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

powerful_Rogue

hpuse wrote: »

Correction - wasted 17 years working in a dispute department of a bank. Very true - the word "wasted" really shines in all the posts:j . I think customers of that bank are now worth more than posts :-( :-( :-(
Here is the quote post#96

It was a question and not a statement - as depicted the "?" at the end.

hpuse

TAD SERVICE - LONDON CONGESTION CHARGE
ASA NON-COMPLAINT: DATED 25-FEB-2014

hpuse

Powerful_R,
I sometimes think SEO is a curse for the whole of online internet trade/industry, do you agree?

wealdroam

hpuse wrote: »

Correction - wasted ...

<abuse removed for decency>

Still throwing abuse at other posters, Hpuse?

Post reported.

hpuse

wealdroam wrote: »

Still throwing abuse at other posters, Hpuse?

Post reported.

@wealdroam
What exactly was the abuse, please enlighten me?
Would you care to report the abuse that I had too ?

wealdroam

hpuse wrote: »

TAD SERVICE - LONDON CONGESTION CHARGE
ASA NON-COMPLAINT: DATED 25-FEB-2014

<snip the pic>

What?
Surely there are some passport websites not up to scratch?
Are there no DVLA copycat sites mentioned?
Haven't you been telling us about a lot of non-compliant websites?
I cannot believe that there is only one website found to be non-compliant.

Why do you feel unable to tell us where that information came from?

I thought you would understand by now that people here, me included, would like to see for ourselves the context of your selective snip.

hpuse

wealdroam wrote: »

What?
Surely there are some passport websites not up to scratch?
Are there no DVLA copycat sites mentioned?
Haven't you been telling us about a lot of non-compliant websites?
I cannot believe that there is only one website found to be non-compliant.

Why do you feel unable to tell us where that information came from?

I thought you would understand by now that people here, me included, would like to see for ourselves the context of your selective snip.

Sorry, I thought I posted the link as well (which I normally do).
Here is the link.
You can search the entire history there.

powerful_Rogue

hpuse wrote: »

Powerful_R,
I sometimes think SEO is a curse for the whole of online internet trade/industry, do you agree?

No..........

wealdroam

hpuse wrote: »

Sorry, I thought I posted the link as well (which I normally do).
Here is the link.
You can search the entire history there.

Thank you for providing that link.
It is an interesting list.

It is interesting because there doesn't appear to be one passport application processor on that list.
Neither is there a DVLA application processor. nor EHIC processor, nor Income Tax processor, on that list.

In fact, a quick glance down the list and the only one I can recall being mentioned in these threads is that London Congestion Charge one you have already highlighted.

Could that be because they are all ASA compliant?

I reckon that is the answer.
Because if you were to read the introduction to that list you would see:

Details of each non-conforming trader will remain in place until they have appropriately amended their marketing in line with the Advertising Code.

Is it possible that all the websites we have been discussing were once on this list, but they have now been amended such that they do now comply with the UK Advertising Code?

I don't know the answer to that question, do you?

Pollycat

Yet again, hpuse has been shown to be totally wrong.
Post # 745 about:

TAD SERVICE - LONDON CONGESTION CHARGE
ASA NON-COMPLAINT: DATED 25-FEB-2014

(Did the organisation get the spelling of 'compliant' wrong or could it have been hpuse? :rotfl:)

and the lack of all but one of these copycat websites on that list just demonstrates that the websites under discussion (passports, driving licences etc) have just got smarter and have ensured their businesses comply with ASA rules.

@ keith-66:
still think the 'advice' given in this thread by hpuse will get your money back?

If the website you used - at the time you entered into the agreement with them - complied with ASA rules, you may find your financial institution dismisses your dispute (as other banks have already done to other claimants).

On a brighter note, I Googled 'passport renewal' yesterday and the top 7 hits were all Gov.UK links and #8 was the link to the Post Office service.

But, on a gloomier note, I've just done the same and only the top 3 were Gov.uk, #4 was a copycat website and #5 was the Post Office.