UK-passport.net

Pollycat

Pollycat wrote: »

Did you use the website in the title of this thread?

If so, have you read the T&Cs?



I'm not going to say anything about stupidity in using these types of websites as I can understand how people do get caught out.

But I do think once you realised your mistake it would have been very sensible to check the T&Cs.
You may even have managed to get your refund request in before they started processing.
They clearly say 'contact us in writing', so there was no point in ringing them.

You say you sent them an email.
Have you sent your email to the address they give?
If not, I'd advise you to send another to the correct address.

If you didn't use UK-passport.net, you need to check the T&Cs of the website you did use.

Least:
I actually thought my post was helpful.

I went to the trouble of posting the T&Cs of the website mentioned in the title of this thread.

Not that surprising that I thought that was the website you used - as you didn't mention a different website.

Least wrote: »

Thanks for all the genuine help. I am really worried. The company was passportuk.com

Pollycat and wtfh, my apologies for not being perfect and forgetting to put the name of the actual website on for you. And sincere (well not really sincere as you appear quite nasty) for being emotional about losing my hard earned money to a scam. Probably better if you don't try to help me. Remember the old adage, if you have nothing good or positive to say please keep quiet.

Sorry for those who are actually trying to help me. I never know why people leave condescending messages for people who already know they have been an idiot. Seems to happen a lot on these forums.

The terms and conditions appear to basically state that I have no right to cancel as they will state that they have started services immediately.

You have the right to cancel your order for services within a statutory 7 working day cooling-off period except where the provision of such services commences within the cooling-off period. In these circumstances your right to cancel under this provision shall end as the said service will have deemed to have been provided.
If you are contracting as a consumer, you may have a statutory right to cancel a Contract at any time within seven working days of making your order under the Distance Selling Regulations. However, due to the nature of the Service which we provide, we will begin to provide the Service to you much before the end of this seven working day period.
By making your order with us and completing the Application form you are therefore providing your authority to us to begin providing our service straight away which means that you will not have the right to cancel your contract with us once you have made your order.
You will not be entitled to any refund of the money you have paid to us in accordance with condition ‘f’ unless we have been unable to deliver the Service to you, in which case we may refund all or part of the money paid at our absolute discretion.

I contacted the bank Monday morning who said the payment was pending so couldn't be stopped but I could contact them again when payment taken. This is what I really wanted help with. On what grounds could I get a chargeback. I'm assuming stupidity and falling for a legal misrepresentation is not going to cut it.

I called them so that I could notify them to stop the processing while I put it in writing. I then followed up with an email which I will follow up in writing. Any other tips. £69 is a lot of money to complete paperwork for me if it was a genuine site!!!

You're right, I'm not going to help you.

Even if I had the perfect answer to help you get your money back, I wouldn't give it to you after your comments.

Least wrote: »

I won't even waste my time replying to the people who just want to tell me AGAIN what I should have done. I know I should have read the terms and conditions BEFoRE I created a contract! I know I should have reviewed the site better! I am aware that they put an advisor on the site below the visual page that would have saved me all this hassle! Please refer to my first post that states this already. I know these companies are legal even if I don't think they should be.....

I am pleased that some of you out there have so much time on your hands to tell me things I already know and to basically just tell me I'm an idiot. Your responses are much appreciated (sarcasm obviously as I really think you must be very sad lonely people without careers or family or other things to occupy you that you want to make a complete stranger feel even more stupid than they already do).

As someone who clearly understands all there mistakes, I am ONLY asking advise from anyone who knows if there is anyway that I could get my money back.

I really have no interest in the sad know it alls who want to make themselves feel clever and trumped up with their knowledge of what I did wrong...... SURPRISINGLY as a very well educated person with a professional career and lovely full life, I already know exactly what I did wrong so please don't waste your time and mine with your rather ridiculous comments. Especially as most of you need to learn some decent grammar before you write sentences (childish comment I know but true)

Glad you're a "very well educated person with a professional career and lovely full life".
:rotfl:

Let's hope you don't make the same mistake with all the other websites that are out there to trap the unwary.

I'd list some of them for you but you don't deserve any help.

hpuse

Interesting to note all these "one way" posts without even attempting to look on 'rear-views' or self-reflection of what has been written/in writing for years; amazing statutes you would find here in these forums all being senile n'delinquent; I know am mentally and emotionally 'single' in this crowd attempting to make a point; nevermind.....:D

hpuse

Coopdivi wrote: »

Passports-uk.co.uk is a deliberately misleading website trying to give the impression that it is an official site. The disclaimer that you quote part of is at the bottom of the home page in tiny print, far smaller than any of the other font sizes used on that page.

Uk-passport.net, which is what the thread was originally about, are very upfront about the type of service they are offering. On their home page the disclaimer is in the same size font as most of the rest of the page. They repeat the gist of this disclaimer at the bottom of the page. In a box they say they charge £72.50 but with IPS there's no charge for their service. They even provide a hyperlink to the Post Office's own website.

Uk-passport.net are very explicit about what they offer and are not being misleading in any way whatsoever, in my opinion. They should be congratulated not castigated.

Excellent post, now we have law of economics, division of labour and as a result, of course, competition in this 'market' place ....:D

missprice

hpuse wrote: »

I think legal vs moral vs ethical side of these websites is now becoming a boring and tired looking debate....

Rather, lets debate why the only genuine "check and send" passport service still exists sadly, only over a counter and person.:D
http://www.postoffice.co.uk/passport-check-send

Legal vs moral is very important when people want a refund, as legally the site can keep it if they stuck to their side if the contract. It may be morally wrong but that wont get you a refund.
And what's to debate? And why debate it in here. If you don't like the way things are go harass your mp and others. Pointless on here its a limited audience.

hpuse wrote: »

Interesting to note all these "one way" posts without even attempting to look on 'rear-views' or self-reflection of what has been written/in writing for years; amazing statutes you would find here in these forums all being senile n'delinquent; I know am mentally and emotionally 'single' in this crowd attempting to make a point; nevermind.....:D

What?

hpuse wrote: »

Excellent post, now we have law of economics, division of labour and as a result, of course, competition in this 'market' place ....:D

What?

powerful_Rogue

Coopdivi wrote: »

Passports-uk.co.uk is a deliberately misleading website trying to give the impression that it is an official site. The disclaimer that you quote part of is at the bottom of the home page in tiny print, far smaller than any of the other font sizes used on that page.

Uk-passport.net, which is what the thread was originally about, are very upfront about the type of service they are offering. On their home page the disclaimer is in the same size font as most of the rest of the page. They repeat the gist of this disclaimer at the bottom of the page. In a box they say they charge £72.50 but with IPS there's no charge for their service. They even provide a hyperlink to the Post Office's own website.

Uk-passport.net are very explicit about what they offer and are not being misleading in any way whatsoever, in my opinion. They should be congratulated not castigated.

I think this is a bit of a give away on the front page of the website, along with all the other warnings.

Least_2

Thank you for those helpful people who tried to help me.

After lack of response from the company, I sent an email detailing that it would be the final one stating the ways in which I felt that I had been misled and detailed many quotes from the OFT report on these companies. This information was very detailed and clearly set out how companies were misleading people into thinking they were providing a different service from that which the consumer thought they were buying.

I also detailed the difference in their site to that of others providing their services such as passport.net which do flag up many warnings to ensure you are aware. Thank you coopdivi for your information.

Finally, I listed the actions I would take if a refund was not forthcoming and my contract with them cancelled on the grounds I had stated.

The end result. They have provided a refund!!!!!! I am over the moon. I will still be placing a formal complaint with the office of Fair Trading, with Trading Standards and I will copy this to my local MP. I have also placed warnings on social networking sites to warn other people so that they will not be as stupid as I have been and waste all the time I have had to waste.

Shows that these companies know that they could not stand up to continual complaints.

Thank you so much for those people who have tried to help me. It is so very much appreciated.

I don't know what to think about people who think a passport is not an essential so have no sympathy for people who are misled with these websites. Although life may be possible without a passport, it is not really a life for me. My life has been enriched by my travels around the world which is not possible without a passport. I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything and if it leads me to these kinds of companies then I have learned a valuable lesson about checking websites much more closely. I will not be falling for these kind of scams again.

powerful_Rogue

Least wrote: »

I don't know what to think about people who think a passport is not an essential so have no sympathy for people who are misled with these websites. Although life may be possible without a passport, it is not really a life for me. My life has been enriched by my travels around the world which is not possible without a passport. I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything and if it leads me to these kinds of companies then I have learned a valuable lesson about checking websites much more closely. I will not be falling for these kind of scams again.

Congratulations on your refund. Worth bearing in mind though that they may have done it as a gesture of goodwill, rather then the reason you gave of because they knew they was in the wrong.

Again, you wasn't misled, you simply failed to read what you was purchasing. You've got your refund, why not take some responsibility by your own lack of actions.

Pollycat

Least wrote: »

I don't know what to think about people who think a passport is not an essential so have no sympathy for people who are misled with these websites. Although life may be possible without a passport, it is not really a life for me.

I happen to think that a passport is not an essential.

I have one and have had for many years. mine is used at least 4 times each year.

But lots of people don't go abroad - for a variety of reasons.
Therefore they do not need a passport so, to them, it is not 'an essential'.

Least wrote: »

I don't know what to think about people who think a passport is not an essential so have no sympathy for people who are misled with these websites. Although life may be possible without a passport, it is not really a life for me.

This does not follow.

I don't think a passport is 'an essential' and I do actually have sympathy for people who are misled by these websites (and others offering similar goods/services that can be obtained free or at a reduced cost).

hpuse

Least wrote: »

Thank you for those helpful people who tried to help me.

After lack of response from the company, I sent an email detailing that it would be the final one stating the ways in which I felt that I had been misled and detailed many quotes from the OFT report on these companies. This information was very detailed and clearly set out how companies were misleading people into thinking they were providing a different service from that which the consumer thought they were buying.

I also detailed the difference in their site to that of others providing their services such as passport.net which do flag up many warnings to ensure you are aware. Thank you coopdivi for your information.

Finally, I listed the actions I would take if a refund was not forthcoming and my contract with them cancelled on the grounds I had stated.

The end result. They have provided a refund!!!!!! I am over the moon. I will still be placing a formal complaint with the office of Fair Trading, with Trading Standards and I will copy this to my local MP. I have also placed warnings on social networking sites to warn other people so that they will not be as stupid as I have been and waste all the time I have had to waste.

Shows that these companies know that they could not stand up to continual complaints.

Thank you so much for those people who have tried to help me. It is so very much appreciated.

I don't know what to think about people who think a passport is not an essential so have no sympathy for people who are misled with these websites. Although life may be possible without a passport, it is not really a life for me. My life has been enriched by my travels around the world which is not possible without a passport. I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything and if it leads me to these kinds of companies then I have learned a valuable lesson about checking websites much more closely. I will not be falling for these kind of scams again.

Well done! I am really pleased.

It is very important that people like you hold their heads up and not get put down by "you did not do justice to yourself by reading terms, your fault, you bought something you did not want from a legal company" - the ever repeating mantra.

This website is a good example of how con can happen while still staying and playing levels in legal field.
Fact remails the same - the service remain legal, but that does not give them an opportunity to provide a service by attempting to decieve the public by mis-representaiton of facts and yes "read the prints without faulting" modus operandi to pocket hard earned cash.:D

If there are a number of disputes and chargebacks in a month - then they will soon get their merchant account suspended. That is what I was told by a friend.

powerful_Rogue

hpuse wrote: »

Well done! I am really pleased.

It is very important that people like you hold their heads up and not get put down by "you did not do justice to yourself by reading terms, your fault, you bought something you did not want from a legal company" - the ever repeating mantra.

This website is a good example of how con can happen while still staying and playing levels in legal field.
Fact remails the same - the service remain legal, but that does not give them an opportunity to provide a service by attempting to decieve the public by mis-representaiton of facts and yes "read the prints without faulting" modus operandi to pocket hard earned cash.:D

If there are a number of disputes and chargebacks in a month - then they will soon get their merchant account suspended. That is what I was told by a friend.

Its no different to shops in the high street. They dont by law have to refund/exchnage if you purchase something you no longer want.

However many shops do refund or exchange to keep customers goodwill.

This site has decided to refund, despite not having to legally do so.

Again, there has been no deceit! This site has made if perfectly clear what the OP was purchasing. There are numerous warnings all over the home page that had the OP taken 10 seconds to read, she would have realised she was about to purchase a check and send service.

Seems like there cant be many chargebacks/dispues as these sites have been operating for years and havent had their merchant accounts suspended.

hpuse - Have you or will you be complaining to your local MP and the Office of Fair Trading about these sites?