Driving Licence Renewal Rip Off - Beware!!!

Avoriaz

Strider590 wrote: »

If you can't see the colour difference between the ads (yellowish background) and the search results (white), you need to change your monitors colour settings.

Finally never click on those ads when your searching for something specific.

I googled "driving licence renewal" last month and got similar results to the OP.

Fortunately I did spot that the "www.gov.uk" site was second on the list so I didn't use the "www.driving license.uk" site.

The background colour difference on my laptop is so marginal that it isn't immediately obvious.

I sympathise with the OP. It is an easy and sadly expensive mistake to make.

In my case I didn't even have to pay £20 as I was changing my address. I got a shiny new licence for free to replace my battered and torn old paper one that must have been over 30 years old. Sorry OP, I'm not trying to rub it in.

JoolzS

Avoriaz wrote: »

In my case I didn't even have to pay £20 as I was changing my address. I got a shiny new licence for free to replace my battered and torn old paper one that must have been over 30 years old. Sorry OP, I'm not trying to rub it in.

And now every 10 years it will cost you at least £20 plus the cost of a photo to renew it. I'm sticking with my battered and torn old paper licence as long as I can.

Avoriaz

JoolzS wrote: »

And now every 10 years it will cost you at least £20 plus the cost of a photo to renew it. I'm sticking with my battered and torn old paper licence as long as I can.

Well, I am 61 now so there are not too many 10 years left for me.

Anyway, in 10 years time I can move address again temporarily and get another free licence, then move back home again. That sounds MSE.

Actually, I will be over 70 in 10 years time.:eek:

Jamie_Carter

Dabla27 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies. I still feel like a total idiot for not paying close attention and have no one to blame but myself. Anyway its done now and ill know better next time.

However, they have still not provided their service as quoted saying they will send out a completed form with no omissions etc. So surely there is someone I could go to regarding this, and preferably not them again due to the price of the call.

Also I did not pay via Credit card either, I assume this makes things more difficult?

How did you pay?

Dabla27_2

Ok so to update, I called their premium number to speak with them about my application, to say the man was hostile was an understatement. I assume they receive calls of complaint a lot. Anyways, explained everything to him, reeled off where they failed in there T's&C's and I have managed to get 50% of my money back, as they have apparently provided their service in the sense they checked my details, but I don't agree that sending a blank form can merit providing a service. Knowing that these guys have a track record of hanging up on you and never giving any money back I feel a 50% refund was a small but slightly rewarding victory in this whole situation. I emailed them to confirm what was discussed and have since received a reply saying my cheque will be with me in 7 working days (fingers crossed).

On top of that though, I receive a text from Tesco, my network provider, saying I have went over my bill. Look it up and the cost of the phone call came to just over £20!!!!! I phoned up Tesco explaining the situation and to see if they could do anything and thankfully they credited my account for the cost of the call. I wasn't expecting that in the slightest but I guess if you don't ask.....

Couldn't praise them highly enough.

So all in looks like this whole debacle is coming to an end to the tune of £25. Not something I will be doing again in a hurry. I am absolutely kicking my self for being so careless and have no one to blame but my self. Also got to give a shout out to Tesco mobile for their part in making this less of an expense, absolute credit to the mobile world.

Just to clarify Jamie Carter, I payed by debit card.

[Deleted User]

It is the same with those fake theory driving test booking websites that charge you extra £50 to book a test. Which you can book yourself on https://www.dsa.gov.uk

Also install AdBlock from your web browser's app/addon store then you won't see these dodgy adverts on Google.

Jamie_Carter

Dabla27 wrote: »

Ok so to update, I called their premium number to speak with them about my application, to say the man was hostile was an understatement. I assume they receive calls of complaint a lot. Anyways, explained everything to him, reeled off where they failed in there T's&C's and I have managed to get 50% of my money back, as they have apparently provided their service in the sense they checked my details, but I don't agree that sending a blank form can merit providing a service. Knowing that these guys have a track record of hanging up on you and never giving any money back I feel a 50% refund was a small but slightly rewarding victory in this whole situation. I emailed them to confirm what was discussed and have since received a reply saying my cheque will be with me in 7 working days (fingers crossed).

On top of that though, I receive a text from Tesco, my network provider, saying I have went over my bill. Look it up and the cost of the phone call came to just over £20!!!!! I phoned up Tesco explaining the situation and to see if they could do anything and thankfully they credited my account for the cost of the call. I wasn't expecting that in the slightest but I guess if you don't ask.....

Couldn't praise them highly enough.

So all in looks like this whole debacle is coming to an end to the tune of £25. Not something I will be doing again in a hurry. I am absolutely kicking my self for being so careless and have no one to blame but my self. Also got to give a shout out to Tesco mobile for their part in making this less of an expense, absolute credit to the mobile world.

Just to clarify Jamie Carter, I payed by debit card.

I would still report them to Watchdog and Trading Standards, to prevent them doing the same to others.

iolanthe07

The same thing happens if you want visa waiver entry to the USA or the European Health card. The first few sites are all rip off merchants who charge you to do something you can do yourself very simply and easily.

Dabla27_2

I emailed trading standards who have just got back to me to make contact. Ill keep you all posted as to how it goes.

Joe_Malone

Firstly if you are conned by these people, under no circumstances should you contact their premium rate line for satisfaction, the only people left satisfied by this approach will be Caveat Viator Ltd and their business model recognises that disgruntled customers will want to call and complain. This adds insult to injury and throws good money after bad. Written contact only, it's formal and it costs nothing.
I was duped by these people for a driving license renewal (Hey, we all have our off days). Went on their site which is designed to look like the DVLA site and completed my application and paid the £60 fee which I thought was to the DVLA. Six days later got their envelope through the post and realised I had been duped. I immediately returned all documents to them with a letter (sent via registered post) giving them 7 days to provide a full refund or I would raise a small claim in the county court. I then received a lengthy email explaining that it was all my fault for not reading their terms and conditions blah blah blah. I immediately raised a claim with the county court which cost £25 and took ten minutes to do online. Guess what... As soon as they received the court notification they sent an email asking who the should make the cheque for refund payable to. Of course I haven't received this yet and I have also asked for additional court costs of £25 which if they refuse to pay I will reclaim with a second small claims application. It seems they have tried to exploit a loophole in the distance selling regulations that exempts them from the 7 day cooling off period normally standard for the provision of services. However I'll share my last email with Caveat Viator Ltd and you will see on what grounds I would be making my claim through county court...
Good Afternoon,

As you know by now, the matter has been put through to County Court after you initially refused to refund my fee's. You had every opportunity to avoid additional fee's and and now must be fully aware of the value claimed. Make a cheque payable to Mr J P Malone to the value of £85 which includes my initial £60 fee and an additional £25 in court costs. If you refuse to refund that amount I will simply raise a second county court claim to cover the short fall and you will incur additional fee's. You were adequately warned about additional costs and given the opportunity to provide recompense. If I'm honest, I'd have preferred to deal with this issue through the courts. Your business model is fraudulent, the OFT make it very clear that 'administrative or preparatory work cannot be equated to the carrying out of a service.' This is stated in their 2006 guide for business in distance selling. Moreover your business model needs testing from a contract law perspective. There has to be discernible benefit or consideration to the customer to make a contract valid. The DVLA provide a checking and validation service as part of their application process so what you offer does nothing but delay license renewal. In fact it could be strongly argued that what you provide is actually a detriment because it simply delays the application process. In short I think you're a shameless bunch of crooks and I'd happily see you in court.

If you have been duped by this company for driving licence, vehicle registration or European Health Insurance Cards please please raise a county court claim. I suspect that they are well aware that their business model will not stand up to legal scrutiny. Their 'service' is downright ridiculous and fraudulent, they claim to offer a form checking service but simply print off a form that you filled in and ask you to check that the details you completed are correct before returning it to the DVLA. It would be amusing if they weren't ripping off so many people.