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DigitalOcean: Introducing Our London Region

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Re: DigitalOcean: Introducing Our London Region

#11

Post by jordanthoms »

vertex-four wrote: post #7
raiyu wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At the moment all of our billing across all of our geographies is done in US dollars, which given the exchange rate of the UK and EU is usually within your favor. Is there a conversion charge that your credit card company levies on you for paying in US$?

My bank will charge £1.50 plus a variable commission for paying in anything but GBP.

Ouch. Seems credit cards out of the US are nowhere near as good, common there to have no foreign transaction fees (apart from probably some margin on the exchange rate).

Re: DigitalOcean: Introducing Our London Region

#12

Post by jordanthoms »

justincormack wrote: post #9
raiyu wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At the moment all of our billing across all of our geographies is done in US dollars, which given the exchange rate of the UK and EU is usually within your favor. Is there a conversion charge that your credit card company levies on you for paying in US$?

Its not in our favour unless our exchange rate appreciates every month more than our fees. And yes we get charged just like you would if I charged euros to your card.

Most good US cards don't charge an extra fee for non-USD transactions.

Re: DigitalOcean: Introducing Our London Region

#13

Post by corford »

marcosscriven wrote: post #3

One thing I wish were available with many of these US-based services is billing in GBP.

On the other hand, one of the nice things with using US services that bill in USD (apart from the current exchange rate benefit) is there's no VAT to pay. So, UK retail customers at least, get a 20% discount compared to using home grown offerings.

Personally, I love being able to spin up Linode (and now DO) vms in London but pay USD prices.

Re: DigitalOcean: Introducing Our London Region

#16

Post by justincormack »

corford wrote: post #13
marcosscriven wrote: post #3

One thing I wish were available with many of these US-based services is billing in GBP.

On the other hand, one of the nice things with using US services that bill in USD (apart from the current exchange rate benefit) is there's no VAT to pay. So, UK retail customers at least, get a 20% discount compared to using home grown offerings. Personally, I love being able to spin up Linode (and now DO) vms in London but pay USD prices.

There is VAT to pay and these companies are required to register for VAT and charge it I believe. Eg see http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110202144320/htt...

Re: DigitalOcean: Introducing Our London Region

#18

Post by adamt »

corford wrote: post #13
marcosscriven wrote: post #3

One thing I wish were available with many of these US-based services is billing in GBP.

On the other hand, one of the nice things with using US services that bill in USD (apart from the current exchange rate benefit) is there's no VAT to pay. So, UK retail customers at least, get a 20% discount compared to using home grown offerings. Personally, I love being able to spin up Linode (and now DO) vms in London but pay USD prices.

Whether or not VAT is payable is independent of what currency is used to bill in. If you're using a VPS in the UK then there's almost certainly VAT payable by the vendor. If they are in another EU country, and you're VAT registered, and they have your VAT number they can zero-rate the transaction.

Re: DigitalOcean: Introducing Our London Region

#19

Post by marcosscriven »

corford wrote: post #13
marcosscriven wrote: post #3

One thing I wish were available with many of these US-based services is billing in GBP.

On the other hand, one of the nice things with using US services that bill in USD (apart from the current exchange rate benefit) is there's no VAT to pay. So, UK retail customers at least, get a 20% discount compared to using home grown offerings. Personally, I love being able to spin up Linode (and now DO) vms in London but pay USD prices.

How is there a benefit at the 'current' exchange rate? If the price isn't set in GBP, what have you got to compare against, regardless of the rate right now?

Re: DigitalOcean: Introducing Our London Region

#20

Post by nly »

guillermovs wrote: post #2

Softlayer also introduced a London region a few hours ago. http://blog.softlayer.com/2014/london-just-got-cloudier%E2%8...

And cheaper if you use a lot of bandwidth. They throw in 5 TB of outbound with their cheapest VPS. ~$28/mo compared to $70 with DO.
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