Tax disc scam ??

[Marty63]

Read the following on the works electric noticeboard today.

If you are renewing your tax disc online and search http://www.gov/taxdisc ... the company

directgov.uk.net

have paid google to appear top of the search results. The site is an exact replica of DVLA (uses exactly the same platform) and you enter the renewal reference on the tax disc reminder just as you would on DVLA .. it pulls up your details and you pay your renewal fee through a secure payment site.

there is a disclaimer in the small print of this site stating it is NOT affiliated in any way/or associated with DVLA and will charge an administraion fee of £40 to transfer the information to DVLA.

The banks are unable to raise disputes as there is a disclaimer on their page and the payment site they use is secure. Passwords are required for bank administrators to reverse any payments made... for obvious reasons the banks do not have access to the passwords for secure payment sites.

DVLA are aware and are petitionning to have the site downgraded by google so it does not appear at the top of the search.

I consider myself fairly aware of issues regarding scams etc and this caught me out.

If it happens to you:

Contact directgov.uk.net to request a refund ... if this is not granted then contact Trading Standards who can investigate any complaint.

It is also worth raining a complaint with google as this will assist with the downgrading of this genius but extremely misleading site.

[jjones]

why not just type the address in that they print on the form they send you?

hate to say it, but a fool and their money.

[Slidingpillar]

One of the sites has been taken back by Nominet, and the operator successfully prosecuted in the local crown court. Not sure what the offence was, but they were got for something!

[standardman]

"why not just type the address in that they print on the form they send you? hate to say it, but a fool and their money.

God I hate pistonheads sometimes.

So many Self righteous ................

[marshalla]

Nothing new here. Similar sites have been putting in EHIC, driving licence etc. applications for years. Nothing actually illegal about it either.

Edited by marshalla on Thursday 15th May 22:09

[Riley Blue]

standardman said:

"why not just type the address in that they print on the form they send you? hate to say it, but a fool and their money.

God I hate pistonheads sometimes.

So many Self righteous ................

It is the obvious thing to do...

[Bill]

Honestly, I searched and didn't get to the company you used. I found it using the URL you quote and at the top of the page it explains it's not the DVLA site.

[Condi]

Ah, but you get all this for your £40....

The additional benefit of using this website include, instant email confirmation, 24/7 online support, application checked for errors & omissions, telephone application service and full compliance with data protection act.

[AdeTuono]

It's not a scam if there's a disclaimer telling you that you that you'll be charged £40 for using their 'service'.

As stated, there are myriad similar sites. Apply for an ESTA for US travel, and you'll see several offering the same deal.

[Mermaid]

Caveat emptor, more so than ever before.

I agree the legitimate organisations should do more to stop the "passing off".

[Jodyone]

AdeTuono said:

It's not a scam if there's a disclaimer telling you that you that you'll be charged £40 for using their 'service'.

As stated, there are myriad similar sites. Apply for an ESTA for US travel, and you'll see several offering the same deal.

It's a scam if the intention of the site is subterfuge. If they have an honest product to sell that's fine. This is clearly designed to catch out those people who are a bit careless and click through assuming they're somewhere else.

[Riley Blue]

Which one would you use? They all offer a service. Is one (or more) a scam?:

https://passportapplication.service.gov.uk/ips-olc...

https://www.passports-uk.co.uk/

https://www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport

http://www.postoffice.co.uk/passport-check-send

[hairyben]

Yeah there's allsorts of similar, had a london con charge one on the news a little while ago & tfl were self righteously livid, made me chuckle "this is our nasty thieving scam how dare you exploit it some more"

[anonymous-user]

I thought sites like this were been taken down? Just looked at the DVLA one via your link & as you say a copy of the legit DVLA one. Passing off rules need to be enforced here. I just type in the URL from the letter, lots of people don't.

Remember with modern browsers the URL bar IS also the search bar so many could be caught out.

[r11co]

As I keep telling my students - the worldwide web isn't Google!

I agree though that it is opportunistic and immoral, and potentially against the law if you take into account that 'mis-selling' is now establishing a legal definition.

[Snowboy]

Of course it's a scam.
It's legal, but it's scammy.
But, didn't you notice the increased price when you went to pay?

I'll admit, I've almost been caught by these.
But I always double check before I pay money.

It's a horible trick.
It preys on the careless, naieve and unwary web user.
But, it's easy enough to avoid by being careful, educated and wary about using the internet.

I wouldn't say you were a fool OP.
But getting caught by this scam is foolish.

[Osinjak]

standardman said:

"why not just type the address in that they print on the form they send you? hate to say it, but a fool and their money.

God I hate pistonheads sometimes.

So many Self righteous ................

+1

[Osinjak]

standardman said:

"why not just type the address in that they print on the form they send you? hate to say it, but a fool and their money.

God I hate pistonheads sometimes.

So many Self righteous ................

+1

[r11co]

Snowboy said:

Of course it's a scam.
It's legal, but it's scammy.

Actually, I think that it probably might not be legal. Knowingly charging someone for a service that the person doesn't need or can obtain for free ie. mis-selling is now becoming punishable (see today's news regarding EON as the latest example).

I'm pretty sure it'll only be a matter of time before this is tested in law.

[sjc]

Real one.....
https://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/app...


Scammy one
https://taxdisc-directgov.co.uk/index.php
With details of the "service fee" here https://taxdisc-directgov.co.uk/prices.php


Would it do any harm to make it a sticky mods?