AA exposes online fraudsters charging sky-high fees to arrange driving tests
By Luke Whitmore, 28th June 2010
Learner drivers are in danger of being ripped off by online
'booking services' that charge inflated sums and offer nothing in
return, the AA has warned.
The third-party websites charge 'administration fees' to book
learners onto Driving Standards Agency tests - a service which is
offered at no extra charge by the DSA itself.
Learner drivers looking to book their tests online have been
cautioned to take care when seeking to book their tests, as many of
these sites place the letters 'DSA' prominently in the search
listings which show up on Google, in order to obscure the fact that
the booking is not being made directly through the Driving
Standards Agency.
Some learners have already been caught out, submitting
their details and the dates they're available for a test and paying
out extortionate fees for no added value.
In some cases, unwitting young drivers have been charged more
than £50 for a theory test booking which would cost £31 directly
through the DSA, or paid fees of £30 to £40 on top of the usual
cost of a practical test.
Director of AA Driving School Simon Douglas warned learner
drivers to be careful when booking their tests.
"Learning to drive involves a once-in-a-lifetime investment in a
vital skill for life," he commented. "But paying hiked-up fees for
'help' to book your test is a waste of money few learners or their
parents can afford."
Booking tests at standard charges directly from the Driving
Standards Agency costs £31 for a theory test, £62 for a practical
test on a weekday or £75 for a practical test on a weekend or
weekday evening, and can be done through the DSA website.
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