Please help - scam?

[JibberJabberBlahBlahBlah]

Morning mumsnetters. I’m hoping someone here may have had the same experience and can advise…. I moved house in December and contacted the DVLA to change the address on my licence. I have email confirmation from them. I realised yesterday that a company called ‘British drive’ have been taking £39 a month from my credit card ever since. I called them - the man was aggressive and said I’d signed up to their subscription service and should have read it more thoroughly. He said I hadn’t changed my address with the DVLA but with them. I had never heard of them before seeing them on my statement. They have sent me an email ‘proving’ that I ticked some box apparently saying I’d signed up. I informed my bank and the DVLA about it. I see on trust pilot than others have been caught out by this. Is there anything I can do to get my money back? Actually, it’s the principle more than the money which I realise is a privileged position. I’m so angry!

Yeah, they are there to get your money, not to communicate with you.

But people are telling you what happened and you don’t believe them.

you have proof the dvla updated your address because the 3rd party company updated if for you (for a fee).

if you put your card details in (which you’ve said you did) then you were not on the Dvla website. It’s easily done, that’s why it’s worth them setting up these sites.

Because the third party site gave them your email address.

No, because they are relying on you thinking you are dealing with the dvla. It’s a really sneaky and unpleasant business.

Actually what I’m saying is has anyone else had this experience and can I get my money back?

I do believe people.

But not a scam or illegal

See I think that’s the epitome of a scam!

As a slight aside, it is a requirement to update your licence and your V5C when you move. Many people forget / don't bother to update their V5C.

Ok apologies, it sounded like you didn’t. I hope you do get your money back. 🤞

This thread is starting to remind me of the one where people insisted gmail was giving their email address to other users.

Absolutely no explanation would make them see how it happened - it started getting totally absurd.

Anyway it's clear how people get away with scammy sites when people are insistent they're on the correct one yet somehow handed over card details.

Just post the url from your history and it will be clear. I expect you've been on the genuine dvla site since then, so make sure you go back far enough.

Good point!

I don't think people are having a go at you btw OP, it's just been unclear whether you understand what's happened.

You kept saying you definitely applied through the official DVLA side even though people were explaining that if you had to enter card details at any point, it can't have been the official DVLA site.

I think you accept now that it wasn't the official site which means it's likely an arsehole company that made their site look like the DVLA one, so using your card details by being sneaky rather than someone literally stealing your card details and using your card without your knowledge.

No, I guess it’s not illegal, otherwise they’d have been shut down by now.

You need to get your bank to block payment for a year. Don't just cancel your card as if they can claim it's a subscription they can just transfer it to the new card.

What proof do you think you have? Obviously the email isn't proof.

It's not surprising that British Drive didn't contact you. They will be aware that that would alert you to the fact that you hadn't been dealing direct with DVLA and would lead customers to stop their direct debits more quickly.

Thank you

Well yes, and that’s why I think it’s a scam.

But you got the service you paid for.
I can see how it happened and you won't be the only one, these companies are set up to take advantage of people and it would be great if you could get the money back
However, these are legitimate companies that know what they are doing, they must get calls/emails all the time saying what you say OP and they know what they can get away with.
Of course you should try and get a refund but I doubt it will happen.

It's clearly not a scam but aimed at people that aren't savvy. It obviously not the DVLA site and even tells you it's cheaper to go directly through DVLA.
The top website on Google search is rarely the official site you're looking for. It's worth them paying the add fees because of all the people who'll literally use the first site they see.

"Since we are a third-party business, the official Government website could provide some of our services at a lower cost."

This happened to a work colleague of mine a few years ago......he just googled 'change address on driving licence' and a similar site popped up like for you I guess.
He had completed the transaction and paid before he mentioned it to our team - about £25 back then.
I had only recently changed my address and didn't pay anything.

Threaten them with small claims and quote consumer rights act/regulations. If they didn’t give you certain information - and they probably won’t have - the contract is unenforceable.

Follow up in small claims - it’s a pretty easy process.

I have to give my clients info on changing driving licences and similar and I ALWAYS give them the correct link and warn them to use that and not Gooogle it.
Its one of these things thats obvious with hindsight but some people don't even these 3rd party sites exist at all.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a817b92ed915d74e33fe73a/bis-13-1368-consumer-contracts-information-cancellation-and-additional-payments-regulations-guidance.pdf

There’s no way you updated it on GOV.UK as it is not linked in anyway to a 3rd party website. You were clearly on British Drive and signed up to the subscription. It is horrible that these 3rd party websites exist. All you can do is cancel it. Little point complaining to anyone, DVLA would no doubt send some standard lines advising customers need to be alert to scammers.

its a copycat website designed to make money. That site also states in very small print that it is not affiliated with the DVLA. You will be very lucky to get any money back but you can certainly give it a try.

If anyone wants to renew their driving licence you only need to use the gov.uk official website.

https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence