Tweet
OFT investigates deceptive online selling of government services
Originally posted by 5corpio
The OFT has opened investigations into a number of websites that charge people for government services that are available directly from government either at no cost or for a lower fee.
The investigation will look into websites that charge consumers to apply for services that are free such as European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs) as well as websites that impose higher charges for services that do carry a cost such as booking a driving theory test.
The OFT will consider, amongst other things, whether the websites are deceptively presented as official government services - an unfair commercial practice. This would raise particular concern if consumers are thus misled into paying fees for services that are available free of charge from the official government website, or paying significantly more than what they would have to pay when using the official website.
Once the OFT has completed its investigations it will consider what further action, if any, is appropriate. At this stage, the OFT cannot identify the companies that are subject to this investigation and no assumption should be made that any companies being investigated have broken the law.
Cavendish Elithorn, Senior Director of the OFT's Goods and Consumer Group, said:
'It is important that companies are clear about the service they are offering, and do not trick people into paying for something that they can get for free or much cheaper on....More on this story: OFT investigates deceptive online selling of government services - The Office of Fair Trading
The investigation will look into websites that charge consumers to apply for services that are free such as European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs) as well as websites that impose higher charges for services that do carry a cost such as booking a driving theory test.
The OFT will consider, amongst other things, whether the websites are deceptively presented as official government services - an unfair commercial practice. This would raise particular concern if consumers are thus misled into paying fees for services that are available free of charge from the official government website, or paying significantly more than what they would have to pay when using the official website.
Once the OFT has completed its investigations it will consider what further action, if any, is appropriate. At this stage, the OFT cannot identify the companies that are subject to this investigation and no assumption should be made that any companies being investigated have broken the law.
Cavendish Elithorn, Senior Director of the OFT's Goods and Consumer Group, said:
'It is important that companies are clear about the service they are offering, and do not trick people into paying for something that they can get for free or much cheaper on....More on this story: OFT investigates deceptive online selling of government services - The Office of Fair Trading