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

Pollycat

OK, Annas1974 has pmed me with the name of the website.

TBH, it's pretty clear that it's not the official website from the home page and they even give a link to the official website.

However, that's not important now.
This website is very clear that they do not offer refunds.

annas1974 wrote: »

I need help, last moth my mother in law needed to apply for a passport, she asked me to find details in the internet and I put her details into a copy cat website, when I was about to pay the page close down (I havent paid) and a realised that it was not the real website. Now this company is asking my mother in law money for the services, the said they are going to take her to the small claim court. they got all her details but is my IP address and a fake signature done for me (i know this ilegall) . Mi mother is very scared, my question is she should paid or not.

annas1974 wrote: »

I am scared to put the website but I will send a private message. I read somewhere that a contract is not " realised" until the payment has been received. This person is telling me that My mother in law is going to send bailiffs and she is going to get bankrupt.
I don't know now how this companies are " legal", in my country you go to the police to get your passport or ID renew.

I appreciate what Powerful Rogue & bod1467 are saying in posts #1577 & 1583 but I think it very strange that this company have threatened the OP with the small claims court and bailiffs and bankruptcy in the circumstances she has outlined. It just seems very OTT to me.

I think that maybe there is more to this than we have been told so far.

Smithers37

annas1974 wrote: »

my mother in law is very scared in case they make her go to court.

Anna, in order for them to take you to court they would need to write a Letter Before Action which would outline exactly what the money owed is for, and if they have not provided any services then what would they be chasing you for?

It's like walking in to a shop, picking up a some potatoes then putting them down again and then the shop manager chasing you for money. If you haven't had your potatoes, don't pay for them.

EDIT - In light of Pollycat's post: Anna, can you confirm if you have received any services from this website?

Pollycat

Smithers37 wrote: »

Anna, in order for them to take you to court they would need to write a Letter Before Action which would outline exactly what the money owed is for, and if they have not provided any services then what would they be chasing you for?

It's like walking in to a shop, picking up a some potatoes then putting them down again and then the shop manager chasing you for money. If you haven't had your potatoes, don't pay for them.

I'm now wondering about that.

Annas1974 says she signed (forged) her M-I-L's name.
So how/where/what did she sign?

Can you do electronic signatures on these application forms?

Or could she have signed the paper application form that the company sent to her?
In which case, they have provided a 'service'.

It sounds a very bullish response from this company if they are not 100% sure of their legal standing.

annas1974

i signed electronically, she did not sign any paper application.

hpuse

Guys, Guys, hang on.......

post#1569 by annas1974 says she hasn't paid any money.

So, if the company provided any copycat service without receiving payments why should she worry, and why are you worrying for annas1974??

annas1974

Pollycat wrote: »

I'm now wondering about that.

Annas1974 says she signed (forged) her M-I-L's name.
So how/where/what did she sign?

Can you do electronic signatures on these application forms?

Or could she have signed the paper application form that the company sent to her?
In which case, they have provided a 'service'.

It sounds a very bullish response from this company if they are not 100% sure of their legal standing.

I was trying to book her an appointment to go in person. She needed the passport as soon as possible. This website is call ukpassport offices. I though that it was the real one. Luckily the page clase down before I put my credit card details.

annas1974

Should I call the passport office to check they make an appointment for her. Because she has not received any recorded letter.

powerful_Rogue

Anna,

I think that would be a good start. Contact the passport office and ask if any appointment for your MIL was ever made. Due to Data Protection, they might need your MIL to phone.

Just to clarify the situation.

You went to the website, completed all the details, however closed the browser down before making any payment. No paperwork has been received in the post from either HM Passport Service or this company?

Without knowing the companies website, its difficult to check their terms and conditions, but look at various similar sites (they all seem to use similar T&C's) ive found the following:

Provision of Services shall commence when full payment has been received or as otherwise detailed in the Terms & Conditions pertaining directly to those Services.

In short, I wouldnt worry. It will never go to court, but even if they did file with the small claims court, its based on the balance of probabilities. All you would have to say is "I decided prior to making payment and completing the contract, I no longer required this service"

File with Small Claims Court, Win at Small Claims Court, File for a CCJ, Instruct Baliffs........ This is the process they would have to take. They are using bully tactics to scare you. Myself and many others on here are willing to help you get this resolved.

hpuse

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

Anna,

I think that would be a good start. Contact the passport office and ask if any appointment for your MIL was ever made. Due to Data Protection, they might need your MIL to phone.

Just to clarify the situation.

You went to the website, completed all the details, however closed the browser down before making any payment. No paperwork has been received in the post from either HM Passport Service or this company?

Without knowing the companies website, its difficult to check their terms and conditions, but look at various similar sites (they all seem to use similar T&C's) ive found the following:



In short, I wouldnt worry. It will never go to court, but even if they did file with the small claims court, its based on the balance of probabilities. All you would have to say is "I decided prior to making payment and completing the contract, I no longer required this service"

File with Small Claims Court, Win at Small Claims Court, File for a CCJ, Instruct Baliffs........ This is the process they would have to take. They are using bully tactics to scare you. Myself and many others on here are willing to help you get this resolved.

Annas1974,

In other words, what Powerful_Rogue is saying is, the website (i.e the copycat you clicked) are using a scare mongering tactic on you - just ignore them, it will die off its course..

powerful_Rogue

This appears to be the website in question:
http://www.ukpassportoffices.co.uk/

Provision of Services shall commence when full payment has been received or as otherwise detailed in the Terms & Conditions pertaining directly to those Services.

Which service did you apply for, so we can check to see if there are any additional T&C's?

I also notice this in their T&C's, which seems to contradict when the provision of services will commence.

British Passport Services reserves the right to outsource any unpaid fees due from the customer to debt collection agencies which may incur additional charges for the customer.