Driving Test Theory Test Scam

[timdalby]

My wife booked my daughter on a theory driving test and to do so went to Google and put into the search engine 'Book a theory driving test'. The number one hit takes you to a theorytest.net a sponsored link site and my wife followed the link thinking it was the official site followed all the directions and paid for the theory test for £33 completely unaware that this was not the official government site. The booking was then made by the company (theorytest) and a conformation e-mail was sent to confirm booking and a few days later another e-mail with the date of the test. This date was unsuitable so I called the number on the e-mailed which was the official government site number 0870 0101372 and a pre-recorded message it told me how to reschedule on the website at www.direct.gov.uk where I found out the the cost of a test was £21.50 after speaking with the official site to try and find out why my wife had paid £33 on line she said it was a regular occurrence that people were using sites thinking they were booking direct and subsequently finding that was not the case and they indeed had been charged a booking and handling fee. This means this site is charging a massive £11.50 for booking and handling and there is no mention of that on their www.theorytest.net site in fact there are no terms and conditions on the site or any means of contact. I have also checked around and driving schools normally charge around £2.50 but they clearly state this is a handling or booking fee and in most case give you a link to book direct with the government site.

This type of site should be shut down or at least make you aware that there is a booking fee for the service they provide. How many other parents have fallen pray to this type of con, it can't be legal not to display contact details or terms and conditions on such a site.

[dmg24]

Have just had a look at that site. With respect, did your wife really think that was the proper site?!

[espresso]

it can't be legal not to display contact details or terms and conditions on such a site.

Some people should stay off t'net if they can't read:

Terms and conditions (http://www.theorytest.net/termsandconditions.htm)

Have a look at the real DSA site here (http://www.dsa.gov.uk/tests/online_booking_1.asp)

[Woby_Tide]

http://www.theorytest.net/termsandconditions.htm

Theorytest.net is an independent company, we do not administer the DSA Test booking system. Consequently we charge an administration fee in addition to the DSA Test Fee to cover our costs involved in making Test bookings and alterations with the DSA on behalf of 'Users' and to offset the costs of our service in dealing with e-mails, telephone calls and text messages to and from our 'Users'. The 'Theory Test Booking Fee' is the combined DSA Theory Test Fee and the Theorytest.net administration fee. Please do not proceed to booking a Test if you have any doubt.

[brazilianwax]

Top hit on google for your search is the DSA - ie the official site.

Sponsored links aren't hits.

And I agree with the others - this site is so obviously non-Government!

[lellie]

this is quite interesting - I work for Pearsons who run the theory test and wonder if head office are aware of this (as we run the call centre that does the official booking too). I will bring it up next time I'm in.

[anewman]

I agree the site looks unprofessional. However, there are lots of people who are less web savvy than others who will be sucked in by these sort of things. Afterall it's what these people want. So have a heart please :)

[alwaysonthego]

Do you have a connection with this website by any chance??? :rolleyes:

[barjam]

cant believe i also fell for this too.. i know i never used theorytest.net and i cant prove it.... as my confirmation email is from them... grrrrr

[KeithP]

Dan, that was nearly two years ago.
:beer:

[dan_essex]

that'll teach me for not checking the date :rolleyes:

still pretty funny tho :rotfl:

[juno]

But some people don't understand that. My daddy followed an Ebay sponsored link, and thought it was still buying from Ebay.

My daddy also wanted to go from one part of the bbc site to another, and used google to do so

[KeithP]

But some people don't understand that.
<snip the rest>
Yes.
Clearly.
:rolleyes:

[jackiebackie]

I can't believe that a whole year on I have fallen for this scam. My daughter logged on to book her theory test. Not being worldlywise she logged onto the first site that came up on google for theory test bookings. This site looks so legitimate and even uses Paypal. I paid £48 for a test that costs £31. There is nothing on the site to highlight the extra fees. Cos if they did, who in their right mind would book through them! How does Paypal allow itself to be part of this scam? We need to make more people aware. How can we do this. And I don't want any smart alec answers from computer nerds who say that we should have known better. The fact that so many ordinary folk are falling for this scam makes it WRONG! Martin, can't you mention it on GMTV??

[Inactive]

And I don't want any smart alec answers from computer nerds who say that we should have known better. The fact that so many ordinary folk are falling for this scam makes it WRONG! Martin, can't you mention it on GMTV??

I am not a computer nerd, but you really should have known better, there is no contact, no phone number, no address on the Home Page, yet you happily put your details in to the site, including your card details.

It is in fact not a scam as such, it is a private service that makes a charge, you chose to use it when the official site makes no charge.

Who's fault is that?

[KeithP]

This site looks so legitimate and even uses Paypal.
:rotfl:Do you know of any Government organisations that use Paypal?

There is nothing on the site to highlight the extra fees.
I easily found the following statement on their website...
TheoryTest.net is an independent company, we do not administer the DSA / DVTA Test booking system. Consequently we charge an administration fee in addition to the DSA / DVTA Test Fee to cover our costs and time involved in making Test bookings and alterations with the DSA / DVTA on behalf of 'Users' and to offset the costs of our service in dealing with postal notifications, e-mails, telephone calls and text messages to and from our 'Users' including dealing with licence advice and queries and obtaining cancellations with the DSA / DVTA on behalf of 'Users' and re-scheduling test appointments as necessary.
The 'Fee for booking your Theory Test' is the combined DSA / DVTA Theory Test Fee (Currently £31.00) and the TheoryTest.net administration fee of £17.00 (including VAT at current rate).
Please do not proceed to booking a Test if you have any doubts and do not agree to paying our administration charges.

P.s. I hope you don't think that is a 'smart Alec' answer.

[davidpm]

My son got caught out by this as well. I think there's a few things to remember here before being high and mighty and claiming it's obvious. Firstly, how many people actually bother reading all the T's & C's on any site they use. They should, but how many actually do. Secondly, I personally object to an American company (Pearsons) managing this at all anyway and have taken it up with the govt (to no effect but that's nothing new is it. Gov't services should be run by UK companies not foreign). So the paypal bit didn't ring any alarm bells, only a 'flaming hell they're using that as well now' response.

So yes I do think it's a 'smart Alec' answer. Pearsons know about it, they know how it works, they know the credit card numbers used to book tests via theorytest.net and it would be very easy for them to refuse to use them, but they don't. I will be taking this up with them.

It is a scam? - no it's not a scam as such because a scam by definition means that you're paying for something you don't get. In this case you do actually get the test. It is ethical and moral? No I don't think it is.

Having said that, I complained directly to theorytest.net and requested the £17 difference be refunded and the actually refunded the whole amount. So someone there has some morals.

[underlay_guru]

1. The OP has 1 post to his/her name....

2. More and more companies are becoming aware that a mention in MSE puts them further up the google results.

3. Combine points 1 & 2 together.....

[underlay_guru]

Davidpm quote: "Having said that, I complained directly to theorytest.net and requested the £17 difference be refunded and the actually refunded the whole amount. So someone there has some morals."

1. Davidpm also has 1 post to his/her name....

2. More and more companies are becoming aware that a mention in MSE puts them further up the google results.

3. Combine points 1 & 2 together.....

[dbates]

I am shocked to see that these thief’s are still doing business as I was ripped off by them last year and I did complain to DSA, but shocked to see that nothing happened. They are still ripping off people’s hard earned money during this really difficult time where £17 can go a long way charging that sort money for nothing is a crime, I request Martin to bring this website on his show so that no one else should suffer from this terrible scam.
I think these people don’t have any morals and are worse than animals and I am sure God will punish them for their deeds.

[Inactive]

I think these people don’t have any morals and are worse than animals and I am sure God will punish them for their deeds.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

[Happychappy]

Oh no....not another god botherer, surely a word in the right direction could have these heathens smighted and begetted or begonned or whatever the language is .

[bumpoowee]

To be honest, the people that have fallen for this scam should be grateful - they are clearly the sort of people the saying 'a fool and his money are soon parted' was written about.

They are lucky that they haven't been scammed for a lot more than £20 or so, and should look on this as a very cheap lesson in why you need to actually know what you are doing when spending money.

fyi I am very net savvy but booked my driving test over the phone.. best way to do it really.

[RobertoMoir]

This site looks so legitimate and even uses Paypal.

The presence of paypal is no guarantee that something is legitimate. In fact, outside of a few places where paypal is entrenched and does make sense, I'd go as far as to say the exact opposite.

[CHR15]

Some of these people falling for this openly blatent con are surely going to be rich soon anyway when the Nigerian Deal pays up and the Euro Lottery win arrives.