Driving License Renewal Assistance - Electronic Check Ltd - BEWARE

red_eye

PeterLF said:

Do you need to renew your driving license? 
It seems I am not the only one who has suffered this scam.  I was in a hurry, I search driving license renewal, I click a link at the top of google which says 'Apply online...etc'.  The style of the website and colouring is like the DVLA.  I then stupidly click through put in my credit card details, and find I am charged £79 for a service which is FREE!  It is my stupidity.  However, I contacted the company immediately, but because I didn't use the cancellation form at the bottom of their terms & conditions, they processed the application straight away.  According to their T&C because they processed it quickly I can not now receive a refund, despite sending my instructions by email immediately.  There is no other way to contact them.  Electronic Check Ltd operate under company names of www.drivercheckonline.co.uk, www.drivinglicenseassistance.co.uk.  This appears to be a copy cat website as it is purposefully designed to look similar to a government website.  HOWEVER, they will not refund when the user realises they have been scammed and according to what I have read many people fall for this and they can not get their money back.
I would really welcome any advice on what to do.  Hopefully, this thread will stop someone being duped like I was.

I just renewed mine for £14, google took me to gov.uk

Hasbeen

Dbu said:

I fell for this dodgy site yesterday. I was in the middle of cancelling and reinstating cards and documents after being robbed I was in a bit of a state. Sites like this take advantage. If you look at the site in question (particularly on a phone) and click through at "next" you'll see just how easy it is to miss their disclaimers. Other sites are somewhat clearer. 

I reported them to Google who've taken them off the search results.

I don't think I'd have been taken in if I hadn't been in such a state.

It's too easy to suggest that people are stupid or lazy.  Please don't be smug.

The only posters here who mentioned Stupid are the posters that fell for this payment scenario? 

Perhaps understanding the difference between stupid and Ignorant would help you ?

Ignorant and stupid are adjectives. Ignorant means lacking knowledge. Stupid means lacking brainpower.

AdrianC

I am not stupid. I frequently do stupid things.
I am not ignorant. I am frequently ignorant of certain things.

born_again

>>>  I was in a hurry <<<

People need to slow down when doing the important things in life.....

Funny how that phrase crops up a lot with these companies.

Dbu

Yes I accept the points about being in a hurry and not scrolling down the page after the "next" button... I don't think I'm stupid or ignorant. Panicking yes as someone was trying to use my cards and one of the agencies had highlighted replacing my licence fast. So I was open to such misrepresentations and the way that the payment page works is frankly dodgy. Check out their webpage, preferably on a phone. You see nothing of the disclaimer before the big "next" button.