The Driving Standards Agency has warned learner drivers about scamming websites which are charging additional fees for test bookings.
The sites are using premium rate phone lines as well as misleading small print to con drivers out of around £30 on average, although in some cases the fees are considerably larger.
Some applicants have been hit with bills of up to £95 through premium rate numbers, while others have been duped by a site offering “free retakes” for anyone who failed the theory test for a further £28.50. However, people reading the small print carefully would have noticed that free retakes were actually only given to those candidates who failed by one mark.
Currently a theory exam costs £31 to book while the price for a practical test ranges from £62 to £75.
The Driving Standards Agency Chief Executive, Alastair Peoples, had this to say: “It’s unacceptable that some of these websites try to trick learner drivers into paying an extra fee to book their driving test.
“We’ve already taken action with Trading Standards and the Advertising Standards Authority to make sure that they don’t use official logos, trademarks or make misleading claims. We continue to monitor these sites and explore new ways to counteract activities.”
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