EHIC Scam website www.ehic.org

whatmichaelsays

moey wrote: »

So it seems that the fault lies with Google et al for allowing these companies to feature so high up there search list. This company were coming out at Number 1 on the search list even yesterday eu healthcard

Its a disgrace!!!

Google is just a mathematical formula, nothing more than that. Those sites that can manipulate the formula better than others get the better rankings. Google isn't "cherry picking" one site over another. Even the sponsored ads have to work with the Google algorithm to an extent.

If you want to blame someone for these sites coming on top, blame the NHS marketing team for having a lousy SEO strategy.

a_sav

O nearly got caught on the 14.99 site,genuinely was going to pay that for the cards p&p but was too lazy to card my card out a few days ago,used the address on the out of date EHIC cards & was suprised it was free!!
Why do such sites exist they looked so official too

Pollycat

a_sav wrote: »

O nearly got caught on the 14.99 site,genuinely was going to pay that for the cards p&p but was too lazy to card my card out a few days ago,used the address on the out of date EHIC cards & was suprised it was free!!
Why do such sites exist they looked so official too

They exist to make money, they've gone to great lengths to make their websites look as official as possible.

Interesting quote from Office of Fair Trading:

Heather Clayton, from the OFT, says:
"While it is not unlawful to charge money for a reviewing and forwarding service, traders must be clear about the product or service they are offering, and not trick consumers into parting with money for services they don't want.
"People seeking to obtain government-funded services such as an EHIC should check carefully that they are using an official government website."

I'm not sure if she's saying that as long as the websites state that you can get the EHIC for free from the official site, they're not illegal.

If OFT closed lots of the websites back in August 2010, I don't know why they're not continuing to do so - it may be that not enough people are complaining or the companies have changed their website so they aren't strictly illegal.

FRS

I've emailed a complaint to OFT. We all need to do this. This site needs to be closed down so more people aren't caught by it.

jammin_2

Sigh..

ahunter281

I notice that some are saying that its not a scam because of the information on the site but I disagree. The reason for my disagreement is due to the fact that I applied for lost cards for both my wife and myself which cost a total of £19.98. Now, I didn't read the site which is my fault but after over a month the cards hadn't arrived so I went back onto the site to contact them and chase the cards up. Here lies the problem, as they have no contact details and only link you to others i.e official EHIC.
I therefore contacted the official site and they informed me that there had been no fresh applications made since my last application in 2007 which explains why no cards have arrived.
If you advertise that you will do something which is then not done, then I would consider this to be a scam no matter what is printed on the site.
I blame myself in part for not checking the site properly but I would've been content if they had actually done what was promised. I have now made a claim to my bank for re-imbursement and hope that they can get my money back.

This was on Euhealthcard.org

Pollycat

ahunter281 wrote: »

I notice that some are saying that its not a scam because of the information on the site but I disagree. The reason for my disagreement is due to the fact that I applied for lost cards for both my wife and myself which cost a total of £19.98.

I don't see it as a scam if the company say - not hidden away in the small print - you can get the card free from official sources but they charge a fee.

I see that as sharp practice.

ahunter281 wrote: »

If you advertise that you will do something which is then not done, then I would consider this to be a scam no matter what is printed on the site.

I think the issue of not supplying what you have paid for is a different matter to charging for something that is actually free and would agree that in your case, it is a scam.

ahunter281 wrote: »

I applied for lost cards for both my wife and myself which cost a total of £19.98.
I blame myself in part for not checking the site properly but I would've been content if they had actually done what was promised.

Not very MSE to be content to pay £19.98 for something that is free.

You need to visit this website more often.

I hope you manage to get your money back.

ahunter281

so do I. I'm usually quite vigilant but in planning my holiday I rushed and made this stupid mistake. It won't happen again and I look forward to using this site more often

2010

Mine expires the end of November, is it too early to apply for a renewal?

trevor.e.e.jones

Lets get real here, anyone in their right mind is not going to spend their hard earned cash paying for something which is free, The people that run this scam are very quick to defend it but no matter how big and red the letters are you can not get away from the fact that this site is designed to look like the official NHS site.

And it is the fact that it is contrived to look like the real thing that makes it a scam, no matter how much they try to defend it, this type of activity ought to be covered by the distance selling regulations where upon proper consideration and reflection one should be able to cancel the transaction and be reimbursed.

I have to reflect that I was also taken in by this scam but after a long day and the desire to get the deal done did not read all small print and it's because the scammers know that people will skim the small print that they get away with it, I am still hoping that I can appeal to their better nature and be reimburst as I have not received anything as yet.

If this happens I will report back, but I am not going to hold my breath.