The Google adverts helping to rip-off consumers

dalesrider

Also interesting to note that when these sites are reported to the Department's involved etc.
They have no interest in shutting them down.

Perhaps the issue is that people simply believe everything that google throws at them and not taking a few seconds to actually READ the site they are directed too...

pmduk

Why does everyone expect to be spoonfed these days? If you can't be bothered to do a little research, it's nobody else's fault.

pmduk

dalesrider wrote: »

Perhaps the issue is that people simply believe everything that google throws at them and not taking a few seconds to actually READ the site they are directed too...

I agree, think of all the threads with people complaining because they've bought dodgy goods, just because the co has a Google listing.

It's probably a compliment to Google that it's become such an essential part of people's internet experience in such a short period

wealdroam

dalesrider wrote: »

Also interesting to note that when these sites are reported to the Department's involved etc.
They have no interest in shutting them down.

This issue appears here from time to time.

Last October there was some discussion about a similar Land Registry 'front end' that charged an extra fee.

The Land Registry representative explained why that isn't always possible...

Land_Registry_representative wrote: »

...title information can be obtained directly from Land Registry using our online/postal services

The same information can also be obtained via a number of websites/companies.

Land Registry is not in a position to challenge what is in effect a 'commercial activity' like many others. A product is bought at one price and sold on at a premium.

However we are able to take action where we have concerns about websites or companies which erroneously suggest that they have our endorsement or give rise to confusion because their website is similar to ours or uses our branding etc.

There is though little we can do re domain names already created as these are available in an open market and it could be argued that it would be difficult for such companies or websites to establish a market without using terms such as title deeds or land registration. This is something that we continue to monitor though as the digital world develops.

So that leaves us with the issue of legitimacy of such companies and their services and whether they are fraudulent or 'scammers'.

In the first instance it seems quite clear that the copy documents they do supply are obtained from Land Registry. The same information is available to all our customers.

Whilst we do receive enquiries from their customers querying non-receipt or non-response to calls/emails these are relatively small in number. In other cases customers presumably get what they requested, albeit at a higher price than perhaps could have been paid - if this was not happening at all then I doubt very much if these companies would still exist and/or be paying for the advertised slots on search engines.

As Stu75 suggests such companies can often attach the premium for the actual act of searching and often their online Terms and Conditions will refer to this.
It is the same T&Cs and About Us pages which often include statements making it clear that they are not Land Registry and/or not endorsed by Land Registry - the 'small print' is always important from a legal perspective.

Clearly there are a number of people who are not happy with the service offered by these companies/websites but that is unfortunately not something Land Registry can take action on.

I would be very interested to hear from other posters as to any action taken by Trading Standards or other enforcement agencies.

As a further point, I have no interest in these adverts appearing at the top of Google search lists.

I avoid seeing them, and lots of other adverts, by using Firebox with the Adblock Lite add-on.

mo786uk

dalesrider wrote: »

Also interesting to note that when these sites are reported to the Department's involved etc.
They have no interest in shutting them down.

Thats because the domain or the hosting is likely to be based abroad and they don't usually care about UK law. Your local Trading Standards or the OFT cannot close down a questionnable website at the click of a finger.

dalesrider

mo786uk wrote: »

Thats because the domain or the hosting is likely to be based abroad and they don't usually care about UK law. Your local Trading Standards or the OFT cannot close down a questionnable website at the click of a finger.

Are they.....

Driving test

Book Your Driving Test Online Ltd
Nechells Place
Birmingham
B7 5AB

E111

Europe EHIC Services
Unit 7750
PO Box 6945
London
W1A 6US

passport

4 Thorpe Court,
Thorpe Waterville
Northants
NN14 3ED

mo786uk

https://www.book-your-driving-test-online.co.uk

Domain registered to a company in india and hosted in india

The Ltd company in the UK uses what appears to be a mailing address and the peopel behidn it are probably not in the UK

BOOK YOUR DRIVING TEST ONLINE LTD
UNIT 3 104
NECHELLS PLACE NECHELLS
BIRMINGHAM
UNITED KINGDOM
B7 5AB
Company No. 07651994

mo786uk

https://www.apply-ehic.org

Uses something called Privacy Protect who appear to be based in AUS and provided a servie to keep peopel hidden.Almost certainly wotn release data without a AUS court order. May not be worth getting a court order as the aco!!!! holder may have used fake details.. The address given again is a mailing address and is almost certainly worhtless. its not a limited company and the chances are they dont actually bother picking up any mail if they do have an account with the mailbox.


so 2 examples where massive amounts of time coudl be spent achieving nothing. do you think your cashstarpped trading standards could spend their time on UK issues where they can actually get a result?

dalesrider

Does not matter where the domain is registered....

The companies list a UK address, are listed at companies house and display VAT registration.

Does not get any more UK than that.

Trading standards should not need to get involved as the Gov departments should be resolving this issue.

Still at least its providing employment for people.
I know for a fact that the passport one does fill out the form for you and send it to you to add the other stuff required.
Funny but its posted from the UK as well.....

WHO4 Ltd is registered to collect personal data under the Data Protection Act 1998 for the purposes of United Kingdom Passport application services.
ICO notification number: Z3139167
VAT is charged at the applicable rate. VAT Number: GB 141 6358 24.
WHO4 Ltd, Incorporated in England and Wales, Company number 8020104.

mo786uk

And its one site of many of these types of site.

i've already shown with the other 2 sites that it would be extremley difficult and a lot of work to get those foreign registered/domain sites taken down

the passport service one is quite clear about what it does unlike some of the other dodgy ones that create the impression they are official sites or are giving you an extra service. they are not one of the ones that need to hide because they are highly unlikely to be brekaing the law.

i cant see any reason for taking the passport one down

which government depts should be taking down these sites then?