VAT refunds
 

I am still waiting for a VAT refund to be credited to my mastercard for a purchase made in Paris in December.
I have sent several emails to the address listed on the VAT website but so far not heard back.
I am curious as to whether or not this is typical and how long it takes to get the refund. I am owed around 50E. Will I ever see the money?

Yes, you will probably see the money...in the future :) Everything around taxes it's a very slow process everywhere in Europe I think. I hope it will be quicker in France than it is here in Spain...hehehe. But you will have your money back, I'm pretty sure of that.

It will be 2 years for me in September from time to time I get a form in the mail about the $50. but i have pretty much given up hope! My girfriend on the other hand had $200. coming to her which they gave her right in the airport - I had a guy in the airport that said it had to come in the mail - go figure!

Don't give up hope! I got my VAT refund for a purchace in Venice 6 months later.

I'm still waiting for my refund which I requested in 1995.

I'm afraid that my experience is going to be like PM's.

I've gotten VAT refund credits after 5 weeks - and after 7 months - so you never know.

Just curious - at which airport did you turn in the forms -- CDG?

Yes, CDG.
Do you think that is what the problem is?

You could dispute this with your credit card company. I bought some china in London several years ago and did all the paperwork and never got the VAT. I was informed by my CCC that if the amount of VAT was under $50 it was not worth a dispute. It was really annoying to fill out all the forms and never receive the refund. I think I may have processed it at CDG. It seems that this china shop just never bothered with their part of the refund.

I know the post is about France, but FYI, you can go to just about any Thomas Cook office and get the cash refund immediately without a commission charge. Then, you just have to drop off the stamped documents at the aiport customs office.
Can't do that in Paris?

We submitted a VAT refund request in November at CDG. The refund was credited to our VISA card in April.

Woody

Woody, I hope it posts to my credit card in May. Perhaps it just takes a very long time.
Interesting about the Thomas Cook office. I never knew that. Has anyone ever tried this?

I am updating the VAT story. I finally decided to call the store to inquire about the VAT since it has now been 6 months since I left Paris. I called this morning and they were able to find the paperwork and said that the credit to my credit card would be done today. The explanation as to why it hadn't been done made no sense. Clearly without followup they never would have done anything.