Fake Esta websites?

[Gems09]

My mum just nearly paid $100 for what she thought was an esta after competing the online form etc. Dad video called me to check it was the right website as he thought I had said we paid $14 a head for them... and it was not!
Are these sites well known scams or was mum just really unlucky to click on that one?

[amandajane10]

They are not fake sites but they do charge you more for doing the same thing as the official website.

[Dinglebert]

They are technically not a scam otherwise would be shut down. They provide a service. The fact that you don't need that service and frankly they design themselve to trick people out of money is dreadful.

[Guest]

Every time the word esta appears on here it's a link to the official website.

[Pookie3101]

They are not fake or a scam. They are third party sites that charge you a hefty fee to do something that you can do yourself for just the cost of the esta.

[SMAX]

Most people that complain directly to the site get their money back. There has been a lot of cases on theDIBB of people getting a refund.

[Gems09]

Thanks all. Luckily she didn't pay it. I was so shocked when they said how much this site wanted for one esta!

[grottyrotty]

Originally Posted by Gems09

My mum just nearly paid $100 for what she thought was an esta after competing the online form etc. Dad video called me to check it was the right website as he thought I had said we paid $14 a head for them... and it was not!
Are these sites well known scams or was mum just really unlucky to click on that one?

See more...

I am a veteran at booking Florida holidays, but I inadvertently applied for our ESTAs on one of these sites They do offer a service, but don't make it terribly clear that they charge for that service. I stupidly thought it was the official ESTA site

When the screen came up to pay, it didn't tell me how much would be debited from my card; it just went straight through to taking the payment.

My fault entirely, of course. I didn't expect to get my money back, but did email the company to say how misleading it was taking my money without letting me know how much would be debited before I approved the transaction (at which time I would have abandoned the transaction!).

However, the company very quickly, and to my surprise, refunded the total amount.

I then was able to apply via the correct site - phew

Lesson well learnt!

Deb

[Guest]

They are not fake,!That would imply you paid money and got nothing back. They are travel services companies that submit an application on your behalf and charge a fee on top of the Esta fee for doing so. They are perfectly legal but they do design their sites to draw you in. You need to read everything on them because they cover themselves legally by saying "Not an official site" even though it may be in tiny print.
However, that said they are unnecessary as you can just do it yourself for $ 14 per person. Caveat Emptor - Buyer Beware.

[Yorkshire Lad]

also remember these type of sites, also do the European Health Card(EHIC), which are free via the NHS/Gov site.