UK-passport.net

dons1862

thanks ...is it safe to give paypal details . I'm just worried about giving them more info ?

wealdroam

dons1862 wrote: »

thanks ...is it safe to give paypal details . I'm just worried about giving them more info ?

Yes.

It's also safe to give bank details.
Your sort code and account number is across the bottom of every cheque you write.

But don't take my word for it... phone your bank or phone Paypal.

Pollycat

I've read lots of posts about people giving bank details (as per the website information on refund policy) and getting a refund.

If you don't give your details out, it's doubtful you'll get a refund that way.

Your bank or credit card company may be as obliging as member Stopped says his was but you may also get this response (posted on another thread 3/2/2014):

pzuk wrote: »

I have just fallen for this passport renewal con, I googled passport renewal and (in a hurry) thought I was on the official gov site. Just paid £89.50 x2 for what is just two passport application forms with my names on! Paid with debit card, rang Lloyds bank, who said it was my own fault. I follow MSE, but I had never heard of these "fake" gov sites. I am an IT expert & I fell for it.

I've also read news articles where people say their bank/credit card company refused to help with a refund.

Valli

With all due respect you have already given them lots of information anyway.

hpuse

@dons1862

You clear have two options to get your money back

a) you can insist they refund on the same account you paid the money OR
b) give you bank/paypal details

Personally, I would insist them to refund on the same card.

What the trader appears to be doing here is to avoid their merchant bank monitoring refunds going through.

Stopped_2

Yes it's true your bank account no.and sort code are on the cheques but they have all your other information as well easy to tie it altogether why can't they refund your credit card they take it quick enough.My credit card company told me not to give bank details.

Light_Blue_2

Unfortunately I misinterpreted the function of this site although it does clearly state that the site is not connected with the Passport Service. They do pass on the information to the Passport Service because I have recently received the official document to sign and return. However their 'service charge' is strangely £72.50 which just happens to be the cost of renewal. This might lead anyone to assume that the passport fee has been included with the information. I have ended up paying £145 for renewal. Their site makes mention that a new photograph will be required when the official document is signed and returned but no mention that a further £72.50 will be required.
I have been in touch with the Advertising Standards Authority and whilst they are not able to intervene to try to get my money back they are trying to get some of these sites closed and/or give clearer details.
My credit card doesn't seem to have been used fraudulently but I intend getting a replacement.
A costly lesson learnt.
The BBC Money programme this morning dealt with a similar problem in relation to Tax Returns.
There are a lot of then out there!!!!

jung1es

@Meer: When one of these sites actually provides a link to the genuine site, how can that be called "deceptive" ? All of them state on their homepage that they are not affiliated to the official government department, how is that "deceptive" ?

> If people are being duped into purchasing a service they don't need, don't want and believe they're getting more then it's deception.

What more would you like them to do ?

> Describe their services in a way that ensures people don't buy from them expecting a new passport only to find they only get forms. It would be VERY easy.

What would you expect Google to do ? > Stop taking their money

If they start banning companies who tell the truth then where the hell will that lead ? > Google already have an extensive list of banned companies / products that they won't advertise. Fireworks for example...

Have you actually looked at these sites ? Yes! Extensively thank you

Keep fighting them everyone...

Btw I've just done a quick check on Google Adwords. To get a top three position will cost the companies about 80p - £1 per click. So if you were to 'investigate' each company a few times by clicking on their ads it would cost them a bit of dosh.

wealdroam

Stopped wrote: »

Yes it's true your bank account no.and sort code are on the cheques but they have all your other information as well easy to tie it altogether why can't they refund your credit card they take it quick enough.My credit card company told me not to give bank details.

That's fine.

If you remember, I did say:

wealdroam wrote: »

But don't take my word for it... phone your bank or phone Paypal.

One reason they don't want to refund to your credit card might be that they will have to pay a fee to do that.
Another might be that Visa/Mastercard might become more interested in a large number of refunds being processed by a particular company.

Valli

jung1es wrote: »

> Describe their services in a way that ensures people don't buy from them expecting a new passport only to find they only get forms. It would be VERY easy.

If they did this hardly anyone would buy from them.

They know full well what they are doing they are 'providing a service' and they are careful to stay within the law. They get round the DSRs, for instance, by insisting they start the service immediately - they are there to trap the unwary, those who are not familiar with how, exactly, hits get to the top of the page on Google. Their websites sometime use similar colours to the official websites - all designed to trap the unwary.
It is, IMO deceptive marketing and it must be an easy way to make money.
Their pricing structure is, IMO also misleading - either people are persuaded they are getting a bargain or by charging, for the service exactly what the actual documentation also costs in addition to the cost of the actual diocumentation.

So we have to try to educate people - not to pick the top hit on a website but, far more importantly - to research exactly what they are buying BEFORE they buy.

I do wonder exactly who owns all these websites - and whether there is any political affiliation. It would, surely, be easy to legislate against them.