UK-drive.com

born_again

These sites look like Gov site, but always have a disclaimer at the bottom of the page that they are not.

Example

https://driverhelpuk.com/

driverhelpuk.com is no way affiliated with the government of the United Kingdom. We are a 3rd party processing agency which charges a service fee for a premium service. You can submit your application directly with the official website for a standard service of where a charge may not be applicable.

Nasqueron

It's such a disingenuous wording, there is no "premium" or "standard" service, they use the same one you'd use on the DVLA  site, maybe check the form is ok first, if that's a premium service, and no "may not be applicable", there is no separate fee for submitting your card directly

born_again

Nasqueron said:

It's such a disingenuous wording, there is no "premium" or "standard" service, they use the same one you'd use on the DVLA  site, maybe check the form is ok first, if that's a premium service, and no "may not be applicable", there is no separate fee for submitting your card directly

Not defending these co's here.
All they are doing is exactly the same as Post Office do with their checking service for passports & Driving Licences that they charge for.


Yes these co's could make it much clearer that they are not the DVLA by putting it in big bold letters when starting the process. But they do not have too.
Google & DVLA have purges on these co's.
Like above was on 2nd page, usually they are on 1st page with AD at the side.

Elze

This happened to me and I am not poorly and quite IT literate. BritishDrive.com do a very clever impersonation somehow of the DVLA website. Although I don't remember what I googled and what website I went to, I do remember filling in a set of forms that looks EXACTLY like those on the GOV.UK website (as I just checked the website). 

I was aware enough not to sign up to their membership so only paid £39 for the one off 'service' of changing the address on my license. This is normally free.

After the £39 payment my bank blocked my card due to 'suspected fraud' so clearly the bank is aware there's something fishy going on at BritishDrive.

I only found out 2 weeks later when phoning my bank to unblock the card what had happened.

When - prompted by the bank - I looked into it I found a confirmation mail from BritishDrive.com in my junk folder with a reference number.

My bank refuses to refund, as I 'agreed to the service' and tells me it's not a scam. I think it is. If I walk into my bank, then get funneled into a hallway that takes me into the building next door where everyone is dressed like bank staff with my bank colours and I would deposit money over the counter in 'my account' I would call that a scam.

Please BE CAREFUL.

CliveOfIndia

Elze said:

BritishDrive.com do a very clever impersonation somehow of the DVLA website.

Out of curiosity I've just had a look at their website - it looks nothing like the official DVLA website.

And right at the top of the page it says "We’re here to simplify the process, but if you’d rather apply directly through the Government website—where some services may be cheaper — click here."

Jami74

It literally happened to a second relative of mine, website looked genuine and they believed they paid a mandatory one off fee to DVLA. Luckily they told me about it immediately and we found the email in junk and contacted them via the online form and they refunded the payment. 

It's good to know that banks are recognising these companies and are blocking cards to prevent further money being taken.

I can see why people may be fooled.