It sounds very usual to me. Especially if you consider that most foreign companies can apply for direct vat identification in most european countries. Even in Italy, an uncoopertive non-tax friendly country, you can do this online even in English. Though, in Italy only companies registered in some non-black listed countries can apply directly. Every single company doing business thus selling in Europe beyond a certain threshold to private consumers HAS to get a vat number either directly or through a vat rep. Nothing strange about it. In fact, there are companies set up all over the place just for this purpose. To provide vat representation. Some ask high fees, others no. I can't post a link but you google the company tmf-vat.com and go to the vat-fiscal-representative page. Explains the concept in English.