European Health Card Renewal

[davetherave]

I just went online to renew my EHIC and the robbing barstewards not want £23, I'm sure originally it was free ??

I'm sure I was on the official website and not some dodgy site.

Any of you guys any experience of this ??

[shaggs147]

It was free last year dave

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[PaulB]

You need this site: https://www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/startApplication.do

Anything else is a dodgy rip-off site!

I'm guessing you went here:
https://www.europeanhealthcard.org.uk/ << RIP OFF FAKE SITE ALERT!!

Cheers

Paul B.

[PaulB]

For amusement purposes, I dug into the fake site.

Domain name:
        europeanhealthcard.org.uk

    Registrant:
        Europe EHIC Services Limited

    Registrant type:
        UK Limited Company, (Company number: 8483306)

    Registrant's address:
        115 Chester Road Sunderland
        Sunderland
        SR4 7HG
        United Kingdom

And this is the Google StreetView of that address:
https://goo.gl/maps/yCNrwDndTTs

Cheers,

Paul B.

[O.C.]

Well done Paul, useful digging there...I know its not funny, but before I reached the end of your post, containing the street view, I was wondering what the postal address looked like....when I saw it I have to admit I did laugh

Just goes to show how easy it is to get ripped off

[davetherave]

Thanks so much everybody, I've sorted it now legally and free 

Paul, is it possible to report this company ? or are they doing nothing illegal ?  (if that sounds dumb sorry but I don't know what is and isn't legal with this sort of thing)

[PaulB]

Dave, there seem to be loads of dodgy sites out there taking payment for things that should be free. I'm not a lawyer, but I imagine if they state in their small print that that are an "intermediary agent" (or some such nonsense) then they aren't breaking any law.

If I was ruler of everything I'd kick in their doors, arrest them, seize their assets and make sure their dodgy website was taken down.

Cheers,

Paul B.

[Ant]

Dave, there seem to be loads of dodgy sites out there taking payment for things that should be free. I'm not a lawyer, but I imagine if they state in their small print that that are an "intermediary agent" (or some such nonsense) then they aren't breaking any law.

If I was ruler of everything I'd kick in their doors, arrest them, seize their assets and make sure their dodgy website was taken down.

Cheers,

Paul B.

Its called making money ............

That isn't a 'dodgy' website at all or company for that matter.

They are simply offering their services to do something that you could do yourself, which is clearly stated on their website, making a charge for a service is not illegal or fake in any way shape or form.

You would still get your card.

But this is what forums are for, so people can share their experience and find out things....something that going down the 'pub' used to sort out   

[pross]

Its called making money ............

That isn't a 'dodgy' website at all or company for that matter.

They are simply offering their services to do something that you could do yourself, which is clearly stated on their website, making a charge for a service is not illegal or fake in any way shape or form.

You would still get your card.

But this is what forums are for, so people can share their experience and find out things....something that going down the 'pub' used to sort out 

They have had the same problem renewing fishing licences the legit one is free and the other as Ant said doing it for you and a fee added 

[PaulB]

...making a charge for a service is not illegal or fake in any way shape or form.

Agreed.

But registering their domain name then paying Google to put it at the top of any searches thus intentionally misleading people away from the official site is tantamount to fraud, in my opinion.

Cheers,

Paul B.

[O.C.]

I don't know if its fraudulent or not but it is a bit cheeky

There are so many opportunists out there looking to make a quick buck   

[Ant]

Not intentionally misleading in the slightest Paul. Please read their about us page.

Clearly states what they do and how you can apply ' for free ' with the Gov link to click !

If you want to pay, that's what you do off your own back. Just the same as paying someone for their ' TIME '  to build a wall, service your bike, cook some food.....all of which can be done ( if you choose ) for free by yourself.

I don't see that they are top of google either, its not a pay per click or ad site.  I'm top of google for my work and I don't pay anything.

Don't for one minute think I am sticking up for them, but if people want to pay for a so called fast track service, that's up to them. If you don't read first you wouldn't know its free elsewhere.

[PaulB]

Ant, we're in agreement that everyone has the right to choose to choose to pay for something they could do themselves.

We seem to have differing opinions on the morality of creating official looking websites with misleading domain names. Both Dave and I ended up on their site fairly easily.

And their link to apply for free just takes you to the gov.uk homepage. Hardly helpful.

I guess it proves the adage that a fool and their money are easily parted

Cheers,

Paul B.

Edit: I just had another look and you are spot on, theirs isn't an advertised site - I just had it in my head they were when I searched Google, so I withdraw that statement as being incorrect

Edit2: http://www.consumerrightsexpert.co.uk/fake-ehic-card-scam.html
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has been forced into taking action against websites who are charging consumers for a service that they can actually obtain free of charge through the NHS website.

[Ant]

Edit 2...............Well good for them, hope its a good outcome for all concerned

and I will be the first to admit that I didn't know the card was for free until I asked the Mrs......as she deals with all that stuff.

So hooray for informative forums and people asking questions...........

[PRD]

What I don't like about these sort of sites is that they try to look like the original gov one and then lure you in. A lot like that for booking driving tests. Personally I think it is wrong.