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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Warning - Licence Safe, avoid at all cost's

46 replies

Wannabegreenfingers · 22/02/2021 17:11

Argh.... I've been duped. It's my own fault for trying to do everything all at once. Please everyone else don't get caught out like I have. Do not use this company. It's the 1st website that pops up when you add in licence renewal.

I went to renew my driving licence today and clicked on what I thought was the DVLA website - it wasn't! I've ordered my renewal through some doggy 3rd party website that have charged me £93. I could cry. I did a little research and there are literally hundreds of people like myself who have been caught out.

I've been told by the bank, that the payment will have to go through as it is on the pending list and then I have to raise a dispute through them. I really hope this works as i can't afford to piss £93 up the wall.

I'm usually very good at these things and so annoyed that I've let myself get caught out. Feel like a little cry and glass of wine is in order then I'll put my girl pants back on and stop trying to do everything at once....

OP posts:

NoCherryNoDeal · 22/02/2021 17:16

Ah, that's shit, sorry OP.

Are you covered by section 75?

I just Googled and they're still the first result for DVLA. Google should be on the hook for this.

Original poster

Wannabegreenfingers · 23/02/2021 11:06

Thank you. I think I should be able to get a refund one way or another.

I found this and sent it in an email to them. Just waiting on a reply:

Online purchases are covered by the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. Section 10 states that in the case of off premises contracts, the retailer must provide certain information “in paper” including “a cancellation form “.

You have not complied with S10 of the Regulations.
There is no legally binding contract.
You are not entitled to any payment.

Let's see what they say.

OP posts:

BarbaraofSeville · 23/02/2021 11:16

I just Googled and they're still the first result for DVLA. Google should be on the hook for this

That's strange. I when I googled 'renew driving licence' or DVLA I got all DVLA links, official help sites like Age Concern and the odd consumer organisation warning against scam sites that take your money for doing nothing you can't do yourself on the official websites.

It was only when I googled 'licence safe' that I actually got to a link for their website, but it was in a middle of a list of review sites saying it was a terrible scam site with awful reviews .

I'm not sure I even knew that different people got different results when googling the same things

Curiosity101 · 23/02/2021 11:24

This was/is a huge issue for people applying for ESTAs too. Sorry OP, it's very easily done.

Could you report the ad/link to Google? I agree with a PP though, googling for "driving license renewal" only showed me legitimate links.

KrisAkabusi · 23/02/2021 12:36

I'm sorry it happened, and I'm sure you feel dreadful. But people really need to look at what they do online.

there's a warning that it's an ad, not a normal website.
It's not the DVLA website, webname, or anything to do with the DVLA or any .gov.uk site.
On every page they say, in bold, We are in no way affiliated with the government. You can apply through the DVLA to benefit from a reduced cost.
They tell you on every page that there are additional charges.

You need to install an adblocker so you don't get these links.

Original poster

Wannabegreenfingers · 23/02/2021 13:27

Yes. Normally I'm IT literate, this one caught me out. My fault for attempting too much at once. Hard lesson learnt

OP posts:

Kentuser · 03/04/2021 09:36

This company is still operating and ripping people off. I got caught out last night. They get 'custom' by being the first link on Google when you enter the link provided on the DVLA reminder letter on a Google search rather than inputting the link in the URL. As the person above states, if you are in a bit of a rush or distracted you can get caught out and I think of myself as careful online. I am worried about identify theft now so will be watching out for credit applications via my Experian etc. I also have cancelled the debit card and blocked future payments to this 'company'. I think some people can feel smug and complacent until it happens to them!

Tereseta · 03/04/2021 09:40

@BarbaraofSeville

I just Googled and they're still the first result for DVLA. Google should be on the hook for this

It was only when I googled 'licence safe' that I actually got to a link for their website, but it was in a middle of a list of review sites saying it was a terrible scam site with awful reviews .

I'm not sure I even knew that different people got different results when googling the same things

Licence safe was the top page for me as an advert. It's knowing to ignore the adverts that is key on Google. OP hope you get refunded by the bank, hate this kind of thing

Warning - Licence Safe, avoid at all cost's

Lovethewater · 03/04/2021 09:51

I have just googled DVLA and the first one that comes up is license on line which is another con site.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 03/04/2021 10:03

DH got caught out on TV license renewal. Took us a while to realise aswell (we were getting reminder letters, but they said to ignore if you've recently bought a TV licence!) As they never passed out payment on we got A refund (plus a proper TV License!)

picklemewalnuts · 03/04/2021 11:23

My mum had the same trouble, but rang me because she knew she shouldn't have to pay. It didn't come up on my results.

Itsokthanks · 03/04/2021 11:26

This is not a new thing. The first thing that comes up on google is rarely the site you're looking for, the amount they pay in advertising must be worth it if so many people just click on the top search without actually reading what it is.

isitjustlockdown · 03/04/2021 11:31

I would recommend to anyone is to always ignore the top few results, which are paid for adverts.

Always scroll down to the organic results and start reading from there. That way you are seeing the best algorithm results for your search, not just who has paid to be shown. Often the scam companies don't rank highly in the organic results but do put a lot resource into the paid results.

BeakyWinder · 03/04/2021 11:37

I just went to their website - it says in absolutely huge font that it costs £79 and that it is a subscription. How did you not see that?

Grumpyunleashed · 03/04/2021 13:53

I have a friend who fell victim to a similar sort of fraud some 10+ years ago on an official government document. I’m sorry to read you have been caught this way as well.

So whenever I want any government related info, documents or forms that have included, Power of Attorney, Driving Licence renewal or applying for probate on my deceased fathers estate I ALWAYS ALWAYS only access via the Gov.uk webby netty site.

From this site I have always found either forms, links or phone numbers to anything I need.

A quick check on the gov.uk site shows a D/L renewal should cost £14 online or £17 by post.

SpottyBlueTeacup · 05/04/2021 19:30

I’ve been scammed by them today!!! Totally, same as you and can’t believe I fell for it! I’m am more worried they have my bank details, NI number, passport number and my maiden name!! Why haven’t Google taken this down? I completely thought it was legit!

BeakyWinder · 05/04/2021 19:52

@SpottyBlueTeacup

Genuinely, how?? It is nothing like the Gov.uk site, it states clearly in bold that it is not affiliated with the DVLA, and it costs £79!! How?!

SoMuchBadInfo · 05/04/2021 23:56

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo · 06/04/2021 00:06

Thank you for posting this. My licence needs renewing by June (haven’t had letter yet though) and it’ll be the first I’ve done so thank you for warning.

SemperIdem · 06/04/2021 00:11

Oh that’s so shit op!

I’ve noticed a huge uptake in very realistic scammers recently.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 06/04/2021 00:16

sorry to hear that OP and others caught out.
weirdly, I just googled "DVLA" and all the results (well on first page at least) were all gov.uk sites

coogee · 06/04/2021 00:16

I completely thought it was legit!

Unfortunately, it is. They are providing a service for a charge.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 06/04/2021 00:17

I'm currently being plagued by dodgy emails for bitcoin - several a day, all different addresses - blocking and reporting!

GreyhoundG1rl · 06/04/2021 00:18

Oh, that's so shit, op . Thieving shitebags

alexdgr8 · 06/04/2021 00:47

they are not actually scammers.
they are not doing anything illegal.
this is a case of , caveat emptor, let the buyer beware.
and unfortunately i don't think that legislation will help you.
that refers to orders, which implies the supply of goods.
this is a service, they say they check that you have filled in the form.

by analogy, if you wanted to send a letter snail mail, you could affix a stamp and go find a pillar box. or i could offer to do it for you, stamp included and check that the envelope has an address written on it, all for £30.
and it would get there.
i would not be scamming you.
my terms were clear and i fulfilled my side.
you could say i didn't know how to find where a pillar box was, or i didn't have time to go out looking for one.

it's not that i don't sympathise, but you might be further disappointed if you think you can get a refund when you cannot.
this is a warning to all. so thanks for publicising it.

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