Driving Test Theory Test Scam

juno

But some people don't understand that. My daddy followed an Ebay sponsored link, and thought it was still buying from Ebay.

My daddy also wanted to go from one part of the bbc site to another, and used google to do so

KeithP

juno wrote: »

But some people don't understand that.
<snip the rest>

Yes.
Clearly.
:rolleyes:

jackiebackie

I can't believe that a whole year on I have fallen for this scam. My daughter logged on to book her theory test. Not being worldlywise she logged onto the first site that came up on google for theory test bookings. This site looks so legitimate and even uses Paypal. I paid £48 for a test that costs £31. There is nothing on the site to highlight the extra fees. Cos if they did, who in their right mind would book through them! How does Paypal allow itself to be part of this scam? We need to make more people aware. How can we do this. And I don't want any smart alec answers from computer nerds who say that we should have known better. The fact that so many ordinary folk are falling for this scam makes it WRONG! Martin, can't you mention it on GMTV??

Inactive

jackiebackie wrote: »

And I don't want any smart alec answers from computer nerds who say that we should have known better. The fact that so many ordinary folk are falling for this scam makes it WRONG! Martin, can't you mention it on GMTV??

I am not a computer nerd, but you really should have known better, there is no contact, no phone number, no address on the Home Page, yet you happily put your details in to the site, including your card details.

It is in fact not a scam as such, it is a private service that makes a charge, you chose to use it when the official site makes no charge.

Who's fault is that?

KeithP

jackiebackie wrote: »

This site looks so legitimate and even uses Paypal.

:rotfl:Do you know of any Government organisations that use Paypal?

jackiebackie wrote: »

There is nothing on the site to highlight the extra fees.

I easily found the following statement on their website...

TheoryTest.net is an independent company, we do not administer the DSA / DVTA Test booking system. Consequently we charge an administration fee in addition to the DSA / DVTA Test Fee to cover our costs and time involved in making Test bookings and alterations with the DSA / DVTA on behalf of 'Users' and to offset the costs of our service in dealing with postal notifications, e-mails, telephone calls and text messages to and from our 'Users' including dealing with licence advice and queries and obtaining cancellations with the DSA / DVTA on behalf of 'Users' and re-scheduling test appointments as necessary.
The 'Fee for booking your Theory Test' is the combined DSA / DVTA Theory Test Fee (Currently £31.00) and the TheoryTest.net administration fee of £17.00 (including VAT at current rate).

Please do not proceed to booking a Test if you have any doubts and do not agree to paying our administration charges.

P.s. I hope you don't think that is a 'smart Alec' answer.

davidpm

My son got caught out by this as well. I think there's a few things to remember here before being high and mighty and claiming it's obvious. Firstly, how many people actually bother reading all the T's & C's on any site they use. They should, but how many actually do. Secondly, I personally object to an American company (Pearsons) managing this at all anyway and have taken it up with the govt (to no effect but that's nothing new is it. Gov't services should be run by UK companies not foreign). So the paypal bit didn't ring any alarm bells, only a 'flaming hell they're using that as well now' response.

So yes I do think it's a 'smart Alec' answer. Pearsons know about it, they know how it works, they know the credit card numbers used to book tests via theorytest.net and it would be very easy for them to refuse to use them, but they don't. I will be taking this up with them.

It is a scam? - no it's not a scam as such because a scam by definition means that you're paying for something you don't get. In this case you do actually get the test. It is ethical and moral? No I don't think it is.

Having said that, I complained directly to theorytest.net and requested the £17 difference be refunded and the actually refunded the whole amount. So someone there has some morals.

underlay_guru

1. The OP has 1 post to his/her name....

2. More and more companies are becoming aware that a mention in MSE puts them further up the google results.

3. Combine points 1 & 2 together.....

underlay_guru

Davidpm quote: "Having said that, I complained directly to theorytest.net and requested the £17 difference be refunded and the actually refunded the whole amount. So someone there has some morals."

1. Davidpm also has 1 post to his/her name....

2. More and more companies are becoming aware that a mention in MSE puts them further up the google results.

3. Combine points 1 & 2 together.....

dbates

I am shocked to see that these thief’s are still doing business as I was ripped off by them last year and I did complain to DSA, but shocked to see that nothing happened. They are still ripping off people’s hard earned money during this really difficult time where £17 can go a long way charging that sort money for nothing is a crime, I request Martin to bring this website on his show so that no one else should suffer from this terrible scam.
I think these people don’t have any morals and are worse than animals and I am sure God will punish them for their deeds.

Inactive

dbates wrote: »

I think these people don’t have any morals and are worse than animals and I am sure God will punish them for their deeds.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: