Am I covered under the right to cancel for this purchase?

Pollycat

Beware of similar websites for:
ESTA
Driving licence renewal
booking driving tests
new/renewal of EHIC

About 3 years ago, OFT were closing these types of websites down.

Now they've just got 'cuter' and appear to be getting round it by stating clearly that you can get the goods/service free or cheaper by using the official website.
Some even provide a link to the official website.

AND - some actually do have a refund policy.

OFT started an investigation in July 2011 but closed the case in November 2012:

Summary of work

The OFT has decided, on administrative priority grounds, to close its investigation into websites which charge consumers for processing applications for a range of government services, such as European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs), which are available free or at a low cost if obtained directly from the government.
The investigation examined whether there had been an infringement of consumer protection legislation, in particular the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Among the matters investigated, the OFT looked at whether these websites were deceptively presenting themselves as official government websites.
The OFT found that in most instances the sites investigated carried statements explaining the nature of the service provided and disclaiming any official status or affiliation with the government.
The OFT also worked with central government to help official government websites appear more prominently when searched for online.
The OFT prioritises its work in accordance with its published prioritisation principles. Broadly speaking, it focuses its efforts and resources on deterring and influencing behaviour that poses the greatest threat to consumer welfare
Based on the results of its investigation and the improvement in online searches, the OFT has concluded that potential for significant consumer detriment is low and there is insufficient evidence of breaches of consumer protection legislation to warrant prioritising formal enforcement action in this instance. It may reconsider its decision in the future if it receives further evidence of suspected infringements, or its prioritisation assessment changes.
The OFT is, however, concerned that people visiting a website that charges for processing applications for a government service may not always be aware that they can save money by going direct to the government, so has issued a consumer alert to help raise awareness and warn people to be cautious when entering their card payment details online.

System

whitegoods_engineer wrote: »

Another scamming website I'm afraid

whitegoods_engineer wrote: »

They hide behind the fact that they stay within the law, but everybody can see what their intention is.

Don't those two statements contradict each other? If they are legal how can they be a scam? Has the word scam now been redefined?

whitegoods_engineer wrote: »

the Post office can provide application checking for a fraction of the cost.

So it is OK for the Post Office to scam people because they charge less?

Would you also advocate a big poster in post offices saying that they are basically asking for money to 'check' your application as well? C'mon let's have a level playing field.

The site, or ones like these are not a scam. They information was all present on the site on the front page. If people do not want to read the information presented to them then it's their lookout. Another example of this is T&Cs. How often do you see posts on these boards where people are complaining about being caught out by T&Cs that they have had to explicitly agree to by physically ticking a box ?

If people don't want to read then you can not force them, however, they must then also accept that they, and only they, are responsible for the result if it is not what they were expecting

whitegoods_engineer

!!!!!!, utter nonsense.

These scammers pretend to be an offiicial site. They have an 'apply now' button right at the top of the page, before their reluctant explanation further down the page that they are unofficial.

They charge £70 upwards for a so called checking service that the Post office will do for about £8.

So they are deceptive and overcharging, and you say it isn't a scam. I think you need your bumps feeling!

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck...it's a duck.

These sites need closing down urgently.

Pollycat

whitegoods_engineer wrote: »

These sites need closing down urgently.

I'm not disagreeing with you - but who/which organisation do you think should do this and under what grounds?

Saying they are 'scammers' and 'unofficial' websites is not the answer I'm looking for (even though I don't disagree with that either).

Why do you think OFT closed their investigation without taking action on these websites?

bod1467

These sites are designed to prey on the ill-informed, the unwary and those in a hurry.

But they are not per se scam sites - they DO offer a service, but it's just not a service anyone actually really needs if they take a moment to stop, think and prepare.

Caveat Emptor!

OlliesDad

!!!!!! wrote: »

So it is OK for the Post Office to scam people because they charge less?

Would you also advocate a big poster in post offices saying that they are basically asking for money to 'check' your application as well? C'mon let's have a level playing field.g

Errrmmm.. I think their are posters in the post office calling it a "Check and send" service as opposed to the site in question who call it a passport application. It is blatantly obvious that the site it trying to dupe people into believing they are paying for the application. I agree however that it is difficult to shut down the sites as they are typically based overseas with a UK PO box style address.

Also the post office are actually recommended by the government and are quite clear on the overall cost of the service. They give an overall price including the fee for the actual passport.

powerful_Rogue

OlliesDad wrote: »

Errrmmm.. I think their are posters in the post office calling it a "Check and send" service as opposed to the site in question who call it a passport application. It is blatantly obvious that the site it trying to dupe people into believing they are paying for the application. I agree however that it is difficult to shut down the sites as they are typically based overseas with a UK PO box style address.

Also the post office are actually recommended by the government and are quite clear on the overall cost of the service. They give an overall price including the fee for the actual passport.

They have a UK postal address listed on their "Contact Us" page.

Dept: IQ Channels
111 Buckingham Palace Road
London
SW1W 0SR

More like its difficult to shut down a site acting legally and advising customers that it is only a check and send service.

Pollycat

OlliesDad wrote: »

I agree however that it is difficult to shut down the sites as they are typically based overseas with a UK PO box style address.

I think you mean it's difficult to shut down the sites because OFT have investigated them and found them not to be illegal.

Read my post #12 for OFT findings into these companies.

OlliesDad

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

They have a UK postal address listed on their "Contact Us" page.

Dept: IQ Channels
111 Buckingham Palace Road
London
SW1W 0SR

More like its difficult to shut down a site acting legally and advising customers that it is only a check and send service.

This is an address that offers a "Virtual Office".. I highly doubt there is anybody from the company in that building, or even in the UK.

http://www.abbeyoffices.com/services/virtual-offices/

hearts

Thanks for your replies, and I'm sorry I posted in the wrong forum. I did think I was in "Consumers Rights"
Whether they are a scam or not it's up to the individual to decide. In my opinion were they an honest company doing strictly honest business they would have no problem cancelling orders placed in error.
I made a mistake a foolish one I'll admit but a mistake none the less. In my opinion having noticed my mistake I should then have the opportunity to correct that mistake. Was that not the point of Distance selling regulations?
It's pretty obvious to most that their appearance at the top of the Google search is intended to catch out those foolish enough (like myself) who do not take the time to read through what they offer.

My reason for posting here was not however to debate the rights or wrongs of what they offer.
What I wanted to know was am I covered by the right to cancel? I ordered a service by mistake realised my mistake and have attempted to end the contract within a day.
Luckily the £69 is not a problem for me. However I do not like the fact that these people are there waiting to take advantage of the unwary.
They may well hide under the guise of offering a service but if that service were legit then surely paying back those who make a mistake wouldn't be a problem.

So what are my rights to cancel under the law.