Frustrated by the 20% increase in test waiting times, learners are using unofficial websites, apps and brokers to leap the queue for a driving test. Using bots, these ‘brokers’ first block-book test slots – often cancellations – before selling them on to learners at a marked-up price.
For instance, the standard fee for a test is £62 but brokers can sell them for £200+ to folk wanting to snag a test within a matter of days, according to BBC research.
Bad news
While you may think that’s a sum worth paying – and we should point out that the practice is entirely legal – the Driving and Standards Agency (DVSA) has now issued warnings about what you might be risking if you do choose to go down the broker route.
First, the agency states that it does not “run, approve or endorse any cancellation finder apps or services” and that GOV.UK offers the only official driving test booking service. Additionally, using an unofficial website to book your test means you may not get important emails from the DVSA such as a change to your test date.
Lack of protection
According to the agency, there are also several privacy issues to consider. Unofficial sites are failing to offer privacy notices that comply with data protection law.
A privacy notice is an online document that explains exactly how your personal data is collected, used, shared and protected. The DVSA explains that, based on it own research, several unofficial services failed to:
- Say who was collecting your personal data or giving their contact details
- Explain the rights you have to access, rectify or delete your personal data
- Explain the legal basis for processing your personal data
- Saying how long the service would store your personal data.
Big risk?
These issues leave you open to potential fraudulent threats. DVSA Chief Executive, Loveday Ryder explains that “you should always keep your driving licence number secure. It could be invaluable to those looking to steal your identity.”
And then there is a bigger potential downside associated with using unofficial services – that you may pay the inflated fee but never actually get a test, instead get ripped off by con artists looking to make a quick and easy buck.
“NASP wholeheartedly supports any campaigns and guidance which works to dissuade learners from using third party booking apps. Taking shortcuts to queue jump and book an earlier test could come back to bite you, by losing your money, your test slot and even the potential loss or misuse of your personal data.”
• The driving instructors’ National Associations Strategic Partnership (NASP)
Small steps
The DVSA revealed to the BBC that it is trying to utilise artificial intelligence to help deal with the problem of block-booking by brokers and their bots. Its systems are now designed to stop automated systems from stepping in and block-booking tests before they can be claimed.
So far the AI approach has had some success with 283 accounts given warnings, 764 suspended and 689 closed altogether plus 4,700 accounts with no links to instructors also deleted. However, no AI system is perfect so it’s impossible at this time for the DVSA to stop the practice completely.
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