Passport Application scam

jeff_chandler

I required a fast track Passport to enable me to go on holiday. The passport only had 5 months remaining and it required 6 months to visit Turkey.
On September 23rd I filled in a renewal form on what looked like an official passport web site. After submitting the form for a quick appointment I was prompted with another web site asking for a payment of £49.98, I was unsure what this was for and presumed it was a deposit?
I then received an e mail telling me they had booked an appointment for Friday 26th September at the Liverpool officeat 10.30 am but the appointment was made for me in another name. Mrs Arlene Dupont was the name they gave to me telling me it was ok for them to accept the booking in another name.
I contacted the passport booking office who told me they had not received a booking in my name but there was an appointment made for a Mrs Arlene Dupont. I told her that the time given was a little early, The lady on the phone told me that the appointment would not have been accepted and the journey would have been a waste of time.
I made an appointment for later that day as 10.30 was too early.
During my visit to the passport office I mentioned about the third party web site and was told many other people had been fooled into paying for booking appointments that are free.
I asked my credit card company not to allow the £49 to come out of my account.
I now am receiving emails, texts and letters threatening me with legal action if I don't pay the money. They tell me they did what I had asked them to do and say I am committing a criminal offence for stopping the payment.
I have since read on many web sites about this scam and how many people had actually been scammed this way. The company are legal according to form but they had not offered me the service they said they had so in all fairness they are committing a crime.
I am receiving e mail after e mail threatening me with legal action.
Am I within my right to withhold the payment?

Kind regards Jeff

DCFC79

What was the website ?

I suspect the service provided was a passport checking service and the website said it wasn't the official site for applications but not a scam.

jeff_chandler

After typing into Google for fast track passport application forms, this was the first site which appeared. It looked authentic but now I understand it was not. I believe sites with the official passport web site logo was the real thing, quite misleading.

They tell me I am in the wrong for cancelling the payment from my credit card because they offered me the service and fulfilled it. By making an appointment in another persons name in my opinion is not correct. So they have not provided me with the service they are telling me they have.

I am going to see the CAB about this and shall also contact the financial ombudsman.

wealdroam

jeff_chandler, this thread may be of interest:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4380089

Valli

and 26th sept was a Thursday

Helix

jeff_chandler wrote: »

After typing into Google for fast track passport application forms, this was the first site which appeared. It looked authentic but now I understand it was not. I believe sites with the official passport web site logo was the real thing, quite misleading.

They tell me I am in the wrong for cancelling the payment from my credit card because they offered me the service and fulfilled it. By making an appointment in another persons name in my opinion is not correct. So they have not provided me with the service they are telling me they have.

I am going to see the CAB about this and shall also contact the financial ombudsman.

Why? This company isn't offering a financial service and its covered by the financial ombudsman. You will just be wasting your time.

System

It's not a scam but these websites prey on people who are not computer savvy and don't really know what they are doing.

Either payup or ignore them. If you ignore them it may go badly for you but I suspect they will issue threats and nothing further.

jeff_chandler

I am not going to pay because they did not give me the service I had paid for. Had they have done I would have accepted it. Making me an appointment in someone else`s name is fraud and the passport office would not have accepted me in another name.

I smell a rat because they are sending me emails threatening me on Sunday evening, I believe they are upset they didn't get their payment. Stuff em I say.

unholyangel

jeff_chandler wrote: »

I am not going to pay because they did not give me the service I had paid for. Had they have done I would have accepted it. Making me an appointment in someone else`s name is fraud and the passport office would not have accepted me in another name.

I smell a rat because they are sending me emails threatening me on Sunday evening, I believe they are upset they didn't get their payment. Stuff em I say.

Do you have it in writing that the passport office wouldn't accept you in another name? If not, perhaps ask for them to email/send a letter containing this information and then just wait.

If they keep telling you its a criminal matter/threaten you, just tell them that you have already made your position clear and will no longer respond to any communications other than those issues by a court of law or your local police force.

Too many people looking to get rich off other peoples backs these days. Whatever happened to earning an honest wage?

System

jeff_chandler wrote: »

I am not going to pay because they did not give me the service I had paid for. Had they have done I would have accepted it. Making me an appointment in someone else`s name is fraud and the passport office would not have accepted me in another name.

I smell a rat because they are sending me emails threatening me on Sunday evening, I believe they are upset they didn't get their payment. Stuff em I say.

Yep I would do the same thing. However this could backfire on you. For one thing you've given them all your personal information!

To be honest I am surprised the card company stopped the transaction as it is a proper service. Just an unnecessary one!

forgotmyname

The 1st sites that appear at the top of a google search is usually paid for adverts.

You never click the links at the top. And ALWAYS check the URL before clicking any link.

It tells you the website URL below the main text on the results page.