UK Services & Support Ltd BRITISHPassportServices Copycat Website issues DISCUSSION

[Amethyst]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Scam

Apparently Richard already lends money to people in developing countries, which is lovely of him I'm sure.

[Poltergeist]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Scam

Apparently Richard already lends money to people in developing countries, which is lovely of him I'm sure.

Ahh! I saw that and it made me feel all tingly inside.... Oh, no wait a second, I thought I was going to vomit!

[Kati]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Scam

Apparently Richard already lends money to people in developing countries, which is lovely of him I'm sure.

:doh: - why didn't we all see ... he's starting all these pointless court cases to help the 'starving Africans' Maybe they can build a new office or something with their 'proceeds'??




EDIT - apologies if I offend anyone... no offence intended

[Poltergeist]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd BRITISHPassportServices Copycat Website issues

From what I can see, and sense, there isn't a charitable bone in his body. He just bullies young kids who he knows are an easy target to prey upon, they should be disgusted, embarrassed and ashamed of their tactics, and he seems to think that this is a sound business model.

As many here will; know, I'm fighting this for justice sake, i'm personally not interested in getting my money back. I served my country in the military in order that hard working people can make an honest living, and live happily, and if that includes decent entrepreneurial skills, then more the better, but don't dress this shite up or confuse it with that, because it's not, this will be outlawed, and I personally won't stop until it is. Please sign the change.org petition to assist with my aim.

[Mandid]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd BRITISHPassportServices Copycat Website issues

Thanks! I hope somebody see's the human side of the argument rather than just the legal side.

Also, in regards to your point with the contract, I believe I read somewhere in this thread that a contract must be sent to you in a specific manner (e.g. email or hard copy etc) before the work is carried out. Is this correct? Would that invalidate the "contract".

EDIT: Screwed up the quote, apolagies

Car Guy that is what the CAB told me to fight them with, they said that if you do not receive a copy of a contract in durable form before the contract commences then it cannot be enforced and becomes a criminal act if they try to do so. I didn't even receive the email with the link to my contract at all. I think for those of you that received the email with the link it is a big grey area as to wether the courts will deem that fit as a durable form. What have you found out on this Amethyst?

[Amethyst]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd BRITISHPassportServices Copycat Website issues

The email with the link on the BPS site is not a durable form. An email with the contract attached as a WORD doc, PDF or even pasted into the email IS a durable form.

The contract link is also, in my view, a major breach of DPA as they are all publicly accessible and not password protected.

[Mandid]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Scam

Go for your life xx (bump us up a bit while you're at it lol )

BPS are now accepting payments in installment....

And how do you get eligible for the 2nd Service I wonder, we all know that would never be offered! these people are beyond belief...

[Amethyst]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Scam

Indeed, haven't sussed out who they are using for that yet, they say themselves, which it may be. The Ministry of Justice Claims Management Regulators aren't interested either as it's not a regulated practice.

[Amethyst]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Scam

Found some different terms from April 2014 ( Keith from Wales if you happen to look in ) - not quite as clear as they have made out the 'new' terms to be....

By using this emergency appointment service British Passport Services will contact
its customer database to find a customer who does not need to lodge their passport
in an urgent manner and is willing to wait to do so at a later date. The name of the
appointment cannot be changed and so will have to remain in the previous
customers name however still be valid for use. You will receive the booking
reference number, time and date of the appointment via email which is typically
within 3-4hrs working hours however it is understood that it could be longer than
this. You understand that in order to use this appointment you will need to inform
the receptionist on arrival at the Passport Office of the booking reference number
that you have been allocated and state that you are there to renewal [previous
customers name] passport.

You will then be allocated an Argos style waiting ticket and directed to the waiting
area. Once your number has been called you will then be directed to the clerk and
then be able to process your own application using your own name, your own
passport form, your own passport pictures, your own supporting documents and
lodge your passport.

Using this form does in no way guarantee you a passport as this is down to the sole
discretion of the Passport Office you are attending and the standard terms set out
by Her Majesty’s Passport Office. You must check before completing this form that
you are eligible for the one day or one week service before using this form, for
example first time applicants that are older than 16yrs of age will not be able to use
the Fast Track Service if this is their first UK Passport, the Premium Service is not
available for any first time applicants if the passport has been lost, stolen or
damaged. No refunds can be issued after this form has been submitted, if you
secure an appointment via other means or cancel or change the appointment that
we issue you or do not use all items this package includes.

The service fee you pay our independent organisation for this package is nonrefundable
and required in full within 72hrs of completing this form (even if all
package items are not redeemed) and is in addition to the Fast Track or Premium
Passport fee due to the Passport Office on the day of the appointment. For the 1 day
Premium Service the rate is £128 for an adult and £106.50 for a child, the 1 week
Fast Track Service £103 for an adult or £87 for a child. By using our Services you
expressly agree that we will commence provision of the Service immediately upon
receipt of this form, consequently there is no option to cancel your order under the
provisions of the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000.
The service fee that you pay British Passport Services is for the work involved
contacting our customer database to request a customer postpone their
appointment so that you can use it or the work involved securing a cancellation
from our database or the Passport Office that will allow you to use. In addition to
this the service also includes ongoing phone, live chat and email chat, application
checking service for errors and omissions, access to our translation service, one
telephone consultation with a senior passport advisor (up to 30 minutes),
appointment reminders via sms and email, assistance with directions to the
Passport Office you are travelling to as well as tips and advice via email and online
videos of how best to prepare for the appointment.
You can secure a free appointment without using our services via Her Majesty's
Passport Office directly on 0300 222 0000 (www.direct.gov.uk/passports). This
package and fee is for one person only. British Passport Services does not have any
preferential access to Passport Office appointments nor any access to any Offices
calendar. We do not guarantee that you will be able to lodge your passport on the
day of your appointment if you advise the receptionist that you are there to lodge
the applicants passport. You agree to state that you are there to lodge the previous
customers passport and then only lodge your own when at the processing desk. No
refunds can be issued if you do not follow the instructions on how to use this
appointment.

In addition to this the following items are free as part of our package: a twenty
percent discount on policies from our travel insurance partner, price freeze on
passport prices, 90 day loss protection warranty on the applicants passport and if
requested the free submission of the European Health Card and upgrade of the
applicants full UK driving license to one recognized worldwide.
This online booking form is available for the convenience of the user and is provided
by British Passport Services who are not affiliated with Her Majesty’s Passport Office
or any government department as we are an unaccredited privately owned
organization with no ability to issue passports ourselves. We are not responsible for
any errors, losses or damages that you may incur whilst using this service, you use
any of our services at your own risk and agree to the terms found at
(((URL REMOVED))) and understand that any advice provided should
not be considered professional advice.
Her Majesty's Passport Office will check the details you provide using information
held by public and private sector organisations in order to determine whether to
issue a passport. Those details may be used by Her Majesty's Passport Office to test
our systems and to ensure the effective operation of passport services. We may also
contact you to ask if you are satisfied with such services. We may pass information
held on your passport and on related passport records to public and private sector
organisations in the UK and abroad when you use your passport, obtain a service or

[Mandid]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd BRITISHPassportServices Copycat Website issues

I am going to try and find out exactly when they made the appointment for me as the HMPO ref nos seem sequential and the one they gave me was over 400 Digits earlier than the one I made personally minutes after I made the mistake of visiting their site. I think we all need to understand how they are making these appointments and need answers from the HMPO? BPS do advise somewhere that the appointments they supply are sometimes ones relinquished by prior customers who no longer needed them urgently (YEAH RIGHT). Is it not more the case they are making a load of fake appointments in advance and then somehow ringing them and changing to our details when one of us falls into their trap? I would really like to get an understanding of how they are operating all this. Tomorrow I am going to email HMPO with my case and try and get them to provide details of what date and time the appointment they made for me was made and if it was originally made for another person and got changed to my details. It would have been virtually impossible for them to make that appointment within the six minutes and for the sequential number to be so much earlier. I feel like emailing the Queen and letting Her Majesty know this scam is being carried out in her service, failing that Jeremy Kyles files lol!

[Amethyst]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Scam

Well in April they did it like this ...

By using this emergency appointment service British Passport Services will contact
its customer database to find a customer who does not need to lodge their passport
in an urgent manner and is willing to wait to do so at a later date. The name of the
appointment cannot be changed and so will have to remain in the previous
customers name however still be valid for use. You will receive the booking
reference number, time and date of the appointment via email which is typically
within 3-4hrs working hours however it is understood that it could be longer than
this. You understand that in order to use this appointment you will need to inform
the receptionist on arrival at the Passport Office of the booking reference number
that you have been allocated and state that you are there to renewal [previous
customers name] passport.

( so bulk book random fake names and tell customers to go lie about who they are to HMPO reception)


Nowadays they do seem to be ringing up the HMPO and making appointments in the customers name after you fill in the form - ie pretend to be you. Anything you can get from the HMPO would be helpful though.

[Mandid]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Scam

Well in April they did it like this ...



( so bulk book random fake names and tell customers to go lie about who they are to HMPO reception)


Nowadays they do seem to be ringing up the HMPO and making appointments in the customers name after you fill in the form - ie pretend to be you. Anything you can get from the HMPO would be helpful though.

That is shocking that they used to tell you to lie, I am dumbfounded that this has gone on so long. And why would they have a database of people one minute needing urgent appointments who then say oh okay yes I will give that up for some bugger else when they to would have paid the £117.60. Are they saying they refund these people who one moment needed an urgent appointment but the BPS are that willing and kind to help us they persuade said people to relinquish their appointments and give them a new non urgent one! It is all a load of b******xs!

[Amethyst]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Scam

It is, I think they must just book a bunch of fake name appointments each day for new victims .... just seen a guy in his 80's who had an appointment booked for first week in Feb

Taking all that evidence to ICO tmw.

[enaid]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd Passport Scam

And how do you get eligible for the 2nd Service I wonder, we all know that would never be offered! these people are beyond belief...

If you or anyone you know is eligible for flight delay/cancellation compensation they reclaim that for you and take the money you owe them out of that
I think the minimum is about £250 so they will no doubt just keep the change

[aviduser]

Re: UK Services & Support Ltd BRITISHPassportServices Copycat Website issues

Hi all

I think I might have started this thread, I have been on holiday and just got back, before I left I received a claim for from the Courts "money claim online" I then went online and click defend or reject this claim. Within the particulars of the claim they note my ip address, and run through the service they supposedly supplied. Now while I was away I received a notice of proposed allocation to small claims track.

So basically I am at that stage. Does anyone else have an outstanding claim? Mandid? I think you are in the same boat.

I guess the question is NOW WHAT !!!