Shipping rates & VAT - who and how for the UK and Europe?

[GuyB]

Hi,
We've been using Parcelforce for UK 48hr shipping and we had good rates. Our contract is due for renewal and Parcelforce want to double the cost!
Can anyone recommend a good 48hr delivery company for say up to 10 or 20kg? we also want to enable actinic to vary the shipping rates and delivery schedule depending upon either european country and/or weight.
How do you get the VAT sorted out for European contries - what are the regulations on VAT?
Sorry about this being a multi aspect question but it would be great to hear from someone who has been through the hoops already on these issues.
Thanks Guy

[BelmoreBoy]

Amtrak have been good for us - cheaper than parcelforce and thats for overnight delivery

[acompton]

Vat

Try searching the forums on "VAT" and "Europe"

I found this thread
http://community.actinic.com/showthread.php?t=20349

Alan Compton
www.greenknightgames.co.uk
Great board games and cards games you won't find in the High Street

[GuyB]

Amtrak and VAT

Hi,
Thnaks for your replies, I've contacted my local Amtrak and am awaiting a call back.
As for the VAT thing, it seems to me that as we don't do a lot of business in the EU we don't need to charge VAT to those customers, anyone know how to set this up in Actinic by any chance?
Thanks Guy

[wjcampbe]

For the definitive answers - see the current thread Eu VAT started by pinbrook. Unless the EU customer is a business, and provides you with a genuine non-UK VAT number, you still need to charge them UK VAT - and pay it to *the man*.

Actinic knows the correct handling of VAT for the EU - see cbarling's post in the referenced thread.