Driving Licence Renewal

[Donz1979]

Yesterday I renewed my driving licence through what I thought was via DVLA however this morning I realised £93 taken from bank! Spoke to DVLA who advised my licence has been renewed and it looks like I have clicked on a non affiliated link! How has this even happened! Now trying to get money back!
Please beware.

[Fluffypenguin]

Always make sure that if you google “driving license renewal” you click on the link for the gov.uk website.

Alternatively what I usually do is type in the gov.uk website and then once on that site I just use the search options to find the driving license renewal bit.

I have actually just googled “driving license renewal” to see what comes up and you do get four ads first with 3rd party sites to renew it on, which all say AD next to them. If you scroll on past you get to the gov.uk website.

[Donz1979]

Yes this is what i have clicked on, not even thinking you can renew via 3rd party! 😡
Im still fighting for money back, they have offered £49!

[Fluffypenguin]

I’ve just looked through the ads and I can see one that says it’s £93 for the service, but you have to scroll down to the bottom of the page to actually see this information, so if you don’t scroll down and you just click “renewal” then you wouldn’t see the cost. I can’t see any further because I’m not renewing a license, but when you got to the payment page, was there no indication of price there either?

It’s quite similar to the esta situation I guess, they also have 3rd party sites that charge you for the privilege of using them.

[megaflyer]

I have just renewed mine as changed postal address but like you I goggled it and some of the sites look legit but wanted money for something I knew was free - it was near the bottom of search results I found the gov.uk one which I new I needed - I wish google would put that at the top !

[Donz1979]

Originally Posted by Fluffypenguin

I’ve just looked through the ads and I can see one that says it’s £93 for the service, but you have to scroll down to the bottom of the page to actually see this information, so if you don’t scroll down and you just click “renewal” then you wouldn’t see the cost. I can’t see any further because I’m not renewing a license, but when you got to the payment page, was there no indication of price there either?

It’s quite similar to the esta situation I guess, they also have 3rd party sites that charge you for the privilege of using them.

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No cost at all mentioned at payment stage and I didnt scroll down I just went in and submitted! Would never have dreamt it wouldnt be Gov website.

[Donz1979]

Update: they have refunded me £79 which is 'their fee' minus £14 acual cost of renewal! Phew!

[Fluffypenguin]

Originally Posted by Donz1979

Update: they have refunded me £79 which is 'their fee' minus £14 acual cost of renewal! Phew!

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Woo, that’s good news! Glad they’ve done that. I didn’t think it was fair that they have tried to hide cost further down the page. Most of the 3rd party sites made costs obvious, but that one didn’t. No wonder they’ve refunded. The last thing you need is to be out of pocket in these times.

[Donz1979]

Thanks for help!