Paid road tax scam site with debit card

GingerBob_3

Bravestar wrote: »

I went in Aldi yesterday. They got a shop full of own label stuff all made to look like big-label brands. Are they a scam too?

Why do you think they might do that? :cool:

Yes, a scam, of sorts. And yes, WHY do you think they do that? Perhaps you should answer .....

eddddy

£Wise wrote: »

Hi guys

Foolishly I did a Google search for the online road tax web site and did not thoroughly check the results before proceeding to purchase online roadtax through this scam site.

https://www.directgov.uk.net/

They basically charge £40 to for road tax renewal with the DVLA on your behalf, and they made the site look very similar to the official government web page.

I first realised I had been scammed when I was randomly checking my bank statement and saw the inflated price for the tax and weird looking payee.

Anyway, I complained to my bank and they said that a Chargeback through Visa could be issued, but because I had entered my Visa Verified password during the checkout procedure, I would have to give the scammer 15 days to deliver their 'service'.

This didn't sound correct to me, (the support woman didn't fill me with confidence when she didn't realise that First Direct was part of HSBC).

The scam site say you should receive your road tax within 5 days.

I have waited a week now and still no road tax, so I think the scammers have just run off with the money and the site doesn't even deliver their so called extortionately priced 'service'

Does anyone here know whether Visa Verified affects the rules on Visa Chargeback?

Thanks.

Hi £Wise

Merchants sign up for 'Verified by Visa' (and pay an extra fee) because it provides greater protection against chargebacks. Presumably, that's why your bank is doing extra checks before agreeing the chargeback.

A chargeback can be used if there was breach of contract or misrepresentation. You are saying that a breach of contract has occurred, because the tax disc hasn't been delivered. If the bank agrees that the merchant breached the contract, I guess the chargeback will succeed.

Otherwise, it's a case of arguing directly with the merchant to get a refund - or ultimately taking them to the small claims court, with your evidence of breach of contract and/or misrepresentation.

(The other posters here don't seem to think you have a strong case for misrepresentation, but I guess it's up to you.)

yangptangkipperbang

FireWyrm wrote: »

The logo is 2.5 x 2.5 inches...how big do you want it exactly? Yes, you have to scroll down, it is in the footer, but it isnt exactly inconspicuous.

Most people don't scroll to the bottom when they think they are on the correct website: They start filling in the form from the top. Perhaps you think it should be filled in from the bottom ?
The logo (on my 24" monitor) is less than 1.75 inches across - but perhaps my eyesight is better than yours as you do seem to have difficulty in reading what people say in their posts (see below). I don't have "LARGE TYPE" selected.

FireWyrm wrote: »

It is well advertised, every advert I've ever seen for tax credits and other government sites gives you the correct URL. The URL is pretty simple, if it doesnt have GOV.UK it isnt a government site, end of story.

If you had read what I said - I said the LOGO should be advertised - not the URL. ("There should be a distinct (well advertised !!) Government copyrighted logo ") I never mentioned the URL because most people who get trapped by these sites:
1. Don't know what a URL is
2. Don't look at it anyway

Perhaps you don't know the difference between a LOGO and a URL - Wiki might help.............

FireWyrm wrote: »

Also, when you search for 'tax disc renewal gov' in Bing, the correct website is the very first on the list! I dont see how much more obvious they have to make it. Yes, these sites are naughty and should be shut down, but equally, people ought to take a second or two to look and verify the correct site before they go barging in.

Most people don't use Bing - they use Google, which places ALL the official sites well down the list.



It is obvious that you are a far superior creature than all those poor unfortunates, who are not as worldly wise and clever as you, who do get caught out. Just because you (think you) are clever doesn't mean everyone else is.

FireWyrm

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

Most people don't scroll to the bottom when they think they are on the correct website: They start filling in the form from the top. Perhaps you think it should be filled in from the bottom ?

I think they should take 10 seconds to verify the correct website.

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

The logo (on my 24" monitor) is less than 1.75 inches across - but perhaps my eyesight is better than yours as you do seem to have difficulty in reading what people say in their posts (see below). I don't have "LARGE TYPE" selected.

The logo is large enough to see and it isnt hidden.

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

Most people don't use Bing - they use Google, which places ALL the official sites well down the list.

Hmm...really? I tested that theory...oh look, number 1 on the list.

Candy53

I also clicked on the link, and even my small browser on my phone, came up with a msge saying: Warning! This site is not secure. It does not hold a security certificate.

It isn't very often I get this, but it does make you think twice before going to it.

I always go by something I was told when I set up my online banking: 'Never google a bank's link to a bank or anywhere where you'll be setting up an account, or paying for something. Find their website address and put it into the url box. That way, you'll always be taken to the official site.



Candy

Biffer

Candy53 wrote: »

I also clicked on the link, and even my small browser on my phone, came up with a msge saying: Warning! This site is not secure. It does not hold a security certificate.

That's just a technical error on their part. They could fix this in no time and you'd be none the wiser.

My wife signed up for a similar thing, a passport 'application' site. All they do is take the details you type into the form and post a form back to you with the details you typed in. They charged £69 for this.

In our case they didn't even provide that service. We received no letter from them.

We reported this to Barclaycard and they contacted the merchant who managed to confuse them by describing the 'service' they provide. Barclaycard replied saying they'd provided that service and there's nothing they can do. They just ignored the line in my letter where I said they didn't send me a letter.

I don't know why the card companies continue to deal with these scammers. They all know these guys are crooks.

The ASA are not too pleased with them either. It's a pity they have no teeth.
http://www.asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2013/12/IQ-Channels-Ltd/SHP_ADJ_242630.aspx

meer53

This forum gets more and more like Groundhog Day doesnt it ?

callum9999

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

The problem with that is: the "Crown Copyright" logo only appears at the very bottom of the page, which you don't see until you have scrolled down to the bottom. Not well thought out !

There should be a distinct (well advertised !!) Government copyrighted logo at the top centre of every Gov't website home page. It should be a criminal offence for anyone else to use this logo.

What makes you think that will make things any better? All official websites that deal with this stuff end in .gov.uk (which appears at the very top of the page) yet people still use other sites. Perhaps the screen should black out, sirens go off and huge flashing text declares that this is the official government website? (I bet you'd still get people using other sites though!)

yogsie

I did the same, got £32 back minus and £8 admin fee.. Imsure they riged this so they will always get £8...

Deleted_User wrote: »

If they provide you with a tax disc, then there won't be a case for a chargeback, as they will have delivered the service you paid for.

However, it implies on the site that you can apply for a refund of the £40, less an £8 admin fee. I would suggest going down that route, once you receive the disc.

honeybean

Maybe I am being stupid but when I get my reminder from the dvla I just key in the www. Address that is on the paperwork, also how would you not know how much extra you are paying on top of the cost of your tax disc. My car tax cost is £110 for 12 months I would certainly notice it now costing me £150, some people must have more money than sense.