Will getting a refund from an ESTA scam site cause me to be blacklisted from the US?
A colleague accidentally purchased a US ESTA from a scam site that I won't dignify with a link, charging him $31. (The official site charges just $14.) Like most scam sites, the site actually did get him an ESTA, they just took a fat cut.
He'd like to request a refund (the site promises they have a 30-day refund policy), get his money back and try again via the official site, but the US Embassy in Australia says:
If you think you have been victimized, you can contact your bank or credit card company and dispute the charges on your statement. Please be aware that if the $14.00 charge submitted to the U.S. government is refunded, the ESTA approval will automatically be denied and future applications may also be denied.
$17 is not worth getting blacklisted from ESTA and having to apply for visas the hard way! But is this is a bureaucratic "may" in the sense of "this could theoretically happen but never does in practice", or "this is what will happen and we're just being coy about it"?
Update for clarity: The discussion of whether this is legally fraud or not is beside the point. This question is asking whether the act of requesting a refund can really stop you from being able to use ESTA in the future.
Resolution: They did not attempt to claim the refund.
Best Answer
He'd like to dispute the credit card charge, get his money back and try again via the official site
Card disputes are for unauthorized fraudulent charges not purchases. If your friend authorized the purchase and further received the goods I don't see any standing on which he could dispute the charge.
Your friend's situation is the same as someone who bought something at a local store for $X, and then found it cheaper online and now wants to get the money back, so they can buy it for a cheaper price.
I would not risk possible consequences over $17 and instead chalk this up to an experience and move on; especially considering that you risk losing your dispute claim and then are flagged for that.
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Can you get a refund on ESTA?
Our service fee refund covers the fees paid to us directly for processing your application, and unfortunately does not cover any third-party fees you may incur, such as credit/debit card fees or charges from other parties involved in processing your payment. Refunds are always in USD currency.Is ESTA online center a scam?
"This website is owned and operated by Sat Pro Ltd, a private company. We are not affiliated with any government or embassy." Therefore, it is not a scam. They just happen to charge a fees to get you an ESTA.Can you chargeback a scammer?
If you've bought something from a scammer If you've paid for something you haven't received, you might be able to get your money back. Your card provider can ask the seller's bank to refund the money. This is known as the 'chargeback scheme'. If you paid by debit card, you can use chargeback however much you paid.Which is the genuine ESTA website?
Official ESTA Application Website, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.I Called an Investment Scam - Here is What Happened
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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