Sterling price difference

grahamo

Registered User
Messages
169
Does anyone know if its legal for a UK company to charge more for a service in Ireland than they charge in the UK?
For example, The Sky World package is £45 in the UK but Sky World in Ireland is €68 which works out at around £9 more for the same service?
I would've thought there was some EU law to stop this happening.
 
Of course it is legal. Do you think it is legal for the Irish Government to levy VAT at 21% while their counterparts in the UK levy it at 17.5%?
 
As he says. Think about it - it's also legal for different Irish providers of the same or similar goods and services to charge different prices. It's called an open market and competition.
 
Yes, it's legal.

Think about it.

Cinema seats are dearer at night, for the same service.

Bus seats are cheaper midweek, or for students. Same service.

Telephone calls are cheaper off-peak, for the same service.

It happens all the time.

Known as price discrimination.
 
I know we have higher taxes etc. here but what about the exchange rate. Are there no laws or anything that obliges companies to give us a fair exchange rate?
 
No. Don't forget that different costs of doing business in different countries or even regions and the laws of supply and demand (e.g. what price the market will bear) will be reflected in the ultimate price charged. Looking mainly or solely at exchange rates is too simplistic.
 
Although it is not good from a customer service POV for Sky, there is always a way to rub it up them - cancel your Sky or don't get it in in the 1st place.

Or you could do what I did, and got a card registered in NI.
 
Don't get it at all and get a FTA satellite setup instead. Or cancel after 1 year and use your Sky installation as a FTA system.