken since the local sales tax change came in. This was for a studio membership rather than my main membership but pleasingly it didn't include a 20% increase vs last month for UK VAT. My bet is that if I cancelled it and later renewed it then the tax would be added so possibly something to be born in mind when considering whether to end any membership.

[analashley1976]

I just got charged $96.60 instead of $79.90 for reloading tickets.
Does anyone know why this is happening? Will this happen for billing only from certain countries or all countries?
I'm using VPN.

[davebowman]

Will this happen for billing only from certain countries or all countries?
I'm using VPN.

As well as the UK there's a complaint on the Support forum about this happening to Italian customers. I guess it will depend on individual countries VAT policy, and not something that's been applied across the board. I'm not sure if using a VPN would make any difference - I presume the additional tax charge is based on which country your bank account is based on, rather than what country is providing your internet connection?

[Ultra-Gape]

I'm not sure if using a VPN would make any difference - I presume the additional tax charge is based on which country your bank account is based on, rather than what country is providing your internet connection?

My thought too.

[DelorSani]

I get how frustrating it is to deal with cost increases, especially for UK customers. Everything is going up these days, and keeping up is hard. With all these changes, staying informed and getting expert advice is a good idea.

[davebowman]

I see this is a bit of a resurrected thread - there was a time in the UK where you wouldn't get charged VAT on any adult sites, but now it's happens everywhere, not just Pornbox. Even on non-porno stuff that you didn't used to get charged for, like buying 2nd hand CDs online, pretty much everything that is located outside the UK gets VAT added to it now. Pain in the ass, but it is what it is.

[DelorSani]

I get how frustrating it is to deal with cost increases, especially for UK customers. Everything is going up these days, and keeping up is hard. With all these changes, staying informed and getting expert advice is a good idea.

I’ve heard that The VAT Consultancy is pretty good at helping people navigate these issues. They might be able to give you some tips on managing the cost increases and maybe even save a bit in the long run. It’s always worth getting a second opinion, especially regarding finances.