ARmy Rumour SErvice

What realy got up my nose was the fact that St. John were running a full time ambulance service with employees not vollunteers taking contracts from the private companies but not paying VAT on their equipment, vehicles and consumables by claiming exemption but at the same time charging for their services????? Many complaints were made to both the Charity Commissioners and HMRC by many private ambulance companies and organisations, the Charity Commissioners and HMRC refused to even consider these complaints. It may have something to do with the fact that St. John always give out their rather prestigeous awards with big badges to all Lord Leuitenants, Royalty and promenant persons in the establishment who will help them out at a high level! Its scandalous that they have an unfair advantage in the market by not paying VAT and that private ambulance services of which there are at least one in every major city cannot claim any VAT back like other businesses in Britain!

Originally Posted by jarrod248

Now minister you just need to sign this claim form, here, here and here.

What's a Ministerial salary again? You might be able to change my mind (but not about botting)

Originally Posted by Chunkie

What realy got up my nose was the fact that St. John were running a full time ambulance service with employees not vollunteers taking contracts from the private companies but not paying VAT on their equipment, vehicles and consumables by claiming exemption but at the same time charging for their services????? Many complaints were made to both the Charity Commissioners and HMRC by many private ambulance companies and organisations, the Charity Commissioners and HMRC refused to even consider these complaints. It may have something to do with the fact that St. John always give out their rather prestigeous awards with big badges to all Lord Leuitenants, Royalty and promenant persons in the establishment who will help them out at a high level! Its scandalous that they have an unfair advantage in the market by not paying VAT and that private ambulance services of which there are at least one in every major city cannot claim any VAT back like other businesses in Britain!

Providing there are not shareholders and profits, there is nothing legally wrong with this activity.

Originally Posted by Chunkie

What realy got up my nose was the fact that St. John were running a full time ambulance service with employees not vollunteers taking contracts from the private companies but not paying VAT on their equipment, vehicles and consumables by claiming exemption but at the same time charging for their services????? Many complaints were made to both the Charity Commissioners and HMRC by many private ambulance companies and organisations, the Charity Commissioners and HMRC refused to even consider these complaints. It may have something to do with the fact that St. John always give out their rather prestigeous awards with big badges to all Lord Leuitenants, Royalty and promenant persons in the establishment who will help them out at a high level! Its scandalous that they have an unfair advantage in the market by not paying VAT and that private ambulance services of which there are at least one in every major city cannot claim any VAT back like other businesses in Britain!

Have you considered that there may be a reason why those private ambulance companies don't seek charitable status for themselves?

Money earned by St Johns is used to offset the cost of running St Johns, money raised by the private companies goes to the directors and shareholders.

It isn't that those private ambulance companies can't get charitable status, it's that they don't want it.

Originally Posted by CaptainPlume

What's a Ministerial salary again? You might be able to change my mind (but not about botting)

Don't change your mind, just flip.

Originally Posted by CaptainPlume

What's a Ministerial salary again? You might be able to change my mind (but not about botting)

Salary is such a dirty word minister, I've arranged a new secretary but I'm afraid she's rather young and blonde. Now I've something else for you to sign but it's not important. Here, here , yes blonde, and here minister.

Originally Posted by Markintime

Have you considered that there may be a reason why those private ambulance companies don't seek charitable status for themselves?

Money earned by St Johns is used to offset the cost of running St Johns, money raised by the private companies goes to the directors and shareholders.


It isn't that those private ambulance companies can't get charitable status, it's that they don't want it.

Having owned and run a private ambulance company and being a former St John member I can talk with some authority on this subject. Most small Private ambulance services have to struggle to make ends meet there is very little profit in this line of work basically because you have the likes of St.John CHARGING for jobs instead of accepting DONATIONS as per the charity laws! which eaquals UNFAIR ADVANTAGE! Its like traders in a small town having charity shops selling the same new items new items without charging vat? for businesses is a nightmare. Forget where the profits go. Any profits I made went into new equipment and to pay the VAT on items we bought and the £800 per year the Care Quality Commission demands just to be registered and to allow us to work and the CQC have absolutely no idea what they are doing with private ambulance companies, no idea what-so-ever. The keep asking us? The excuse being public safety, but how many negligence claims were made against PAS's each year? very few if any at all! My company never had even one complaint because I made sure my employees knew their job and customer satisfaction and safety was paramount! How many complaints and claims are made against St.John and the NHS Ambulance services? Thousands each year. Just another revenue making government exersise set up or extended by Blair and his mates???? If St. John want to run a BUSINESS which is what they are now doing then there should be a level playing field. If they want to do volluntary work as a charity then they should rightly have DONATIONS.
As for a business having charity status you cant because you are not allowed to charge, you can only accept DONATIONS which ios why PAS's dont apply for charity status. You also require a number of people who are not related to oversee not run your charity which also prevents busineses being charities. St. John are technically opperating these services illegally, but the charity commissioners and VATman are turning a blind eye because ST.John were losing members and not being able to do their volluntary jobs.

Originally Posted by Chunkie

Having owned and run a private ambulance company and being a former St John member I can talk with some authority on this subject. Most small Private ambulance services have to struggle to make ends meet there is very little profit in this line of work basically because you have the likes of St.John CHARGING for jobs instead of accepting DONATIONS as per the charity laws! which eaquals UNFAIR ADVANTAGE! Its like traders in a small town having charity shops selling the same new items new items without charging vat? for businesses is a nightmare. Forget where the profits go. Any profits I made went into new equipment and to pay the VAT on items we bought and the £800 per year the Care Quality Commission demands just to be registered and to allow us to work and the CQC have absolutely no idea what they are doing with private ambulance companies, no idea what-so-ever. The keep asking us? The excuse being public safety, but how many negligence claims were made against PAS's each year? very few if any at all! My company never had even one complaint because I made sure my employees knew their job and customer satisfaction and safety was paramount! How many complaints and claims are made against St.John and the NHS Ambulance services? Thousands each year. Just another revenue making government exersise set up or extended by Blair and his mates???? If St. John want to run a BUSINESS which is what they are now doing then there should be a level playing field. If they want to do volluntary work as a charity then they should rightly have DONATIONS.
As for a business having charity status you cant because you are not allowed to charge, you can only accept DONATIONS which ios why PAS's dont apply for charity status. You also require a number of people who are not related to oversee not run your charity which also prevents busineses being charities. St. John are technically opperating these services illegally, but the charity commissioners and VATman are turning a blind eye because ST.John were losing members and not being able to do their volluntary jobs.

Putting aside that I don't think ambulances are the sort of things you should be making a profit out of, you can moan and moan and moan but it doesn't change the law. Charities are perfectly entitled to apply charges in order to render services. If you can't compete with people who are not motivated by the lure of profit then piss off and make your money elsewhere.