US VISA scam - please help
Hi
i had to apply for a us visa for myself and partner.
i googled esta visa and went to the website and filled in the application. thought it was a bit odd after the event that they hadnt told me how much it cost me and sent no receipt (should be $14. rang my bank and actually got charged $140. tried to cancel transaction but they cant. Tried ringing the company no answer. i can ring the banks dispute team tomorrow who said will sort but am not sure what will happen.
know I'm an idiot to fall for a scam, i thought i was more savvy - obviously not
has anyone had anything similar, what happened? For info i didn't pay on a credit card unfortunately
i had to apply for a us visa for myself and partner.
i googled esta visa and went to the website and filled in the application. thought it was a bit odd after the event that they hadnt told me how much it cost me and sent no receipt (should be $14. rang my bank and actually got charged $140. tried to cancel transaction but they cant. Tried ringing the company no answer. i can ring the banks dispute team tomorrow who said will sort but am not sure what will happen.
know I'm an idiot to fall for a scam, i thought i was more savvy - obviously not
has anyone had anything similar, what happened? For info i didn't pay on a credit card unfortunately
0
Comments
This is the official one: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/
If it wasn't that one, then you went via a handling agent, if that was the case and you have been issued your ESTA, then they have performed the service that you paid for, albeit at a very expensive cost.
Sorry , yeah, you've been screwed. $14 for 2 years is the current rate. Not sure you can do anything about it now, Just be careful they actually lodge your application and don't just throw it in the bin now they're got the cash!
What was the site?
BTW, the US government should be doing more to stamp out these blatent con artists! The green card application is plauged with similar schemes
Did you get your ESTA?
If so, then I don't think so as you have paid for the service and received your goods. A complaint to trading standards, a visit to the CAB, other than that I don't know.
Probably this one: https://www.estavisas.org/
I would say it is legit, I have not known any that are doing fake ones, the only thing they do wrong is charge an extortionate fee.
You should be able to check if it is legit, by going on to the official website, and click on retrieve application, and enter the details it asks for, this will bring up your ESTA.
It's especially galling that you're still having to go through the exact same stieps yet being charged so much more for it... with no guarantees it will get processed. Check on the actual ESTA web site every so often to confirm they've processed it and not chuckec it in the bin
Worth a try but I doubt you'll have any luck... they've not done anything wrong as far as I can see.... they processed your application on your behalf and charged you that amount to do so... the fact that you had to enter in the exact same information to them as they entered on the ESTA probably doesn't change a thing.... sorry
Good luck with the bank, these handling agents are good at what they do and fool a lot of people, so I wouldn't call yourself an idiot. They have been around since day one of the ESTA rules coming into place, had plenty of time to trap lots of people.
Oh these companies make my blood boil. Dont be so hard on yourself, it's so easily done which is why they are all still in business. They pay a premium to get their SEO's above the official websites. I would check on their T&C's and see if there is a cancellation period (e.g. 48 hrs or something...) Let us know how you get on, if only to stop someone else doing the same thing
But still, give the bank a try... you might be in luck and have some kind of insurance protection against this sort of thing
Why would they have a cooling-off period? The whole point of such sites (even if we give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they're offering a genuine service) is that they submit the application immediately. They'd hardly offer you a refund after you've got your ESTA.
Obviously you weren't paying attention.
No they didn't at all.