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

hearts

Here is the reply I just received in response to my request for a refund.

Your request for a refund has been reviewed. In this instance our services commenced before we received a refund request.
In line with our Terms and Conditions a refund is not given where our services have commenced before a refund request is received. Our full Terms and Conditions can be found on our web site athttps://www.passport-uk.co.uk/TermsOfService.aspx.

As I expected.

System

whitegoods_engineer wrote: »

!!!!!!, utter nonsense.

I must agree with that. Those two words sum up your post.

Having the Apply now button right at the top is fairly standard on websites.

I don't see anything reluctant about mentioning not once but 3 times that they are a checking service AND providing 2 different links to the passport office all in a font size and colour that is consistent with the rest of the site

Websites must assume a certain level of intelligence of the user otherwise you end up with websites that wouldn't tax a 3 year olds intellect, however you want to assume that everybody is a complete idiot and needs to be taken through things in words of one syllable

shaun_from_Africa

whitegoods_engineer wrote: »

!!!!!!, 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.

Sort of like these sites you mean?

https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving/driving-licences

https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/passports

Pollycat

hearts wrote: »

Here is the reply I just received in response to my request for a refund.

Your request for a refund has been reviewed. In this instance our services commenced before we received a refund request.
In line with our Terms and Conditions a refund is not given where our services have commenced before a refund request is received. Our full Terms and Conditions can be found on our web site athttps://www.passport-uk.co.uk/TermsOfService.aspx.

As I expected.

If you feel this company is not offering a service that is 'legit' (as per your post #21) why not report them to OFT?

Maybe it's time for OFT to re-investigate these websites - but they won't do anything unless they are provided with 'further evidence of suspected infringements'.

hearts

As evidenced by some of the replies on here, It seems some people consider underhand practises perfectly fine. Let's hope none of their parents or children fall for one of these "legal options"

Iv'e written off the money and moved on. I do think some of those on here who replied thinking these types of site are perfectly fine should question their moral compass.

Thanks for the replies.

powerful_Rogue

hearts wrote: »

As evidenced by some of the replies on here, It seems some people consider underhand practises perfectly fine. Let's hope none of their parents or children fall for one of these "legal options"

Iv'e written off the money and moved on. I do think some of those on here who replied thinking these types of site are perfectly fine should question their moral compass.

Thanks for the replies.

I cant see any underhand practices. They advise on the front page that they are only a check and send service. They also link you to the actual passport website.

Id hope my children would never fall fail because ive educated them to read and double check everything. If they didnt bother to read then to be honest, id expect them to treat it as an expensive lesson. Ive also taught them to take responsibility for their own actions and not to blame others for their own wrong doing.

I have no need to question my morals thank you. Im perfectly happy with them as they are.

Pollycat

hearts wrote: »

As evidenced by some of the replies on here, It seems some people consider underhand practises perfectly fine.

You are very wrong here.

On a different but similar thread someone posted this:

There is a very big difference between stating that a company is operating within the law and actually supporting what those companies are doing.

It explains my stance very, very clearly.

I do not support these websites or the companies that run them.

However, there is no escaping the fact that they have been investigated and found to be legal.

You may not like it - neither do I.

But you need to recognise the difference between what is legal and what is morally or ethically right.

hearts wrote: »

Let's hope none of their parents or children fall for one of these "legal options"

I personally have told everyone I know - including family - to beware of these websites.
'Legal' is the right word, it does not need to be in quotes.

hearts wrote: »

Iv'e written off the money and moved on.

So you're not prepared to try to stop someone else using one of these websites by reporting your experience to OFT?
Nice. :cool:

hearts wrote: »

I do think some of those on here who replied thinking these types of site are perfectly fine should question their moral compass.

I do not need to 'question my moral compass'.
I know these websites are morally and ethically wrong.

But they are legal.

CBU2004

Wow, this is one off putting Disclaimer...

Passport-uk makes no warranty or representation that this website will meet your requirements, that it will be of satisfactory quality, that it will be fit for a particular purpose, that it will not infringe the rights of third parties, that it will be compatible with all computer systems, or that it will be secure.

That's section 1 of the disclaimer ! there's more !!!

Although not exactly a scam, as they state what they are doing clearly, still....this service should not be allowed to operate what so ever !

I would contact them and explain, maybe they have not 'processed' or what ever it is they do with your application and may give you a refund of some sort.

However, section 10 f on the T&C's do not sound promising...

"By making your order with us and completing the Application form you are therefore providing your authority to us to begin providing our service straight away which means that you will not have the right to cancel your contract with us once you have made your order"

OlliesDad

!!!!!! wrote: »

Having the Apply now button right at the top is fairly standard on websites.

That is because anyone with knowledge of website design understands that the majority of people will not look any further on the page than the screen that appears (i.e. will not scroll down).

Why would an unknowing person think that they need to? They believe they are on the correct site, they want to apply for a passport and there is a big button that says "Apply Now". At no point following the click of that button does the website inform the user that it is just a checking service they are paying for.

hearts

OlliesDad wrote: »

That is because anyone with knowledge of website design understands that the majority of people will not look any further on the page than the screen that appears (i.e. will not scroll down).

Why would an unknowing person think that they need to? They believe they are on the correct site, they want to apply for a passport and there is a big button that says "Apply Now". At no point following the click of that button does the website inform the user that it is just a checking service they are paying for.

I'll add one more reply here as this is exactly what happened to me. I done a Google search and saw what I thought was the government site.
I clicked on it and once there and asuming I was in the correct place I just continued as if I was. On the page in view were 3 or 4 big buttons, I clicked renew and carried on.
Once you/I think you are in the right place you just carry on and do what you are there to do. Of course I now realise that this is the way that the site is set out for the very purpose. It's well thought out and executed.
Personally I find people who have to try to decieve to make a few £s disgusting specimens of humanity. But there are far worse out there so I'll accept my stupidity cost me a few quid and move on. A leason learned.

For Pollycat, I do know the difference between the morally and ethically wrong and the legally wrong. I originally came on here asking what my rights were under the right to cancel within a specific time. I assumed this was a consumer law.
As for you warning all you know to look out for such things. I can usually spot a con a mile off. I actually find it funny that I got caught by this. That's the worry and why I feel the need to ask, if I'm not covered why am I not covered by regulation? Any of us in an unguarded moment can make a mistake. This to me was a relatively cheap one but I'm sure there are many many more more costly ones out there just waiting for some unsuspecting honest person to step into their lair.
Have a happy new year one and all. With of course the exception of those who seak to profit from the weak and the foolish. :beer: