Scam - Vehicle Information

[Deleted User]

Beware, you think you are on DVLA but this scam takes an initial 50p from your account, then £5.95 every month.  I've been in touch with my bank but very difficult to get through to banks at this time.  I've been googling and there are many, many posts about this scam.  Angry with myself for falling for it, but easy to do when you are multi tasking and not paying attention!  Whilst I hope to reclaim the payment from my bank, am more concerned that an unscrupulous company can get money from me so easily.

DoaM

Wrong board ... there's a Praise, Vent and Warnings board for threads like this.

[Deleted User]

Thanks.  First time I've done this

Hermione_Granger

janenotinspain said:

Beware, you think you are on DVLA but this scam takes an initial 50p from your account, then £5.95 every month.

https://ww1.vehicleinformation.uk/
I can't see anything that states or even implies that you are on the DVLA website. In fact, the only time that the DVLA is mentioned is this:

VehicleInformation.uk is not affiliated with the Government or DVLA. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

[Deleted User]

Thanks.  I realise this is not the fault of DVLA.  My own fault for being careless.

[Deleted User]

janenotinspain said:  I realise this is not the fault of DVLA.  My own fault for being careless.

It's not the fault of the website either.

 If anything, you mis-bought.

 But it's not a "scam"

cymruchris

I don't see any scam - I see a service that gives you a signup for 50p, then £5.95 a month. On the front page it states:
*£0.50 for 24 hour trial. Full membership price of £5.95 per month is charged automatically after this period. Cancel membership at any time.
It says cancel membership at any time - so have you done that via your account on their website? Why are you trying to contact your bank? It should just be a simple click button somewhere on your account that will end the membership?

Robbie101

Yep me too I got confused and I’m ex police ! And in a hurry I clicked on to this website that came up first from my browser depending what tax wording is input. I was doing several things at once and have to admit my guard was down. The site certainly bears some similarities with the DVLA with the style, invitation to check your registration and then the fact the next page invites you to pay for this vehicle indicating what tax is due. Only under the button to press do they mention the contract details and monthly subscription and I found to be in smaller script than the rest, all of which I felt was misleading. 

WHAT TO DO?
immediately on realising my mistake I froze my debit card with my banking app and asked for a new bank card. That way no money was transacted. I sent an email to cancel any subscription account they may hold under my email address and advised them it was my personal belief that their contract misled me contrary to the requirement of good faith under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and when taken in the round amounts to what I believe to be an unfair contract and services. 

I received an e mail back Stating my account is now closed due to a payment issue!
So for all those that say how did we get caught out or confused?, Congratulations and well done. I’m  glad they didn’t experience this problem. For those that have, I have explained what actions I took to ensure no money left my account. I simply wont give any money to these people no matter how much on a point of principle and I would be happy to attend court as necessary to hear any judge’s view. Hope this helps someone. 

born_again

Robbie101 said:

Yep me too I got confused and I’m ex police ! And in a hurry I clicked on to this website that came up first from my browser depending what tax wording is input. I was doing several things at once and have to admit my guard was down. The site certainly bears some similarities with the DVLA with the style, invitation to check your registration and then the fact the next page invites you to pay for this vehicle indicating what tax is due. Only under the button to press do they mention the contract details and monthly subscription and I found to be in smaller script than the rest, all of which I felt was misleading. 

WHAT TO DO?
immediately on realising my mistake I froze my debit card with my banking app and asked for a new bank card. That way no money was transacted. I sent an email to cancel any subscription account they may hold under my email address and advised them it was my personal belief that their contract misled me contrary to the requirement of good faith under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and when taken in the round amounts to what I believe to be an unfair contract and services. 

I received an e mail back Stating my account is now closed due to a payment issue!
So for all those that say how did we get caught out or confused?, Congratulations and well done. I’m  glad they didn’t experience this problem. For those that have, I have explained what actions I took to ensure no money left my account. I simply wont give any money to these people no matter how much on a point of principle and I would be happy to attend court as necessary to hear any judge’s view. Hope this helps someone. 

Aside from this is a 2 year old thread.

If the payment has been authorised. That makes no difference. The payment will go to a internal account & be transferred to your account.
Which explains why Starling closed your account. Beware a CIFAS marker...