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Will my ESTA be valid?

  • 21-04-2013 8:19pm
    #1
    goz83
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,035 ✭✭✭


    Last month, I filled in 2 ESTA forms online for myself and a buddy for Vegas in October. It wasn't until after I submitted my card details that I realised I had used an agent sevice costing $60 for the service and $14 for US Government fee (total $148). I emailed them asking for a refund within a couple of hours, because they had a 30 day no questions asked refund policy. They had also emailed me to say that the ESTAs were now verified. I have been refunded the fees, but I was about to reapply for the ESTAs today and decided to check if the ESTAs had been cancelled, but it seems they have not. It's a month later, so i'm wondering, should I reapply, or just use the ESTAs the agent applied for? I guess they couldn't get a refund from the Government and the ESTAs are still acive. I'm on two minds about it and i'm thinking I should probably reimburse the Agents the $28 they spend applying for the ESTAs. What would you do?


Comments

  • #2
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,626 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    If you have the ESTA approval number, go into the website (the official one this time :rolleyes:) and see if you amend it to add a zipcode for the next trip - pick a NY hotel, get the zipcode off their website and tell the ESTA website you're going next week. If you can then it's still valid.

    https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

    I can't see how the scammer 'agent' could have cancelled the ESTA, they certainly couldn't have gotten a refund from Uncle Sam given that they have no formal role in the process other than operating a screen scraper website so I'd be pretty certain that you're ok.
    goz83 wrote: »
    i'm thinking I should probably reimburse the Agents the $28 they spend applying for the ESTAs. What would you do?

    Are you serious? These people are royally ripping off 1,000s of people every year by operating a website that pretends to be something that it isn't. Fcuk them and keep your money.


  • #3
    goz83
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,035 ✭✭✭goz83


    Thanks alot for your advice. They were prompt with the refund process, but I agree, it's a border line scam.

    In fairness, it taught me again to be vigilant online.


  • #4
    anne burnell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 279 ✭✭anne burnell


    just go to the ESTA web site and enter the number you have and it will let you know straight away if your ESTA is valid and the date it expires....


  • #5
    goz83
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,035 ✭✭✭goz83


    anne burnell wrote: »
    just go to the ESTA web site and enter the number you have and it will let you know straight away if your ESTA is valid and the date it expires....

    I did. And they are both valid for 2 years. I updated email addresses successfully, so I'm happy with that. Free ESTAs :)


  • #6
    anne burnell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 279 ✭✭anne burnell


    glad it worked out ok for you... enjoy yr vegas trip... its a super place..well worth a visit...


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