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

wealdroam

hpuse wrote: »

There are two different categories of copycat websites:

• unofficial ‘copycat’ websites, which explain within their terms and conditions that they are not affiliated with any Government agency. Although they may look like the official website, if the site clearly states it is not endorsed or affiliated with a government agency and you decide to accept their fee, then the company is not committing any criminal offence.
• misleading websites, which purport to be affiliated and associated with a Government agency and give the impression that you need to apply for the product through them at an extra cost, when in fact they have no such association and the consumer could have quite easily applied themselves for free.

Source: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/11187841.Watchdog_warns_Bradford_people_about_web_scams/

I am disappointed to see that you are still quoting newspapers.

Particularly after you had told us

hpuse wrote: »

...continuously posting newpapers links is not fine.

I thought you had learnt that last month.

Anyway, did you also notice in that article that Trading Standards offered a lot of good advice, like for example:

He [David Lodge, head of West Yorkshire Trading Standards] also advises consumers to always remain vigilant whilst shopping on the internet, saying: “Check that the website you’re on has a ‘.gov.uk’ ending if you’re applying for a driving licence, passport or similar, and make sure you know who you are doing business with before sending off your money. If you believe you’ve been scammed by a fake website, please contact Citizens’ Advice.”

Now that, in my opinion, is something worth publicising again and again.

Hpuse, why don't you focus your attention on educating the masses so that they don't get caught by these tricks?


Oh, by the way, are there really any websites in your second category?
I.e. are there any misleading websites "which purport to be affiliated and associated with a Government agency"?

It would be good if you could post just one link.

powerful_Rogue

annas1974 wrote: »

My mother in law, today has received a letter to pay, I told her to ignored it and to call the the real passport office to check if any appointment has been made in her name. The passport office has confirmed that there is no any appointment in her name for that day. The only appointment is the one she booked herself.

Thats a good thing. They cant claim they have provided their service if they didnt book an appointment for your MIL.

Can you remember if they sent you any completed paperwork in any of the emails they sent you? Should have looked like HM Passport Service forms but with all you MIL's details filled in.

annas1974

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

Thats a good thing. They cant claim they have provided their service if they didnt book an appointment for your MIL.

Can you remember if they sent you any completed paperwork in any of the emails they sent you? Should have looked like HM Passport Service forms but with all you MIL's details filled in.

Yes, by e mail but nothing like Hm passport service. Plus the lady who signed the letter has change her surname, by email she sign like Laura garcia and today she signed like Laura Gomez ( I made up this surnames)

annas1974

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

Thats a good thing. They cant claim they have provided their service if they didnt book an appointment for your MIL.

Can you remember if they sent you any completed paperwork in any of the emails they sent you? Should have looked like HM Passport Service forms but with all you MIL's details filled in.

We only use the services to book an appointment, but today HM passport told my mother that she only has one appointment booked in her name and that the don't have another appointment for another day.

annas1974

Another question how this company can prove that they booked an appointment for my mother in law that day

wealdroam

annas1974 wrote: »

Another question how this company can prove that they booked an appointment for my mother in law that day

If there is no appointment booked, then quite simply, they cannot possibly prove that they have booked an appointment.

Or have I mis-understood your question?

annas1974

wealdroam wrote: »

If there is no appointment booked, then quite simply, they cannot possibly prove that they have booked an appointment.

Or have I mis-understood your question?

That is the question, but I think they are going to try to prove that they make the appointment, maybe with fake documents. I don't know what to expect from this company.

bod1467

annas1974 wrote: »

I don't know what to expect from this company.

A few letters, possibly later from debt collectors, and then ... Nothing. They can't do anything.

Please don't fall for their threatograms and make this more than it is. They won't be "sending the boys round" ... if they do make any such threats then call the police and report them.

Pollycat

annas1974 wrote: »

My mother in law, today has received a letter to pay, I told her to ignored it and to call the the real passport office to check if any appointment has been made in her name. The passport office has confirmed that there is no any appointment in her name for that day. The only appointment is the one she booked herself.

annas1974
Did this letter actually state a date that this supposed appointment made by this company is scheduled for?

It would seem so as you say "there is no appointment in her name for that day. The only appointment is the one she booked for herself".

Is the appointment she booked for herself on a different day from the date this company say they've booked?

Would the Passport Office be willing to confirm (say by email) that they have no appointment for your MIL on the date this company say they have booked it for?

If they will do that - and you can tell the Passport office that you have dealt with a non-official company who are now threatening legal action - you can keep that as proof they have not provided the service they say they have should this go any further.

annas1974

Pollycat wrote: »

annas1974
Did this letter actually state a date that this supposed appointment made by this company is scheduled for?

It would seem so as you say "there is no appointment in her name for that day. The only appointment is the one she booked for herself".

Is the appointment she booked for herself on a different day from the date this company say they've booked?

Would the Passport Office be willing to confirm (say by email) that they have no appointment for your MIL on the date this company say they have booked it for?

If they will do that - and you can tell the Passport office that you have dealt with a non-official company who are now threatening legal action - you can keep that as proof they have not provided the service they say they have should this go any further.

Yes the appointment she booked using the real website is one day before that the fake one. They told my mother in law that the only appointment they got in their records is the one she booked. We are going to ignore them and if they keep bothering ask I will asked them to prove that they book an appointment for my mil.