Towards the end of May, I like many others, applied for my vehicle tax disc on the internet as I have done on many occasions in the past.

The tax disc duly arrived and all seemed well – until I received my bank statement. Instead of £156.75 deducted, I had been charged £196.

On querying this I was informed that the website I had used was a copycat of that used by the Government department. It operates by making people believe they are on the correct site, they then pay the correct money to the Vehicle licensing department but they charge the customer (in this case me) an admin charge. The site looks authentic in every way.

Whilst I was reassured that the licensing department are endeavouring to close this site down, we all know these things take time.

I was also informed that there is nothing I can do, or any way to claim back the money taken.

In the meantime I wanted the Echo readers to be aware and not fall foul as I have done.

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