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

hpuse

Pollycat wrote: »

As long as the law allowed these companies to operate, they were doing nothing legally wrong.
I make no comment on the morality of making money in this way. That's a different subject altogether.

Pollycat, it is not a different subject or matter of morality. End of the day, it is all about how long a 'system' should let companies to make money using "I'm legal" and here are my T&C's you clicked banner (if you haven't figured that out yet).

Government can make intervention and that is what they have done here. They have vested powers to make sure these 'traders' access to online advertising and vital search assets can be removed. Google obliged. Search ranking demoted and adverts removed. End result- less copycats around.

Do you now believe in such a system, which is just, and consumer focused that does not allow TRADERS to rip-off consumers? OR do you believe if a customer has clicked he or she is ill-fated to pay and receive legal threat all because of Ch4rles M3rcers or R1chard H0wards well crafted T&C;s?

Pollycat

hpuse wrote: »

Pollycat, it is not a different subject or matter of morality. End of the day, it is all about how long a 'system' should let companies to make money using "I'm legal" and here are my T&C's you clicked banner (if you haven't figured that out yet).

Of course it's different.

What is legally right (i.e. within the law) and morally right are 2 very different things.

And if you can't comprehend that difference, you're a very silly man.

hpuse wrote: »

Government can make intervention and that is what they have done here. They have vested powers to make sure these 'traders' access to online advertising and vital search assets can be removed. Google obliged. Search ranking demoted and adverts removed. End result- less copycats around.

I don't see what point you are making here.

hpuse wrote: »

Do you now believe in such a system, which is just, and consumer focused that does not allow TRADERS to rip-off consumers? OR do you believe if a customer has clicked he or she is ill-fated to pay and receive legal threat all because of Ch4rles M3rcers or R1chard H0wards well crafted T&C;s?

I welcome anything that stops unsuspecting people from paying more for goods (e.g. EHIC) or for a service (e.g. passport renewal, tax return) than the going rate.

I also believe that these people (why are you attempting to disguise their names by substituting numbers instead of letters? ) will do everything they legally can to get money out of people.
I hope they stop short at taking people to court.

hpuse

Pollycat wrote: »

Of course it's different.

I also believe that these people (why are you attempting to disguise their names by substituting numbers instead of letters? ) will do everything they legally can to get money out of people.
I hope they stop short at taking people to court.

I understand, and am a very compassionate, yet silly gentleman:A LOL!

You have not answered the question, so posting back once again...

Do you also believe in a 'system', i.e a government using powers to protect vulnerable people?.
For e.g preventing 'legal' online copycat advertisement as you say or 'legal' premium rated numbers diverting calls to government services etc, all designed by T&C's aiming to rip off?

Pollycat

hpuse wrote: »

I understand, and am a very compassionate, yet silly gentleman:A LOL!

You have not answered the question, so posting back once again...

Do you also believe in a 'system', i.e a government using powers to protect vulnerable people?.
For e.g preventing 'legal' online copycat advertisement as you say or 'legal' premium rated numbers diverting calls to government services etc, all designed by T&C's aiming to rip off?

I have answered the question.

It's apparent that you don't understand 'I believe' (your words) and 'I welcome' (my words).

And really, hpuse......if I had a penny for every question you have not answered - despite repeated requests to do so - on this thread, I could pay off all these peoples 'debts' to these companies. :rotfl:

hpuse

Pollycat wrote: »

And really, hpuse......if I had a penny for every question you have not answered - despite repeated requests to do so - on this thread, I could pay off all these peoples 'debts' to these companies. :rotfl:

Ok, pollycat at your levels.... on last question,

Do you think it is a good idea to stop asking every time a poster comes here moaning about charges or legal threats...... you or someone come charging, hpuse, why have you not helped this guy asking for help from copycats" ....

The best way or answer I think is let the government help them, do you agree? Or at least be aware that the government is doing something, not everything to help them - think ?! :rotfl:

wealdroam

hpuse wrote: »

The best way or answer I think is let the government help them, do you agree? Or at least be aware that the government is doing something, not everything to help them - think ?! :rotfl:

If that's the case, maybe it is time to change the thread title.
At the moment the title does seem to encourage people seeking help.

edited to add:
I hesitated to mention it earlier, but perhaps the original post could be edited to make it even clearer that this thread will be of no help to those seeking help.

I appreciate you already state:

hpuse wrote: »

Please note: This post is aimed at the best interest of a consumer, who are concerned and has lost money to government copycat websites in operations. This is NOT a definitive guide to secure a refund

...but is that really clear enough?

Pollycat

hpuse wrote: »

Ok, pollycat at your levels.... on last question,

Do you think it is a good idea to stop asking every time a poster comes here moaning about charges or legal threats...... you or someone come charging, hpuse, why have you not helped this guy asking for help from copycats" ....

I think it would be a good idea for you to stand up and provide some valid, useful advice for someone in a specific situation who asks for help instead of blathering on about Google engineers.

hpuse wrote: »

The best way or answer I think is let the government help them, do you agree? Or at least be aware that the government is doing something, not everything to help them - think ?! :rotfl:

No, I don't agree.

Do you really think the Government will help those people who post on here saying they've received emails about court proceedings?
No, of course not.

You've led these people to this website and this thread through the title of your original post.
The very least you could do is give tailored advice to each individual who posts asking for help.

esmerellda

fermi wrote: »

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/news/article-2924567/Foiled-Mail-Sunday-Websites-designed-trick-taxpayers-filing-tax-returns-HMRC-site-prevented-reaping-rich-rewards-ahead-self-assessment-deadline.html

(Esmerelda's OH I believe in the 2nd image (not the bloke up on charges )

It is indeed xx

esmerellda

Pollycat wrote: »

Of course it's different.

What is legally right (i.e. within the law) and morally right are 2 very different things.

And if you can't comprehend that difference, you're a very silly man.


I don't see what point you are making here.


I welcome anything that stops unsuspecting people from paying more for goods (e.g. EHIC) or for a service (e.g. passport renewal, tax return) than the going rate.

I also believe that these people (why are you attempting to disguise their names by substituting numbers instead of letters? ) will do everything they legally can to get money out of people.
I hope they stop short at taking people to court.

We still don't have a verified court claim from the UK Services & Support people, so will let you know on here if we hear anything further.

The TaxReturnGateway issue from last year is still going through the court system so no convictions as yet, so yes the legality of the sites in question is still, ummm, arguable.

hpuse

wealdroam wrote: »

If that's the case, maybe it is time to change the thread title.
At the moment the title does seem to encourage people seeking help.

edited to add:
I hesitated to mention it earlier, but perhaps the original post could be edited to make it even clearer that this thread will be of no help to those seeking help.

I appreciate you already state:

...but is that really clear enough?

Wealdroam,

Let's live in the present time, i.e 2015.
Baring these [unverified] legal threats, haven't seen anyone posting here in the last 4-5 months saying they have fallen prey to an online government copycat website. That itself is a good sign, I would say. Would you agree?

Just like I wish all the copycat websites die off (which is becoming a reality now).... I really wish this thread also dies so that people (incl myself, yourself et all) wouldn't have to continuously defend our egos for what has been said, done and experienced from the 'system' around us. Yes, though it isn't perfect, it has been made to work in a consumer's favour.

A consumer is born first, resources comes second and these two are the most important entities in a system. Rest all comes later ( i.e marketplace, traders, T&C's, not least 'adwords' ;-). Anyone who takes unfair advantage of a system will get repercussions back from the system....Point proven.

[I know I will have to explain the above in a different language to make Pollycat understand ....never-mind, getting used to the 'systems' here :rotfl:]