UK Services & Support Ltd BRITISHPassportServices Copycat Website issues DISCUSSION

[didactosaurus]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Copycat Website issues

On the matter of text messages: When my wife realised they were scam artists she made her own appointment with our local HMPO. At that point she'd already had texts from BPS which came through under the header 'Passport' or suchlike. When she cancelled their appointment and made her own with HMPO, she received a text confirming the new appointment...from the same number.

I gather Howard's into SMS ripoffs etc, but how the hell has he piggybacked onto the HMPO system in this way? This is turning into a UK reality version of 24!

[Amethyst]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Copycat Website issues

hmmm that's odd. Does she still have the texts ?

Do the legitimate passport offices send SMS confirmation of appointments?

[dann]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Copycat Website issues

Unbelievable!! They are just trying to scare people with all this jargon.

[Tools]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Copycat Website issues

He will have simply made an appointment online(if possible) or by telephoning them using your wife's details and mobile number

I am going to ring the passport office on Monday to see if it is possible to make 3rd party appointments.

[tyke1601]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Scam

Will do.

Would you please be able to send me/post a copy of the claim form you have received ? REMOVE your personal info first.

admin@legalbeagles.info



Exactly, tho for more vulnerable people this could be quite terrifying.

[Kati]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Copycat Website issues

He will have simply made an appointment online(if possible) or by telephoning them using your wife's details and mobile number

I am going to ring the passport office on Monday to see if it is possible to make 3rd party appointments.

You can do an application online through a beta programme on gov.uk now (or so it seems) - https://www.gov.uk/apply-renew-passport

[enaid]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd BRITISH UK Passport Services Copycat Website issues

Yes you can I used it a few weeks ago to renew my daughters passport it was back done and dusted in just over a week.

[Pandorian]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Copycat Website issues

Hi I am new to this site and thought I would become a member as my story is identical to everyone else's. I have just received the message stating there was a 4 to 1 majority at their meeting yesterday. They claim they have sent papers to my address. I have NO UK address or telephone number and they are aware of this so can they take this any further?

I made the original phone call to them in August last year, filled the online form assuming it was just to get the appointment, signed it and clicked send, at this point I was unaware that i was signing up for their services which I did not require, I never paid the £117.60 and was bombarded with messages. I realised something was wrong and cancelled everything the next day. I contacted the genuine Passport Office to make enquiries about this company and was told they were nothing to do with them. The date I required would not have been possible to book for another 5 days so there was no appointment made by Passport Services although they claimed they had. About a week later I phoned the genuine Passport Office and made my own appointment for a different date and time so as not to confuse matters, all made on the spot, very little information required, no demand for money and took just a few minutes. (I have this call logged on my pc) as it was a voip call. I heard nothing more from Passport Services until last week when they started hounding with messages claiming I owed them £117.60. I have told them in no uncertain terms I will not be paying for services I have not had and did not request. I live overseas and their only way to communicate with me is by email, is this sufficient for them to take me to court?

I have lodged a complaint against them to Watchdog.

[EXC]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Copycat Website issues

I live overseas and their only way to communicate with me is by email, is this sufficient for them to take me to court?

No, they would have to have an address to serve the claim.

I made the original phone call to them in August last year

Could you tell us about the call and whether you'd filled out anything online before you made it?

[dann]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Copycat Website issues

Is this the same company or a different one?
http://www.ukpassportservices.co.uk/...ssport-office/

[Poltergeist]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Copycat Website issues

That's interesting Dann. If you go to that website scroll down and you'll find a telephone number 0203 701 2916. This also appears to relate to the following:- www.passportforms.org.uk, www.ukpassportservices.co.uk, www.ukpassportoffices.co.uk and on and on....

It appears that if they don't get you on one site, they'll do it on another![COLOR=#00AFFD !important]


[/COLOR]

[Pandorian]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Copycat Website issues

I made the call from overseas as I just wanted the appointment, I already had forms from the UK Post Office filled in and photos ready and waiting, all I needed was the appointment. I knew there was a long waiting time to do it through the post and couldn't wait 3 or 4 weeks in the UK for it to come back so I decided to personally attend the Passport Office. I googled Passport Renewal and their site was in front of me and looked the real thing, I phoned the number and was told to phone another number (unfortunately I can't remember the numbers involved). I was greeted by a female voice asking me 2 questions only, what is your telephone number and what is your email address, she saId she would send a form for me to fill in, which I did. I thought it was a strange way to get an appointment but did it all the same. That was the only time I have phoned them, all other correspondence has been iniated by them, probably to inflate the bill.

[dann]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Copycat Website issues

Absolutley. If they are a kosher company, then why would they need many other sites that do the same thing.. Has anyone else got the text message saying "You can reach the governments passport office from the number 0905 960 0300... They say this isnt routed to them but they sent me it as only they have my number.

[Amethyst]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Copycat Website issues

Just for ref a few weeks back (December 12th actually) I made a complaint to the ASA and this was the reply, which was rather frustrating

Your Complaint – UK Services & Support Ltd – xxxxxxxx


Thank you for contacting the Advertising Standards Authority, with your complaint about misleading advertising on the British Passport Services website.

As you may be aware, our work largely concentrates on the content of advertising material itself and, as a non-statutory body, we can’t intervene to obtain refunds or reparations for individual consumers such as those who have contacted you. For advice on obtaining a refund or to complain about this company’s trading practices, I would suggest they contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm), or they can find further information at www.adviceguide.org.uk. It may also be worth discussing the matter with their bank.

In terms of the advertising, you may not be surprised to hear that we have had many similar complaints about this type of website and have investigated and upheld a number of cases already. If you are interested in reading some of our previous rulings, you can find them on the links below:

UK-Passport.net
paylondoncongestion.co.uk
estavisas.org.uk
passport-uk.co.uk

In addition to our own investigations, we have been working with Government Digital Services and search engine providers to reduce the number of misleading ads in this sector. To build on the work already undertaken, in recognition of the importance of the issue and to help us understand fully the impact of third-party sites such as those mentioned, we’ve now commissioned research about the influence they have on consumers. The research is being carried out as a matter of priority and once we have its results, we will consider appropriate follow-up action. Although we won’t be taking further action at this time, we will keep a record of your comments on file and the issues you have raised, together with those of others with similar concerns, and this will help to inform our response.

You can read more about our work in this area on our website, where you’ll find advice for consumers on how to recognise websites offering an ‘unofficial’ service, and an ASA Hot Topic article to increase general awareness. Details can be accessed here.

I hope that you have found this information helpful, and I’m sorry we won’t pursue the matter further. Thank you, nonetheless, for taking the time to contact us with your concerns.

Kind regards


Justin

[Amethyst]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Copycat Website issues

Absolutley. If they are a kosher company, then why would they need many other sites that do the same thing.. Has anyone else got the text message saying "You can reach the governments passport office from the number 0905 960 0300... They say this isnt routed to them but they sent me it as only they have my number.

That's very naughty. Have you reported it ?

I'm sure if you mention who sent it, and you believe they are already aware of the director of the company, they should listen,

Complain about a premium rate number

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