Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Has SOE Sneaked in 'charge increase' for Non-US players?
doromur
Member Posts: 152
Just noticed something that may be a ittle sneaky on SOE's part with the new Station site.
Station Access used to be charged at 29.99 USD- and if you were in the UK on the old system, you would be billed at the USD rate. For me, as 1 GBP = 2 USD, that used to be around 15 GBP or thereabouts.
NOW the new Station site appears to charge in local currency, i.e. GBP for me - BUT they are trying to charge 18.99 GBP! the equivalent of 38ish USD for Station Pass.
Outrageous!, USD vs GBP has been 2:1 for over 6 months, so they can't blame currency fluctuations, it appears to be pure profiteering.
I don't think it affects existing subs, as my standard EQ2 sub is still showing as charging in USD.
Be aware though!
Currently Playing Nothing...
Comments
Not sure what to say to that. I just looked at the charges for Canada and they're the same as they always were. Which is incredibly aggravating since the exchange rate is par right now. I can only hope they recognize the current exchange since most places in the US don't see to unless you actually go down to the US.
Could the price change be due to the VAT there in England?
War Beta Tester
Good idea, but its pre-VAT, so another 17.5% on top....
Currently Playing Nothing...
It is EU law .Same happening to me i get to pay a whole 17.5% on top myself
i am not 100% but i think that what they have done is create a european collection point so we can be billed in europe and not have to use the american collection points. if this is right then we dont have to pay vat on top as it will already be included. so although it seems higher when we are charged it will be pennys diifference to what we payed to the american client.
again i'm not 100% about it. but when i used to play eq1 i payed a european client and the vat was included so i am presuming it will be the same for eq2.
Actually I am pretty most online services are charging from Luxembourg for the EU since it's one of the lowest VAT's in EU and therefor you have to add 17.5% (the VAT there).
I don't think SOE has anything to do with it. And seems like plenty of posters seems to know what's going on.
eqnext.wikia.com
Not to sounds dumb, but what is VAT?
Value added tax (or "Mehrwertsteuer" in German for example). Simplified you can think of a tax that is paid on the complete price, althought this is not exact (the tax is paid upon each "value increase" in the production) - the complete description is actually pretty complicated and I refer to Wikipedia for this. In all countries I know, this tax is already included in the displayed price normally (I think opposed to the U.S. and Canada for example, where you have to pay additional local taxes that are added afterwards).
It does sound like VAT to me my monthly charges are still £9.49 so theres no extra being charged there for me
Edit..doing a very rough calculation its about £3ish for VAT so add that on top of your £15 a month you get 18 ish
Another edit :0 looking at my account it does say £9.49 PLUS applicable taxes..subs due sunday so i'll let you know if they frisk me for more
I've found a solution to this 'issue'.
I noticed that there is now an option in your account settings to set 'Default Currency' - setting this to USD sorts it out.
Of course you will still be charged 17.5% on top of the USD value if you are in Europe, but it still works out cheaper than me being charged in GBP.
Currently Playing Nothing...
Heya mate just subbed to station acces and it IS just £18.99 thats what ive just been charged.
Hope it helps
To the remark about the US and Canada having local taxes added after... actually, in Canada, provincial tax is the only one left to each province. And not every province has provincial tax (Alberta doesn't). GST (Goods and Services tax) is added through the federal government and is not optional. Its a 6% tax. The thing is, its added AFTER you take the item to the till, or pay for the service.
For example... lets say you buy a chocolate bar at the local convenience store, you pay 6% GST at the till after the price labelled on the chocolate bar.
However, if you stay in a hotel in Canada, you also pay a 4% hotel tax when you check out which is a provincial tourism tax, bringing the total taxes for your hotel stay to 10% on top of the amount you pay for the room. So a $100 a night room comes to a total of $110 at the till.
I know, its confusing to even us. And really aggravating. Though, I have to say, the GST has served its purpose. Our national debt is almost gone and its resulted in everyone getting money back in the mail and more money going into needed programs like health care.