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

Pollycat

Quizzical_Squirrel wrote: »

These companies are not breaking the law but enough people misinterpret their services that you'd think, in the spirit of community, we should be trying to enforce even clearer labelling somehow.

A lot of time, the reaction seems to be schadenfreude.
But so many people are losing money that they can ill afford because these sites are right on the line between deception and offering a legally compliant (but mostly unwanted) service. Deception isn't the right word for it, it is more disingenuous.

Yes, people shouldn't be falling for these services if they really paid attention, but there comes a point where so many people are being taken in by it that you've got to ask yourself if something further ought to be done to protect people.

'In the spirit of the community'?

If you think 'something further ought to be done' don't you think it's up to the people who run the official websites, the people who police (or should be policing) websites such as these or people who pass laws that impact on these sorts of businesses to 'do something further'?

If you think it's up to the community, why don't you contact your MP and all the official bodies to ask them to force these companies to label their services more clearly?

Pollycat

hpuse wrote: »

A clear and concise advise should be like this:

A consumer must contact the bank immediately if he or she thinks was persuaded to buy a product or service by means of misrepresentation.
In this instance of copycat government websites, the misrepresentation is in two forms
a) Advertising
b) Service labeling ("online passport application")

You really do have the attention span of a very dim goldfish, Hpuse.
I have repeatedly mentioned that the first step should be to check if the website you have mistakenly used offers refunds.

There you go - fixed it for you.

hpuse wrote: »

A clear and concise advise should be like this:

A consumer should check the T&Cs of the website they have used to determine if they offer a refund. If they do, contact them immediately in the way they describe to request a refund.

A consumer must contact the bank immediately if he or she thinks was persuaded to buy a product or service by means of misrepresentation.
In this instance of copycat government websites, the misrepresentation is in two forms
a) Advertising
b) Service labeling ("online passport application")

hpuse

Pollycat wrote: »

You really do have the attention span of a very dim goldfish, Hpuse.
I have repeatedly mentioned that the first step should be to check if the website you have mistakenly used offers refunds.

There you go - fixed it for you.

@Pollycat,

I don't know how many attempts it will take to make you understand this. However, I will try once again, god forbid.

T&C's of these companies are the basic starting point that leads to rip-off. These companies exempt consumers from cancelling their service the moment it starts .i.e they excercise Distant Selling Regulation Exemption clause when consumer clicks YES/I AGREE.

You have wasted energy so far here on various threads asking customers to check t&c. Whats the point ?
At least do you now understand now?
What do you think the customer should do if they got ripped-off by small print and t&c's ?
- please don't say "check t&c's" again :-)

WTFH

hpuse, if you notice on other threads - the people who get refunds are not the ones who go to their bank first, but who go to the company first.

How many times do you have to be told that before you accept it as fact?
Step 1. Contact the company.

hpuse

WTFH wrote: »

hpuse, if you notice on other threads - the people who get refunds are not the ones who go to their bank first, but who go to the company first.

How many times do you have to be told that before you accept it as fact?
Step 1. Contact the company.

Again, may I please point out that we are not talking about refunds, we are talking about rip-offs using t&c's.

people who get refunds are not the ones who go to their bank first, but who go to the company first.

That was the worst patronising statement someone have ever made in these thread so far. I can undertand all the 'legal' defence...but this one was way over the top.
I know you are now going to quote two replies from noobies to prove me wrong, correct ?

WTFH

I don't need to quote anyone.
You're wrong and you know it.
You've got your head buried in the sand, advising people to go to their bank, but then saying that this is nothing to do with refunds and money. The bank is only interested in the money side of things.


If you have a problem with a website where you think you may have been ripped-off, first contact them for help. Not your bank.

gb12345

I see crap spouter has added a link to his OP. It contains an interesting point amongst the information it gives

Read the terms and conditions carefully, including those relating to any dispute resolution procedures the site offers.

Even Trading Standards say you should read the t&cs.

wealdroam

hpuse wrote: »

Again, may I please point out that we are not talking about refunds...

Really?
The first step in your original post is:

hpuse wrote: »

As a first step :

Write to the company requesting a refund. Clearly tell them you are not happy purchasing their mis-represented and potentially misleading service offered online. In you letter, clearly mention that you will be filing a dispute of this transaction unless a refund is issued within 7 days. Please keep copies of all emails and replies received. Give them 7 days to reply or refund. If a refund did not happen, then proceed to second step.

So you are saying: the first thing to do is write to the company requesting a refund.

So what's that about if it isn't err... a refund?

Why, in the same step do you say "If a refund did not happen, then proceed to second step"?

Clearly you are telling everyone that if you receive a refund that is the end of the process... objective achieved.

Obviously, getting a refund is the whole objective of this thread.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with that at all, so why keep denying it?



Sorry to mention reading again, but as has already been pointed out, the recent link you have added, http://www.tradingstandardsecrime.org.uk/online-shopping-fraud, states that it is a good idea to read the T&Cs before making a purchase...

Protect yourself against shopping and auction fraud

Read the terms and conditions carefully, including those relating to any dispute resolution procedures the site offers.

hpuse

Refund is all about money - t&c's is all about a company underlying policy when doing business.

If the t&c's are fair for this "rip-off" service, then they will not be called "rip-off" ...do you agree or not ?

Trading Standards are warning consumers about unsavoury internet firms who are intercepting them when they search for official government services online.

wealdroam

Wait... I have just noticed more hypocrisy in your original post.

Earlier, you asked Meer53 what should be in the original post.

He replied:

meer53 wrote: »

This :

Write to the company requesting a refund. Clearly tell them you are not happy. Please keep copies of all emails and replies received.

Delete everything else.

To which you response was:

hpuse wrote: »

So, what you are saying is, a poor consumer who thinks he was ripped-off should keep quiet about it just because he clicked and agreed to some t&c's?..

Also, why should he "keep" copies of emails and replies if he is not going to do anything about it?

You clearly dismissed any idea that consumers should keep copies of emails.

Later, clearly referring to Meer53's earlier suggestion, you said:

hpuse wrote: »

Last and least, we don't need people with 17 years of banking dispute experience recommending people to collect email souvenirs....

Now, lo and behold, what do we see in your original post:

hpuse wrote: »

As a first step :

Write to the company requesting a refund. Clearly tell them you are not happy purchasing their mis-represented and potentially misleading service offered online. In you letter, clearly mention that you will be filing a dispute of this transaction unless a refund is issued within 7 days. Please keep copies of all emails and replies received. Give them 7 days to reply or refund. If a refund did not happen, then proceed to second step.

(My emphasis.)

The exact words that meer53 kindly supplied for you. :rotfl: