Avoid Passport Shyster Sites

Pollycat

A friend was caught out by this. Is there any way they'll see their cash again? It's very difficult getting a refund, but it's not impossible.

The sad thing is that these sites are legal. They're offering a service, some similar to the Post Office's Check & Send, it's just that they're charging up to 10 times more for it.
Saying that, if you do know someone who was caught, it's well worth suggesting they write to the shyster site (speed is of the essence so emailing is probably best), saying that they want to cancel their contract and get a refund. Beware calling their expensive phone lines though - they typically charge £1.50/min. We've written a template letter to help. Please let us know how you get on.

Some websites do offer to refund - often minus an admin fee of £8 - if you email them to a specific address.

This guide should tell you to check the website carefully for any information about if a refund is possible.

carolg1966

Default
Last week after submitting my daughters passport application in person to my local passport office i needed to contact them to upgrade it. after searching for Peterborough Passport Office on Google i came across the website ( or so i believed) it had all the deatils how to get there and everything about peterborough Passport Office. I clicked on appointments and filled in my daughters details but never signed where it asked to with my mouse. Just ticked a box.
Next day i received a call from HM Passport Office in relation to my original application and therefore never gave the website i had made appointment on a second thought. I paid for upgrade with HM Passport office and a courier delivered the passport the next day.
I received a telephone call yesterday from the British Passport Service asking me for £107.00 for my passport, this is where i got confused i rang HM passport and they informed me that this is a copycat site and my details where not send to Peterborough passport Office like i believed i had done.They told me not to make payment as i never had an appointment and if i had it would of been free anyway.
I kept receiving telephone calls yesterday saying i need to pay or go to court and now i dont know what to do. I tried to ring the company but it has a message saying that you can only email as mail box is full and they do not discuss disputes over the telephone.
Please advise asap....

Pollycat

You applied in person so you used the official process.

You have your passport now - through the official process.

The only time you involved this copycat company was to 'upgrade' (not sure what you mean by this) your application.

Is that right?

What exactly did you fill in on the British Passport Services website?
i.e. what did you ask them to do for you?
What information did you give them?

What details have you given them?
Personal?
Financial?

If you did not complete another application form with that copycat company, I would be inclined to email them and tell them that you applied for the passport in person via the official route and you now have your passport.
Tell them they have not provided any service to you and therefore you do not owe them any money.

toxicpixie

Got caught out, paid £72.50, yes exactly the same amount as for a passport in order to receive incorrectly completed preprinted form in the post. I have spoken to my bank and have emailed them, c'mon they can at least send the forms back completed correctly! Also there is some caveat that they will not charge you until the preprinted forms are sent to you/returned, well actually it was two days after I applied so that's a lie as well....

toxicpixie

toxicpixie wrote: »

Got caught out, paid £72.50,

Passport.net used to apply back in February so I will be checking to see if the disclaimer was there then (ways and means) and so thanks to the poster who advised that the disclaimer is a new addition. Failing that I am happy to spend as much time as I can until I feel £72.50 worth of aggravation is felt by this shifty company at least!
What is most annoying is time wasted, trying to get through to the government passport agency to speak to them seems so hard especially when the automated call back line doesn't work so they state that and then after a while of waiting cut you off!

Seriously 'HM'. Passport agency, I'm not sure Her Maj would be amused.

DCFC79

Why not use the post office for passports, they even have a check and send service.

WelshDaf

Hi

I recently thought that I'd lost my passport - at roughly 8pm I tried to book an appointment at the Liverpool passport office.

Fortunately, I found my passport the next day and canceled my appointment at around 12pm. On cancelation I received an email outlining that I still owed them £117 for their service.

I thought I was paying the £117 for my passport.....

I have then been given a reminder of payment and a threat of increasing fees (eg £10 for every email that they send me......)

Any advice?

jonesMUFCforever

WelshDaf wrote: »

Hi

I recently thought that I'd lost my passport - at roughly 8pm I tried to book an appointment at the Liverpool passport office.

Fortunately, I found my passport the next day and canceled my appointment at around 12pm. On cancelation I received an email outlining that I still owed them £117 for their service.

I thought I was paying the £117 for my passport.....

I have then been given a reminder of payment and a threat of increasing fees (eg £10 for every email that they send me......)

Any advice?

Who is actually sending you the emails?

WelshDaf

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

Who is actually sending you the emails?

complaints@britishpassportservices.org.uk.

I filled in their application form in a panic (as I thought I would be unable to go on my holiday that I've booked for the 19th of August)

jonesMUFCforever

WelshDaf wrote: »

[EMAIL="complaints@britishpassportservices.org.uk"]complaints@britishpassportservices.org.uk[/EMAIL].

I filled in their application form in a panic (as I thought I would be unable to go on my holiday that I've booked for the 19th of August)

I would have thought an official passport email (if they send any!) would be .GOV not org.uk.
Me thinks they are trying it on.