Steps to take if you have been ripped-off by a copy-cat government website

hpuse

It is very good sign to see various trade bodies and groups are being united on this issue of copycats and their rip-offs by T&C's ...

I was told this was briefly discussed in the SBRC first anti-illicit trade summit that was held recently.

MamaMoo_2

This thread is far too long. It should read like this:

Title -
Steps to take if you have been ripped off by a copy-cat government website

Post -
1. Facepalm
2. Accept you were an idiot
3. Remember to read what you're agreeing to in future
OR
Back away from the internet.


- End -

hpuse

May I kindly remind all the trade friendly posters here few important things:

On the day you were born:
- you were a vulnerable 'consumer'
- There were no T&C's attached on what you were consuming; even if there were, you were not in a position to read it.
- T&C's does not deny your rights.

Now some statistics to draw parallels to the above (eye opener!) :

- 100's of new internet users are born everyday in UK
- Copycats target those large vulnerable section primarily
- There is not point in blaming them if they fail to read.

Now carry on with what you are good at doing here....

MamaMoo wrote: »

This thread is far too long. It should read like this:

Title -
Steps to take if you have been ripped off by a copy-cat government website

Post -
1. Facepalm
2. Accept you were an idiot
3. Remember to read what you're agreeing to in future
OR
Back away from the internet.


- End -

Money-Saving-King

hpuse wrote: »

May I kindly remind all the trade friendly posters here few important things:

On the day you were born:
- you were a vulnerable 'consumer'

- 100's of new internet users are born everyday in UK
- Copycats target those large vulnerable section primarily
- There is not point in blaming them if they fail to read.

One the day they were born most people haven't figured out how to use a laptop/PC/tablet at that stage anyway!

missprice

Lol on the day I was born there was no such thing as internet. 1970.

Plus i would not have been computer savvy til I was 5 years old or so.

Plus under 16s cant enter into a contract.

hpuse

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a 'thought' without accepting it. - Aristotle

wealdroam

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

MamaMoo_2

hpuse wrote: »

May I kindly remind all the trade friendly posters here few important things:

On the day you were born:
- you were a vulnerable 'consumer'
- There were no T&C's attached on what you were consuming; even if there were, you were not in a position to read it.
- T&C's does not deny your rights.

Now some statistics to draw parallels to the above (eye opener!) :

- 100's of new internet users are born everyday in UK
- Copycats target those large vulnerable section primarily
- There is not point in blaming them if they fail to read.

Now carry on with what you are good at doing here....

Terms and conditions don't deny your rights, that is correct.
However, last time I checked, there was no "right to not pay a company an agreed fee if they complete the service they said they would without fail, delay or any breach of contract".

If you go on to a website that says on it's opening page
"[we offer] Forms filled out correctly on your behalf, ready to send to DVLA - forms completed and sent directly to you"
And
"Neither

---

Ltd or https://www.----.co.uk are affiliated or associated with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), any official government entities or any official body, trade or organisation. Applications for DVLA services may be submitted directly through https://www.dft.gov.uk/dvla where there may be a charge."

And you still think you're getting a service other than having your form pre filled, or you think you're dealing with the DVLA, then alas, that's nothing to do with consumer rights, it's all to do with learning to read. Ignorance is not a defence.

Also, yes, when I was born I was vulnerable, but then I was also too young to enter into a contract, too young to have a debit card, and too young to access the internet...

Alas, these companies don't target the "vulnerable" in the sense of elderly/very young/ill etc. They target the ignorant, the stupid and the oblivious, a "vulnerability" that could be cured by just, y'know, not being ignorant etc.

Pollycat

wealdroam wrote: »

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

D'you know, wealdroam, I've often looked at your signature when reading your posts on this thread and wished that hpuse would read it and take note.

Pollycat

MamaMoo wrote: »

Alas, these companies don't target the "vulnerable" in the sense of elderly/very young/ill etc. They target the ignorant, the stupid and the oblivious, a "vulnerability" that could be cured by just, y'know, not being ignorant etc.

I'd say:
a "vulnerability" that could be cured by just taking a little more care, paying a bit more attention to what is on the screen before bringing your credit card into play.

Let's be honest here, in the early days of the copycat EHIC websites, the fact that you could get the card free from the official source was hidden away in the 'small print'.

But now, due in part to various official organisations closing the websites down, they have risen like phoenixes from the ashes do and they (or at least all of the ones I've looked at recently do) make it very clear that they are not the official website.