CONCERNED holidaymakers have been fleeced in an ongoing online visa operation where they end up paying exorbitant prices.
As the holiday season kicks in, more and more tourists are searching Google and other online sites on how to buy visas.
Officially, tourists should only buy their visa from the only recommended website: www.evisa.gov.tr.
However, recently one family shelled out £276 after they used an unofficial website to obtain their evisas for Turkey.
And it has happened again this week, when two separate Voices readers used the services of the www.turkishvisas.org/ website to buy evisas at £69 each.
Reader Keith Walkden said: “I only read about the site after I had finished the payment. It said it wasn’t official site for the evisa. I phoned my bank to stop the payment, but they said they can’t. I was ripped off for £69.”
Meanwhile Edith Anderson also befell the state fate. She said: “I have just paid £138 for 2 Turkish visas. I have tried to cancel on their open a ticket page.
“I can’t believe we were so stupid! I found the site called Turkeyvisas.org and I was a bit anxious at this point. But the site seemed very official.
“I did not see any prices and my husband assured me it would be about £10 to £15 as did the travel agent! What a fool. There goes a quarter of our spending money.
“I honestly did not see any information about payment costs and service charges. I will try to cancel at my bank – but I fear I have just thrown away £110. I am really annoyed.”
Looking at the http://www.turkishvisas.org/ while it says it is not an official site, its costs are exorbitant when compared to the official www.evisa.gov.tr/ site.
The http://www.turkishvisas.org/ states its costs total between £69-£100. However, the website points out: “We are not affiliated with any government agency.
“We are not affiliated with the Turkish Consulate. You can apply directly at the Turkish Consulate. We do not grant visas – our services relate to the application and submission of visa documentation. We charge a processing fee for our services.”