We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

UK-passport.net

Options
1444547495071

Comments

  • hpuse
    hpuse Posts: 1,161 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 15 January 2014 at 5:11PM
    @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?

    @wantmemoney
    Of course, it amuses me when I read the 'sync'd' responses as well.

    And did you know, they all celebrate 'thanksgiving day' everyday by logging in these forums right here..:D
  • wealdroam
    wealdroam Posts: 19,180 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    hpuse wrote: »
    Of course, it amuses me when I read the 'sync'd' responses as well.

    And did you know, they all celebrate 'thanksgiving day' everyday by logging in these forums right here..:D

    Please advise how this post helps anyone.

    Can I suggest you stick to the subject of the thread.
  • hpuse
    hpuse Posts: 1,161 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    wealdroam wrote: »
    Please advise how this post helps anyone.

    Can I suggest you stick to the subject of the thread.

    Sure. how effective is Adblock plus in blocking these con-sites?
  • hpuse wrote: »
    Of course, it amuses me when I read the 'sync'd' responses as well.

    And did you know, they all celebrate 'thanksgiving day' everyday by logging in these forums right here..:D

    You mean it frustrates you when people point out your incorrect and back it up with facts?

    Its always a good sign a discussion has been won when someone has to resort to childish insults.
  • wealdroam
    wealdroam Posts: 19,180 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    hpuse wrote: »
    Sure. how effective is Adblock plus in blocking these con-sites?

    Very effective.

    For example, if I type renew passport into google I get:

    aa896de8-6ebd-47b6-9546-416e6f484624_zpsf3e69c4a.png



    You must agree that is better.

    Try it yourself with DVLA, EHIC, HMRC, etc.
  • hpuse
    hpuse Posts: 1,161 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    wealdroam wrote: »
    Very effective.

    For example, if I type renew passport into google I get:

    You must agree that is better.

    Try it yourself with DVLA, EHIC, HMRC, etc.

    I still see the website passports-uk.co.uk appearing in the search results(5th entry form the top)?
    Does this Adblocker tool change browsing behaviours? . Its pointless.
  • wealdroam
    wealdroam Posts: 19,180 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    hpuse wrote: »
    I still see the website passportsxxx.co.uk appearing in the search results(5th entry form the top)?
    Of course it is going to appear somewhere in the search results list... it's a website.
    No-one would use google, or any other search engine if they did not report valid findings.

    And the more times you mention the rogue website then the higher up the list it will appear.
    I really thought you would've understood that and thus refrained from mentioning the rogue site name more than necessary.

    The point is that the advert entries at the top of the results list no longer appear.

    hpuse wrote: »
    Does this Adblocker tool change browsing behaviours? .
    No idea. What are you talking about?
    It certainly hasn't changed my browsing behaviour.

    hpuse wrote: »
    Its pointless.
    If that's the result of your scientific evaluation, then so be it.
  • peachyprice
    peachyprice Posts: 22,346 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 16 January 2014 at 8:58AM
    hpuse wrote: »
    I still see the website passports-uk.co.uk appearing in the search results(5th entry form the top)?
    Does this Adblocker tool change browsing behaviours? . Its pointless.

    Oh dear, you really are a little dense. I can see why you may have lost money to one of these rogue sites.

    One of the main complaints that people who have used these rogue sites have made is that as they are paid for ads they appear first on the search result, most people then click the first one or two results believing that would be the official site. By ad blocking and pushing them down to 5th on the result a huge amount of their traffic will be lost.

    Some reading for you as you don't seem to understand the power of google advertising:

    http://www.ecreativeim.com/blog/2011/02/google-click-distribution-how-important-is-number-one-position/

    http://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2012/07/17/google-advertising

    Of course, instead of using an ad blocker people could just ignore the shaded pink results that come first that are the paid for google ads, works for me. Although it may not work for the people you are trying to protect who can't even read text on a page telling them they have not gone to the official site.
    Accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence and face your future without fear
  • I feel like such a fool for being duped by these con artists. I stupidly missed the warning on the site about not being affiliated with HMPO, and like previous posts, assumed it was the official passport office. I filled out the form, payed my £69 (YES - YOU HEARD RIGHT - £69), signed and returned the application form and thought no more of it. A couple of weeks later I received a letter from HMPO informing me that I hadn't paid their fee.

    Obviously, this is my fault for not taking more care.

    Their warning on the site should be changed to
    "DON'T USE US - WE ARE ROBBING B#STARDS AND MAKE MONEY FOR NOTHING"
  • gb12345
    gb12345 Posts: 3,055 Forumite
    gappason wrote: »
    Obviously, this is my fault for not taking more care.


    How refreshing, someone who takes responsibility for their own mistakes.

    gappason wrote: »
    Their warning on the site should be changed to
    "DON'T USE US - WE ARE ROBBING B#STARDS AND MAKE MONEY FOR NOTHING"

    But they didn't do nothing did they, they clearly provided you with the service that you paid them for as you received the form from them.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.