MSE News: Fake EHIC websites shut down

Longjon_2

Agh! I've just been caught by one of these crooks. This one is operating from the official looking url "applyehic.org" and has just fleeced me for £40 for me and my partner's EHIC cards.
I have rapidly read up on these sites: apparently a bunch of them were closed last year but the ones still around are now sly, paying lip service to OFT's transparency requirements but using every other possible way of luring the unsuspecting, busy holiday planner to pay out unnecessarily: visual branding, choice of URL, duplication of NHS advice. This one even has an NHS blue and white logo in its browser tag and only mentions it is not part of the NHS at the bottom of the tiny type at the end of the page below the fold. This cannot be legal, surely?
They have stated that they are charging for handling an application...but my understanding is that they can only charge if they are providing a "reasonable" service. THIS ISN'T A REASONABLE SERVICE. I don't need my address and NI number checked...i've been using both for decades! And the acknowledgement of receipt of our applications was in our inboxes from the NHS within seconds (literally) - all they do is forward your app with an automated mechanism!
There are no direct contact details other than an anonymous postal unit in Belgium, and the slyest stab of all is that they tell you in the FAQ that by pressing send you have waived all the usual distance selling protection, on the grounds that the EHIC cover starts from application.
Legal? Maybe in the tightest interpretation of the law. But I think their level of misrepresentation is so high that they are not, in practice, complying with OFT requirements. It seems like OFT should spread their net wider...

scottishperson2

Longjon wrote: »

"applyehic.org"

That site forwards you to eu-healthcard.eu

Hit contact us on that page and see what happens.

Site hides behind PrivacyProtect.org so your info could have been sent anywhere in the world.

How many units on that estate?

"unit 337641"

Chutney_Queen

I nearly got caught. Put all my details and the rest of the family's details in and was about to pay, when I remembered it was supposed to be free. Tried a second site that seemed to say that it was the NHS again it wanted money. Finally found the correct site. I notice that the NHS is suggesting that they will process my card and get it to me quicker than if I had used the other sites.
I have put the correct link on my facebook page for any of my friends to use.
These sites should be illegal and closed down.

beenconnedagain

Yes same here. I thought I could spot a criminal being in the police but missed this one. Got charged #14.99 twice even though it was for mother father & daughter. Assumed I was on the NHS website and they had started charging. Later discovered it was still free but I had got on a fraudulent website. These people should be rounded up and shot. They are no different to burglars or thieves except they very cleverly cover their true purpose - to steal money from unsuspecting decent people. You cannot defend charging people for a free service because the majority don't realize their mistake.

jenand8285

beenconnedagain wrote: »

Yes same here. I thought I could spot a criminal being in the police but missed this one. Got charged #14.99 twice even though it was for mother father & daughter. Assumed I was on the NHS website and they had started charging. Later discovered it was still free but I had got on a fraudulent website. These people should be rounded up and shot. They are no different to burglars or thieves except they very cleverly cover their true purpose - to steal money from unsuspecting decent people. You cannot defend charging people for a free service because the majority don't realize their mistake.

Like you I almost got caught out this morning using this site: https://www.ehic.com/ I went on to renew my card and assumed they must have introduced a fee. I filled in all of mine & my hubbys details and submitted befre being reminded of the fee. Luckily I decided to google ehic again before submitting the details. I am slightly dissapointed with myself as I am usually quite savvy and aware but this website looks so genuine and I thought £9.99 seemed quite resonable in comparison to other admin charges.

scottishperson2

jenand8285 wrote: »

Like you I almost got caught out this morning using this site:

And you thought you'd be really helpful and post the link so others who can't be bothered to actually read posts will think, oh the correct link.

unknownsoldier

I was also made a fool by this site europeanhealth.org.uk, offering fast track due to going aboard within the next 14 days, my question is, If anyone out there has also been foolish did they eventually receive your EHIC and have you had any problems with giving the site all your information?


please please help as I am on the verge of a breakdown, thinking I am going to be cloned

regards

Tom_Meagher

europeanhealth.org.uk also known as europhealth.org.uk are EuropHealth Limited. If you would like to contact them, their company address is 4 Thorpe Court, Thorpe Waterville, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN14 3ED.

Their directors are Hiten Patel, Stephen (Graham) Oliver, Jamie Wyatt and Michael James Hughes.

Mr Oliver also runs 'Spanish EHIC Limited' and NHSEhic - another name for EuropHealth. For those who would like to contact him and share their concerns, his address is listed as 14 Foyle Street, Sunderland, United Kingdom SR1 1LB.

He is also involved in Synergy Asset Holdings and the Birmingham-based UK Pryolsysis Ltd - website designed by Mr Wyatt.

Mr Hughes was involved in another company with Mr Oliver, 'Who4 Limited', which invites people to pay for a national insurance number. The site states that 'neither WHO4 nor NationalInsurance.uk.com are affiliated/associated with HMRC or Job Centre Plus.' Don't call the site: calls cost '£1.53 per minute plus network extras, with a minimum charge of £1.53. Calls from mobiles may cost more.'

Mr Wyatt gives the Thorpe Court address. He's also involved in SJ ECommerce Limited, another EHIC site.

Mr Patel is also known as Hitenkumar Bhikhubhai Patel. He can be contacted at Suite 36 88-90, Hatton Garden, London, United Kingdom, EC1N 8PN or Fort Dunlop Fort, Parkway, Birmingham, United Kingdom, B24 9FE. However, the first address is used by a number of companies and organisations including SOMI, the Society of Official Metropolitan Interpreters. Mr Patel was involved in Prolysis and Synergy, as well as various motor companies such as Aa Tyres & Exhausts Ltd (Letts Road, Rothersthorpe Avenue Ind Estate, Northampton, tel 01604 877 760). Also Alton Motors Ltd in Wellingborough and Sixfield Tyres Ltd in Northampton (Tweet Road, tel 01604 759 791).

As a new user, I can't post links. I used the company-director-check.co.uk site for this information. If you want to see it, Google company-director-check.co.uk plus the name of the director in quotes. If you want to find out information on a company, use cdrex.com.

leononline247

"THIS SITE IS A SCAM WARNING PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS SITE"

Hello, i was also scammed by this website nhsehic because i was in a rush, because my flight is next week i paid for the fast track service, £24.50 and i know there is people who argue and say its not a scam, as it clearly states on the website, well my argument is it maybe be legal,but it is definitely a scam; and i imagine above 90% of people who make the payment will try to recover funds, (when they realize this is a FREE service by the NHS) so this is a scam because it is clearly designed to mislead people in a number of ways number:

1) By using NHS in the Url, nhsehic they are leveraging the trusted name of NHS; the NHS is a well known and respected government health service, and being in the Url, subconsciously makes the visitor feel comfortable.
The fact it is Ranking higher than the official NHS site, makes it seem more legitimate, although it was only when researching whether or not this site was a scam did i realize this.
They basically regurgitate the information from the official NHS, and use the NHS name a lot on the site:

for example:

"(4. Change of Details
If you have to change your personal details on your card you will need to contact the NHS directly on 0845 606 2030 and you will be issued with a replacement card free of charge."

which gives the reader the impression they are associated. However it does state at the bottom of the page, it is not affiliated with NHS, but it is in a Light blue box with white writing, which makes even that text quite difficult to read, and i would hazard a guess that even the fine details of visually unclear text colour scheme was deliberate.

2) This site is dependent on people who are perhaps in a rush, and in fear of missing their flight, or having a problem while abroad,(Like me). Or just about anybody who does not know the "EHIC" is FREE.

3)The page layout is simple, with a big red "Apply now button", which is the vocal point of the site, and a call to action which makes it seem like a quick option for someone who is maybe in a rush.

4) The Headline of this service is misleading, the headline reads (European Health Insurance Card) when in actuality it should read (European Health Insurance Card Application Check Service) which would clearly highlight its service.

I checked my email, and when i saw the email had arrived in my Junk mail, i realized this was suspicious, they told me my details were incorrect so i will not receive the card. i immediately called the bank and they said there is nothing i can do to reverse the charge, as it was me who approved it, and also the charge was not showing up in my bank statement yet.

nhsehic

ITS A SCAM; BUT IT IS LEGAL BECAUSE ALL THE INFORMATION IS WRITTEN ON THE SITE; WHICH IS THE ONLY REASON WHY THIS SCAM IS LEGAL. And that is just not good enough.

WHAT IS WRITTEN ON THEIR SITE:

"About Our Service
What you need to know:

We provide a complete application checking service for the European Health Insurance Card providing you with peace of mind that your application has been reviewed.

Our service to you:
• We will process your application within the guaranteed time depending on the service option you choose.

• You can be sure that your application has been checked for typographical error, omission or common mistakes - affording you peace of mind should you ever have cause to use your card abroad.

Cancellation/Refund Policy:
Because of the nature of our service, once your application has been processed by us, we are unable to cancel or refund your order. As per our Terms of Service, you waive your right to a seven day cooling off period under the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000.

Any requests for refunds out of this period will only be considered if it can be proven that we have made an error on your application.

Thanks to :money:i found this post and knew i was not the only one who had been scammed, so i devised a little plan of my own.

RECLAIMING YOUR MONEY BACK

(one way of unethically Claiming your money back)

I suggest calling your bank, when the payment is on your statement and telling them "YOU DO NOT RECOGNISE THE PAYMENT" - The bank will by law, Block the card for a claim of a fraudulent transaction and reverse the charge to your card.

(All though i do not encourage people to lie, it seems like the only positive way you can get your money back from a questionably legal and unethical company which is clearly designed to deceive you into purchasing a service which is unnecessary for something which is FREE) but the choice is yours. I refuse to let these Borderline Legal Con-Artists WIN!.

Be careful Shopping for anything online .Have a good day.

Leon.M

Pollycat

I'm not going to get into a debate with you about whether something can be legal but still a scam, but I've had a look at the website you used and found this big box that clearly points out what you get if you apply for the card for free from the right site.

How did you miss this? (it's not come out as it is on the website - it's very very clear on there.

We provide a comprehensive verification and forwarding service providing complete peace of mind to ensure that any errors on your application form do not unnecessarily delay the issue of your card. You can rest assured that our friendly and efficient team will thoroughly review your application for errors.

Service Our Service Free from The NHS Online EHIC Application Service Telephone EHIC Application Service Postal EHIC Application Service Online Service available 24/7 SMS/Email Application Updates Applications checked for errors/omission prior to submission Customer Service available by online LiveChat and SMS Personalised travel advice documents Arrange replacement of lost/stolen card online

The application verification services provided by this web site incur a small administrative charge – you can apply for a card directly from the NHSBA without charge. Standard applications are normally processed within 3 working days.

leononline247 wrote: »

RECLAIMING YOUR MONEY BACK

(one way of unethically Claiming your money back)

I suggest calling your bank, when the payment is on your statement and telling them "YOU DO NOT RECOGNISE THE PAYMENT" - The bank will by law, Block the card for a claim of a fraudulent transaction and reverse the charge to your card.

(All though i do not encourage people to lie, it seems like the only positive way you can get your money back from a questionably legal and unethical company which is clearly designed to deceive you into purchasing a service which is unnecessary for something which is FREE) but the choice is yours. I refuse to let these Borderline Legal Con-Artists WIN!.

Hmmmm.
At least nhsehic didn't lie to get you to use their service. The information was clear on their website. You just didn't read it.

I wonder if that's the reason these websites aren't being closed down - because they are now stating that they charge for their services but they also point out that you have the option of getting the card for free.

So it's a case of caveat emptor.

Best bit of advice below - think before you click. :cool:

leononline247 wrote: »

Be careful Shopping for anything online .