Beware Copycat vehicle Tax Discs website

debby1c

I was dismayed to learn today, that my partner had paid £84 for a tax disc for a motorcycle. It should only be £44. Turned out he accidentally went to an ADVERT that was at the top of the Google search, www.taxdisc-direct.uk.com.


It has absolutely nothing to do with the DVLA where the service is FREE.


The site is quite deliberately laid out with the same colours, and design as the official DVLA, which dupes the customer into filling out the prompts in a familiar layout, and not noticing the disclaimer on the right. Mind you when it said the cost at the end, I would have stopped the payment.


I did point out to him that the site clearly states not in anyway affiliated to the DVLA, and he just didn't see it.:eek:


Unfortunately, as he was in a hurry he did not look all around the perimeters of the page, he did not spot the "we charge a service fee of £40 for the following benefits etc". I think if you miss the first page, which is what the scammers are hoping, the rest of the site, is just like the DVLA.



As there was a mistake on the form, they were unable to process the tax disc, and we have asked for a refund, but he will only get half the payment minus a charge for of £8.50. I think he feels bad enough, that he got duped, so I won't be nagging, but inside I am fuming


I agree with some of the comments on the website article of the telegraph about this problem, that government websites design should be copyrighted. Search telegraph "copycat website 'dupes' motorists into paying £40 extra for tax disc". 01/04/2014. (not an april fools)


Never rush anything on a website, wear your reading glasses or enlarge the font, whether its passports, birth certificates etc, there is always a copycat site out to ensnare, read the whole page, I hope I save someone else from making the same mistake .. xxx

forgotmyname

You must have missed the 20 or so other threads on here all saying the same thing.

TV licence, Driving Licence, Passports etc etc etc......

dodger1

debby1c wrote: »

I did point out to him that the site clearly states not in anyway affiliated to the DVLA, and he just didn't see it.:eek:

Precisely, on the first page in full view and not even in small print.