Driving Test Theory Test Scam

anewman

Inactive wrote: »

They are not running a " scam " they are providing a service, nobody is forced to use their service.

I get where you're coming from, but you tell me where it *says* they are offering a service. You click the "book a test" link then it goes on to ask for payment and says very little. It would be nice if it is a service to actually know about the service before paying for it without realising, and all the subterfuge. The site does not overtly pretend to be the DSA, although it does not make clear they have no association with the DSA either so some people could be forgiven for making the mistake.

I would go so far as to say they provide no service at all. Booking on the genuine website is fast and easy needing no more detail than on their site, and lets you see all the available test dates at any centres near your address and select one at your convenience. Something you won't get from this site who will just select any date.

I have reported the website to scamnesty, details here http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty/email-bin

If this scam is fully legal and morally justifiable then I might do it myself, could do with some cash :rotfl: plus I could make a better site than theirs with some effort.

Inactive

anewman wrote: »

I get where you're coming from, but you tell me where it *says* they are offering a service.

.

How about;

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

They have even put it in huge letters in their T&C's.;)

If anybody could realistically think that site was produced by, and run for a government department, then there is little hope to be honest.;)

People need to take more responsibility for their own actions.:(

anewman

Inactive wrote: »

How about;

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

They have even put it in huge letters in their T&C's.;)

Not linked to or highlighted on the payment page though (if it was I doubt they would be making any money at all) and you have to do a fair amount of reading/scrolling to get there.

It's like the agreements you have to agree to when you install software. I know I don't bother reading through all the thousands of lines of terms and conditions, and just tick I agree and then click the install button! I just want to use the software, I don't want to know about indemnity, liability, and whatever other nonsense I just want my software installed I could spend half my life reading terms and conditions, then I'd forget them anyway. I could have agreed to sell my soul to Satan and pay billions of pounds for all I know

Inactive

anewman wrote: »

It's like the agreements you have to agree to when you install software. I know I don't bother reading through all the thousands of lines of terms and conditions, and just tick I agree and then click the install button! I just want to use the software, I don't want to know about indemnity, liability, and whatever other nonsense I just want my software installed I could spend half my life reading terms and conditions, then I'd forget them anyway. I could have agreed to sell my soul to Satan and pay billions of pounds for all I know

Fair enough, but then you wouldn't come on here shouting " Scam " if you came unstuck .. would you?;)

The company in question clearly states this;

" 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 £20.00 (including VAT at current rate). "

So in all honesty I don't think it is a scam as such.

They are sort of acting like an Travel Agent, offering a service alternative to booking direct.;)

katyawillems76

I fell into this trap! it seems wrong that google allow them to be the first option that comes up when you search theory test. I have plenty of common sense, but I know very little about the DSA as driving is completely new to me so I just assumed this was a genuine site.
Does anyone have any thoughts on pursuing this? It seems wrong that this company is allowed to get away with this scam.
Best wishes
Katya

anewman

The difference is that the first link on Google is a paid-for advertisement, not an actual hit. I use Firefox with Ad Block Plus so don't even see the adverts

Inactive

katyawillems76 wrote: »

I fell into this trap! it seems wrong that google allow them to be the first option that comes up when you search theory test. I have plenty of common sense, but I know very little about the DSA as driving is completely new to me so I just assumed this was a genuine site.
Does anyone have any thoughts on pursuing this? It seems wrong that this company is allowed to get away with this scam.
Best wishes
Katya

Well you surely must know that the DSA is a government agency, do you honestly believe they would have a site that looks like it has been designed by a 4 year old?

Do you know of any government agency that accepts Paypal?

It is not a scam, it is an alternative service that makes a charge, which is clearly mentioned in their T&C's.

CornishW

I almost fell for this too and I'll tell you why. When I tried to book the theory test through the DSA the earliest date they could offer was about 4 weeks away. Yet on theorytest.net they could book a test within days.
When I saw they were going to charge me £48 I didn't go through with it because I worried that it wasn't a genuine test - plus I knew what the test really costs.
I do wonder, though, how they could offer the test earlier if all they do is book the test through the DSA for you?
(BTW, I decided to wait for test using the DSA website).

liamsmum05

think ive just been subject to this... paid onlinetheorytest.net £45 to book my theory test as had lots of money in paypal so thought why not.. got receipt email from paypal to say i paid cms online services £45 and shows up as booking form. the only contact details on the website is an email address. but does show a mobile number on paypal transaction but tried it and not recognised. have now opened a dispute through paypal as paid weds (17th mar) and should have recieved booking details by today yet as i went to open dispute there was a message off the site saying i would recieve it within 48 hours. ive reported the website as i think its a scam, i havent recieved a thing they still have my money and im not sure ill get it back! :-(

gracey123_2

Went on this website and booked a test.Realised that we had been ripped off.Looked at Terms & conditions and luckily bcause we acted before they started processing our request we were fully refunded after sending them an e mail-you have to act quickly though.If they have started to process your request they will only refund the £31 for the actual test not the £20 admin fee!!