UK-passport.net

zaax

I thought Google were going to do something about these sites.
Do they break Googles advertising rules?

RichardD1970

hpuse wrote: »

Check this thread, first post.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/486903

That thread doesn't exist any more, which one was it?

wantmemoney

RichardD1970 wrote:

That thread doesn't exist any more, which one was it?

"Steps to take if you have been ripped-off by a copy-cat government website"
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4869030

it's working now so it should be working tomorrow!

wantmemoney

There have been a lot of misleading comments posted on this thread claiming these copycat sites are 'legal'.

The only people these misleading posts are helping are the parties that are running these rip-off web sites.
They are deterring genuine victims with genuine grievances from complaining to the appropriate authority.

http://www.oft.gov.uk/OFTwork/consumer-enforcement/consumer-enforcement-completed/government-services/#.Ut8hCdLFLs0

Investigations into the deceptive online selling of government services
Case opened: 14 July 2011
Case closed: 8 November 2012

Summary of work

The OFT has decided, on administrative priority grounds, to close its investigation into websites which charge consumers for processing applications for a range of government services, such as European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs), which are available free or at a low cost if obtained directly from the government.

The investigation examined whether there had been an infringement of consumer protection legislation, in particular the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Among the matters investigated, the OFT looked at whether these websites were deceptively presenting themselves as official government websites.

The OFT found that in most instances the sites investigated carried statements explaining the nature of the service provided and disclaiming any official status or affiliation with the government.

That was only one element of these websites that the OFT decided was legal.

The OFT's remit does not include 'illegal'(misleading) advertising. That is the regulatory responsibility of the ASA.

since 2011 the ASA have decided that a number of these copycat rip-off sites were misleading and trading illegal.

Pollycat

wantmemoney wrote: »

There have been a lot of misleading comments posted on this thread claiming these copycat sites are 'legal'.

The only people these misleading posts are helping are the parties that are running these rip-off web sites.
They are deterring genuine victims with genuine grievances from complaining to the appropriate authority.

since 2011 the ASA have decided that a number of these copycat rip-off sites were misleading and trading illegal.

Wow!
Since 2011?
So when will we see these illegal websites closed down?

You say a number of these websites 'were misleading and trading illegal'.

Are they still 'misleading and trading illegal'?

Pollycat

wantmemoney wrote: »

"Steps to take if you have been ripped-off by a copy-cat government website"
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4869030

it's working now so it should be working tomorrow!

I suggest people read the comments about the first post in the above mentioned thread before following 'the steps to take...'.

As proven by a number of posters on this thread, the best first step is to check if the company you used has a refund policy.
If it has, follow the instructions.

The author of the above mentioned thread (Hpuse) has been pretty disparaging about the experiences of several new posters who have told of their refund experiences and doesn't feel it is necessary to check if there is a refund policy.

I would take the advice given by Hpuse in post #491 with a very large pinch of salt.

Poppie68

Pollycat wrote: »

I suggest people read the comments about the first post in the above mentioned thread before following 'the steps to take...'.

As proven by a number of posters on this thread, the best first step is to check if the company you used has a refund policy.
If it has, follow the instructions.

The author of the above mentioned thread (Hpuse) has been pretty disparaging about the experiences of several new posters who have told of their refund experiences and doesn't feel it is necessary to check if there is a refund policy.

I would take the advice given by Hpuse in post #491 with a very large pinch of salt.

Or just ignore it all together,there is so much mis-information.

gb12345

Pollycat wrote: »

The author of the above mentioned thread (Hpuse) has been pretty disparaging about the experiences of several new posters who have told of their refund experiences and doesn't feel it is necessary to check if there is a refund policy.

It appears that hpuse doesn't believe in the "be nice to newbies" badge and just dismisses the experiences of these newbies as irrelevant, whilst at the same time stating that post counts mean nothing - hmm, double standards there.

But the facts are that these "newbies" have actually done the sensible thing and got their refunds.

hpuses posts are full of misinformation and he has repeatedly ignored requests to confirm that he has followed his own advice and got a refund by doing so.

So who do you believe? The posters who have taken action and got a result or someone who constantly regurgitates the same incorrect advice but is unable to back it up with evidence it works?

Pollycat

Yes, the thread started by Hpuse mentioned above may confuse some posters desperate to get their money back into believing that it is official, accurate advice.

Lots of posters have questioned the information and advice in said thread.

If you have been a victim of a copy-cat website and want your money back - be very careful you don't fall for the advice given by Hpuse thinking it will get you your money back.

hpuse

Pollycat wrote: »

Wow!
Since 2011?
So when will we see these illegal websites closed down?

You say a number of these websites 'were misleading and trading illegal'.

Are they still 'misleading and trading illegal'?

When a post with relevant points comes, PollyCat will barge in with usual when/what/how questions that would calm the soul of his/her's and those fella posters:rotfl: