Why do people find it so hard to get an ESTA for the USA? (without getting conned)

[NickFitz]

Buy one ESTA, and I'll sort out your PPI compensation for half the usual price

[GreenMirror]

Why not set up a website selling ESTAs (whatever they are? ) for £100 - Sorted!

And claim JSA while setting it up.

[TheGreenBastard]

Never ceases to amaze me how stupid the general public are. Its not hard to find out that an ESTA costs $14. If you go on a site and the total at the bottom says £70 then if you click OK then its you're problem.

Indeed, it never ceases to amaze...

[OwlHoot]

I think I need a plan B that focuses on stupid people in the UK...

Why not set up a website selling ESTAs (whatever they are? ) for £100 - Sorted!

[NCOTBAC]

Apparently thats whats been happening. Person cancels credit card payment, 3rd party site as the agent, cancel the esta on their behalf.

ESTAs are funny old things. If the system picks up any irregularities, even at random it seems, then it will refuse. It seems to err massively on the side of caution.

So if it sees a cancelled ESTA it may not allow a further application (its happened to people). It might work but it might not.

Then you're options are visa via us embassy which is a right PITA.

But the person knows they've been ripped off so then know the proper process and just do it themselves.

If people don't know how to do this then really they've got good value out of paying the extra.

I don't think you've thought this through very well.

[WTFH]

And sites that do your passport for you, etc.

If you google EHIC, you'll find that a free card is yours for only £34 (at least 3 sites on page 1 of the google results)

[DaveB]

There are loads of sites like this, a big one in the UK is third parties booking your driving test theory exam for you and charging an extortionate fee.

[psychocandy]

Are you sure you can cancel an ESTA? And why will they have a nightmare getting another sorted?

Apparently thats whats been happening. Person cancels credit card payment, 3rd party site as the agent, cancel the esta on their behalf.

ESTAs are funny old things. If the system picks up any irregularities, even at random it seems, then it will refuse. It seems to err massively on the side of caution.

So if it sees a cancelled ESTA it may not allow a further application (its happened to people). It might work but it might not.

Then you're options are visa via us embassy which is a right PITA.

[northernladuk]

Number of people bleating saying they're going to get a refund from credit card etc. Bad idea - the company will just cancel you're ESTA then and you'll have a nightmare getting one sorted...

Are you sure you can cancel an ESTA? And why will they have a nightmare getting another sorted?

[PhiltheGreek]

I frequent the Disney forums.

As the Mickey Mouse of contractors, that won't surprise anyone.

[northernladuk]

I think I need a plan B that focuses on stupid people in the UK...

Well the first rule of business is to understand your market so your plan B is guaranteed to fly.

[psychocandy]

I frequent the Disney forums. Its FULL of people who get "conned" into paying £70 for an ESTA via a dodgy site. (Its $14 on the official one).

Never ceases to amaze me how stupid the general public are. Its not hard to find out that an ESTA costs $14. If you go on a site and the total at the bottom says £70 then if you click OK then its you're problem.

OK so these sites say they're offering this as a "processing" fee but in reality they know the UK is full of stupid people.

Number of people bleating saying they're going to get a refund from credit card etc. Bad idea - the company will just cancel you're ESTA then and you'll have a nightmare getting one sorted.

Surely though its like going into kwikfit and saying "please change my brake pads", then paying £150. Then finding out you could have got the pads for £20 and done it yourself then expecting kwikfit to refund you?

I think I need a plan B that focuses on stupid people in the UK...