05-17-2011, 01:11 PM
0
Regarding the breakdown on fuel prices, there isn't much to choose between your info and mine. The figures are accurate, but there are obviously some variations depending where you live. I live in the south and we're told it's the more "affluent" part of England, which is pretty much a bullshit excuse for charging that little bit extra for a whole shedload of stuff.
Other "fees" - well there's the VAT (Value added tax) of 20% added to almost everything now. If you get a quote for most services they'll say it's gonna cost X - "plus the VAT sir". So if X is £500, the final bill will be £600. Conversly, items in stores have to show the price including tax. The system is like, just enough info for you to work it out, but confusing enough that you don't want to
As with most countries, whacking up taxes and fuel prices has a knock-on effect. Transporting goods costs more, so base prices are going up too.
Oh yeah, and cars. Buy a new car worth £20k ($32,000) and pay £24k ($38,400) for it, plus another £200 ($324) average per year in "road fund licensing". We even have to buy a licence to use a TV set! FFS, all the money goes to the BBC so they can remain "objective" or some such crap. Yup, buy a TV here and pay a further £145 a year for the privilege of plugging it in. It doesn't matter what you watch or who you subscribe to, ya gotta have a licence!
Some goods - particularly tobacco, alchohol & fuel also have a "duty" applied, together with the VAT... so we get taxed on the tax so to speak. The whole setup here is kinda like having someone piss on your head, then tell you it's only raining.
Our tax system sucks, but then, we do have an excellent history of smuggling... LOL
Other "fees" - well there's the VAT (Value added tax) of 20% added to almost everything now. If you get a quote for most services they'll say it's gonna cost X - "plus the VAT sir". So if X is £500, the final bill will be £600. Conversly, items in stores have to show the price including tax. The system is like, just enough info for you to work it out, but confusing enough that you don't want to
As with most countries, whacking up taxes and fuel prices has a knock-on effect. Transporting goods costs more, so base prices are going up too.
Oh yeah, and cars. Buy a new car worth £20k ($32,000) and pay £24k ($38,400) for it, plus another £200 ($324) average per year in "road fund licensing". We even have to buy a licence to use a TV set! FFS, all the money goes to the BBC so they can remain "objective" or some such crap. Yup, buy a TV here and pay a further £145 a year for the privilege of plugging it in. It doesn't matter what you watch or who you subscribe to, ya gotta have a licence!
Some goods - particularly tobacco, alchohol & fuel also have a "duty" applied, together with the VAT... so we get taxed on the tax so to speak. The whole setup here is kinda like having someone piss on your head, then tell you it's only raining.
Our tax system sucks, but then, we do have an excellent history of smuggling... LOL