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Passport-USA Reviews Summary
The company has garnered significant negative feedback, primarily due to its misleading portrayal as an official government site for passport applications. Customers frequently express frustration over being charged for services that are available for free, leading to feelings of deception and financial loss. While some users report positive experiences with customer service, particularly in securing refunds, these instances are overshadowed by widespread concerns regarding transparency and the handling of personal information. Overall, the sentiment reflects a strong warning against using the service, emphasizing the need for clearer communication and ethical practices.
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For sure its a scam. It set up so it comes at the top of your search because its an ad but its very misleading because when you hit on it it takes you to basically filling out the information for renewing your passport. All fine and well and then they asked for a fee of $38 +1 dollar charge on your credit card. Hear youre thinking that youre paying for the renewal of the passport. It is a very well-designed site it really helps you fill out the information correctly to the point. It seems right but its not. There is no charge for downloading the application papers you still have to send them in with the check to renew your passport. Hopefully Im not compromised either. I hope somebody goes to jail over this $#*!.!
This is the worst attempt at scamming hard working people out of $$$ for purely profit. They make it seem like it's a site to print out official US Documents for Passports and then DECEIVE you into paying a fee that looks like it's part of the process to obtain a passport.
Found out from USPO when I applied for passport that this was a scam. Had to stop card payment and pray my into was not compromised. This should be illegal!
Do Not Pay $38 for this site. Total Scam. I needed to renew passports so I went to the site that looked official. SCAM! Not these clowns have my personal information and credit card info. SCAM
This fee that is charged is meant to having the user think that it is part of the application Fee - It IS NOT! There are many other web sites that you can go to for an application that will not charge you the $38 - I am going to ask my credit card company that this fee not be paid! SHAME ON YOU Passport-USA!
Hi June,
Thank you for a prompt reply.
To address your "Our website clearly states that we are not affiliated with the US Department of State or any Government Agencies, and that the fees do not include the actual processing fee."
After reading your reply, I decided to go back to your website. I now found out that statement is speciously made less noticeable by being posted at the very top of the home page in small-size letters, and also buried in the fine lines at the bottom. As the adage has correctly said, "The devil is lurking in the fine lines." Had you clearly stated the above statement in bold/red or as large as and right underneath the headings on your home page, instead of fine lines at the top and bottom, you consequently would never have been able to rip me and the others off.
Or, should your business be scrupulous, before clicking "Submit," a payment, you would have added a "Review order" page with a reminder either in red, or bold that said, "The $38 fee is for the utilization of our system to accomplish your DS- form online" and that, "the fees do not include the actual processing fee" as the other legit businesses would have warned. But perhaps, the sole reason that you still keep your home page the way it has been because you already foresee there will still be some people who are unwittingly fall for your deceptive business tactic like the past customers.
Out of 21 reviews, 20 gave your business a one-star for service and value. That means, 95% of those who did business with you were dissatisfied. Amazingly! What is your business philosophy? Does it exist to solely serve your bottom line? You don't understand money is only a means to an end, not an end in itself, do you?
It's not a matter of $38 that you unjustifyingly charged me, but rather a matter of principle that I raise the issue with you and alert the others to not fall into your trap. Therefore, I will post this reply online.
Last but not least, I will file complaints with the FTC and BBB, concerning your deceptive business tactic.
I wanted to do a follow up on my review of September 27,2017. As I reported, I notified my bank. They immediately returned my money to my account, and then began an investigations. I didn't have to do anything more except wait about 90 days when they contacted me to say that the case was closed in my favor. So all it takes is a little time and a phone call to your bank to get your money back.
I thought I was filling out the US Passport application on the gov website. This site just gives you the same form as the the gov website, but charges you $38 so you can print it. It's a total scam.
I though I was using the official government site and I paid $38. I sent email to this site and they responded fairly quickly. I asked if $38 will be credited towards passport application. I was told no, this their fee. I am not as concerned about their fee, as I am concerned they can use use the info for identity theft. They have everything - SS number, date of birth, address.
I feel for it too. 38 bucks for nothing. How can they get away with this. They make it look like they are legit. You are paying for forms you can get for nothing and giving them you personal info.
Seriously what the hell. Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken Broken
I thought I was paying my mom's application fee, but it was nothing.
You'll be paying $38.00 for 2 pages of paper you could get from anywhere free.
This is a total scam!
I fell for it, too! I went as far as wanting to print out receipt to include with my application for the passport, thinking that was proof I paid fees. NO! That was so stupid. RRRR
Don't pay anything! Only go to. Gov website for free passport online forms. I cancelled my credit card. You only send payment with the actual printed passport application. Always check carefully for website integrity.
These people charge you $38.00 to print off passport form that you can download and print for free. I got scammed! Make sure you only use sites that end in. Gov.
Not sure how they can get away with this!
This site poses as an official window for online passport applications, but it is NOT. Fortunately I woke up to my stupidity before paying for nothing, but not before giving them my social security number. Hateful creeps. Why can't law enforcement protect us from this type of thing?
I fell for this website ending in. Org. I cant believe it I gave them every bit of information that you would need for a credit card or a loan. I called the bank to put an alert on the account, I also called experian to freeze my credit. The number is *******742.
Everyone says this is a scam so you start sweating thinking your identity will be stolen. Not the case. You're ok. The documents are legit & you will mail them off to the correct government agency. The rip off is paying for documents you can easily find online. You can upload these documents for FREE on the travel.state.gov website. You can breathe again but will have wasted some $$$. If you haven't gone through them yet, don't. Anytime you need gov docs & you're using a website the site should always end in. Gov. At 34, lesson learned!
Do not pay any money. This site is misleading to say the least. I was led to believe this was the site to renew ones passport, it is not! They offered no refund of my money after learning this place is solely set up to take people's money in exchange for nothing. The forms to renew a passport are on the government website.
This site essentially charges you for forms that can be downloaded for free. Don't make the mistake I did by thinking that they handle the form submission process. The fee also does not go towards the renewal fee associated with your passport. Considering I already had the form completed before I signed up with them, I asked if I could get a refund and cancel my account. They did not accommodate my request.
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- SmartCustomer has helped over 200M buyers make better purchasing decisions online
- Suspicious reviews are flagged by our algorithms, moderators, and community members
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