Since April this year, you must have an entry permit, a so-called Eta, to be allowed to visit the United Kingdom.
It is easily fixed, usually goes very quickly, and costs 16 pounds, approximately 200 kronor.
But, only if it is done via the British government's website. The problem is that there are a multitude of other actors who try to imitate the official channel. They lure with the fact that it goes quickly. But the price is sky-high, over a thousand kronor can the unscrupulous companies charge.
Not illegal
At Consumer Europe, a part of the Consumer Agency, one is well aware of the problem and many have contacted and wondered what applies if one has been cheated.
What is it that makes this a bit tricky?
First and foremost, it is quite new. And it is actually not illegal for companies to charge more for a service that with other actors can be cheaper or even free, says Amelie Thelander.
She describes the new requirement as unclear, that many search on the internet for information and find sites at the top of the search, which offer the service. And then they discover that it suddenly becomes very expensive. Afterwards, the would-be tourists can discover that it was much cheaper on the United Kingdom's official website.
And then they become, of course, very irritated that they have paid so much more. That is at least what consumers have testified to us, says Thelander who tips about the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs' website Sweden Abroad which has the links that are needed.
Try to get the money back
But if one has still been cheated, she thinks that one should try, with an unclear outcome, to complain in writing to the company that has charged the high fees without clearly advertising. If one has also been cheated completely, does not get any Eta permit, it is possible to turn to one's credit card company and in this way get the money back, according to the consumer credit law.
Even when the USA introduced a corresponding entry permit, Esta, large numbers of similar cheating occurred.
