UK-passport.net

gb12345

hpuse wrote: »

a) Open a dispute by calling bank/CC company. Tell them very clearly that the business has misrepresented information prior to selling.

Point a) is a waste of time as well - there are no grounds for a chargeback and there is no misrepresentation. These sites are clear about the service they are providing and the fact that they are not affiliated with the official passport agency.

Obviously if you find one that is not clear about its status then you could report it to the ASA (unless you are a lazy muppet who just likes to spout rubbish on forums, but not take action :cool:)

powerful_Rogue

hpuse wrote: »

It is very important that people do the following

1) Read what you are about to purchase. 10 seconds reading what you are about to buy could save you purchasing something you dont actually need.

2) So you ignored step 1 eh?! Ok, Im presuming you didnt bother to check the terms and conditions? Ok, do it now! The site may go above and beyond what they legally have to and offer a refund.

3) No joy? Im afraid to say, this has been an expensive lesson to look at what you purchase in future.

powerful_Rogue

hpuse wrote: »

It is very important that people do the following if they think they were a victim of such online websites (Passport, driving license etc):
a) Open a dispute by calling bank/CC company. Tell them very clearly that the business has misrepresented information prior to selling.
b) Complain by calling trading standards giving details about the purchase made and other communications you have had with this website.

Both a) and b) are very important.

There is a TSS (local) and OFT (central) structure for information sharing and intelligent monitoring of similar trades in place. It is funded by us, the tax payers and that will take care of the best interest of us, consumers, not businesses.
We also have ASA (Advertising Standards Agency) to look into what these websites are saying in their labels.

Scams/con/scrulpious website like these are not new....The only way we can put the acts together is by making people complain. Yes, please complain otherwise they will continue as a menace to our community/society.

Why not put all this energy into contacting the OFT or your local MP?

wealdroam

hpuse wrote: »

We also have ASA (Advertising Standards Agency) to look into what these websites are saying in their labels.

Hpuse, I would've thought you of all people would make sure you get the name of an official organisation correct.

We have all seen how just a slight discrepancy in a name can lead one off to bogus websites where the unsuspecting get charged an arm and a leg for a service they neither needed or wanted.

The correct name of the organisation you are referring to is:

The Advertising Standards Authority.

Hope this helps.

Pollycat

Loushaw83 wrote: »

I have also fallen for this company too. When trying to apply for a passport for my son it's the first link that came up on google and I was taken straight to the form to fill in.

I wish google would ensure that the link to passport direct was below the official government website and then maybe not as many people would fall victim.

I realised what I'd done within minutes and have emailed and phoned several times to cancel the order but still haven't heard from them. Their terms and conditions state that you have seven days to cancel but I guess they try and ignore you for these second days. They gave already taken the money from my account.

Loushaw
Which company did you use?
There are a number being discussed on this thread although it was originally started about UK-Passport.net.

I posted this last week to someone in a similar situation:

Pollycat wrote: »

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

If so, have you read the T&Cs?

Terms of Business

Cancellation/Refund Policy
We charge a service fee of £72.50 for completing the online passport application process.
You may cancel your application for our service at any time up until we have processed your application and completed our service.
If you cancel before we have processed your application, we will issue a full refund.
If the application has been processed we will refund the full payment less a £8.00 administration fee
If you wish to exercise your right to cancel, please contact us in writing (email is best), as follows:
We are more than happy to issue a refund, but we can only issue refunds direct to your bank account. Please supply the following information:
Bank Account Number
Sort Code
Order ID
This information MUST be sent by email to: [EMAIL="refunds@uk-passport.net"]refunds@uk-passport.net[/EMAIL]
The remittance from UK-Passport.net tails can be found HERE.
Terms & Conditions

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.

So you can see there's no point in ringing them and no point emailing them UNLESS you send it to the right email address with the information they ask for.

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

Pollycat

hpuse wrote: »

Scams/con/scrulpious website like these are not new....The only way we can put the acts together is by making people complain. Yes, please complain otherwise they will continue as a menace to our community/society.

I guess the 'we' you refer to is the Royal 'we' as it seems clear that - despite all your protestations about these 'Scams/con/scrulpious (sic) websites' - you're not going to join in and complain.

Seems to me that you are actually condoning the existence of these companies by not complaining.

And it seems a lot of people who have used these companies are also giving out a 'I've been stuffed by one of these companies but I'm moving on and let all the other people coming behind me take their chances 'cos I'm not prepared to do anything to help them' attitude.

As long as this attitude exists, things will just continue and more & more of these types of websites will spring up to trap the unwary to part with unnecessary money.

Pollycat

hpuse wrote: »

It is very important that people do the following if they think they were a victim of such online websites (Passport, driving license etc):
a) Open a dispute by calling bank/CC company. Tell them very clearly that the business has misrepresented information prior to selling.
b) Complain by calling trading standards giving details about the purchase made and other communications you have had with this website.

OK, dealing specifically with Hpuse's advice about involving your bank:

This is an extract from a Daily Mail (yeah, I know guys :cool:) article about these websites:

Judith Martinez, 69, a widow from Greenford, West London, was also duped by the passportdirect website.
Two months ago, she paid it £69 for the renewal of her passport and realised her mistake too late. Her bank refused to refund her money while passportdirect stonewalled her emails.

I would like Hpuse to comment on this and explain why this person's bank refused to refund her money.

Could it be, Hpuse, that - despite all your protestations to the contrary - banks do not see paying money to (the majority of) these websites as fraudulent because of the way they are set up and worded?
In fact, exactly as other posters have been telling you.

This is the MSE thread it was posted on. The link to the article is in the first post.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4868715

peachyprice

hpuse wrote: »

It is very important that people do the following if they think they were a victim of such online websites (Passport, driving license etc):
a) Open a dispute by calling bank/CC company. Tell them very clearly that the business has misrepresented information prior to selling.
b) Complain by calling trading standards giving details about the purchase made and other communications you have had with this website.

Both a) and b) are very important.

There is a TSS (local) and OFT (central) structure for information sharing and intelligent monitoring of similar trades in place. It is funded by us, the tax payers and that will take care of the best interest of us, consumers, not businesses.
We also have ASA (Advertising Standards Agency) to look into what these websites are saying in their labels.

There is no misrepresentation. All of these websites state clearly on their opening page that they are not the official sites and that you can get the same service from the official site, the fact that people are willing to use these websites without even reading what is in front of them does not make them as scam. People need to take responsibility for their own actions.

The top 3 sponsored links from google:

https://www.passport-uk.co.uk/Default.aspx?gclid=CK_94N-LgLwCFW_MtAodTjkA3A

Our services are not in any way affiliated with any UK Government body including HM Passport Office. We provide a reviewing and submitting service for all UK passport applications charging a service processing fee. You can apply autonomously to HM Passport Office , avoiding costs for checking and processing, by logging on to their authorised website. Please read our Terms and Conditions before using our website and services.

http://www.passport.uk.com/?gclid=COTThrWLgLwCFQkEwwodbzgAUA

A similar checking service can be obtained from a Post Office at a reduced fee or you can apply without a checking service where there will be no checking fee payable. We are not affiliated with Post Office, IPS or any government body.

http://www.passports-office.co.uk/

This website is not affiliated with identity and passport service from which similar information is available for free.

How much clearer do you need it to be. Flashing lights and neon colours perhaps?

Surely the fact that they don't even look like official sites should give people reason to read exactly what service they are being offered?

wantmemoney

@hpuse do you think it odd that there is a 'team' of like minded posters all posting (at every opportunity) the same nonsense of the clear warnings on the front pages of these rip-off sites...."Our services are not in any way affiliated with any UK Government body".

What exactly is that 'warning' supposed to tell potential 'customer' about the service and the price?

wealdroam

wantmemoney wrote: »

@hpuse do you think it odd that there is a 'team' of like minded posters all posting (at every opportunity) the same nonsense of the clear warnings on the front pages of these rip-off sites...."Our services are not in any way affiliated with any UK Government body".

Not sure what point you are trying to make here.
Do you think it odd?

wantmemoney wrote: »

What exactly is that 'warning' supposed to tell potential 'customer' about the service and the price?

I can help with that though.

The ASA and/or the OFT told them to make it clear that they were not the official sites.

Hpuse quoted elsewhere a very useful piece of advice from a Senior Trading Standards Officer:

Jennifer Hampton, senior trading standards officer, advises checking that the site you use is not a third party agency before offering up payment details.

Perhaps you can now understand why the warnings are there.